Western Fence Lizard
Western Fence LizardWestern Fence LizardWestern Fence LizardWestern Fence Lizard

Western Fence Lizard

Sceloporus occidentalis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
60–70% · Likely
overall probability at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
382 Verified records at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
May Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) is a species of lizard native to Arizona, New Mexico, and California, as well as Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Northern Mexico. The species is widely found in its native range and is considered common, often being seen in yards, or as the name implies, on fences. As the ventral abdomen of an adult is characteristically blue, it is also known as the blue-belly. Two western fence lizards have been reported with duplicated or forked tails, presumably following an autotomy. Wikipedia →

60–70% of wildlife watchers report a Western Fence Lizard sighting in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, based on 382 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Sagebrush Lizard
LC

Sagebrush Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus graciosus

40–50% · Likely
Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard

Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus uniformis

5–10% · With luck
Common Side-blotched Lizard
LC

Common Side-blotched Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Uta stansburiana

10–20% · With luck
Desert Horned Lizard
LC

Desert Horned Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Phrynosoma platyrhinos

10–20% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
60–70
Feb
60–70
Mar
60–70
Apr
70–80
May
60–70
Jun
50–60
Jul
50–60
Aug
50–60
Sep
50–60
Oct
50–60
Nov
20–30
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
60–70%
2 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
3 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
4 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
5 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
6 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
7 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
8 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Western Fence Lizard in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks?

About 61% of wildlife watchers report a Western Fence Lizard sighting in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, based on 382 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Western Fence Lizard in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks?

May has the highest sighting rate for Western Fence Lizard in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in our monthly data.

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