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Western Fence Lizard

Sceloporus occidentalis

Reptile · family Phrynosomatidae · order Squamata

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
6 states[3]
Typical length
9 in[4]

The Western Fence Lizard is a reptile in the family Phrynosomatidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, and it is native to California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives this lizard a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a United States rank of N5 (Secure)[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as Endangered or Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. NatureServe estimates the adult population at 100,000 to more than 1,000,000 animals[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[8] 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Western Fence Lizard lives

NatureServe lists the Western Fence Lizard as native in 6 states and territories: California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington[3]. It is introduced, which means not native, in Montana[9]. NatureServe also gives state ranks for 7 states, including Montana, where the rank is SNA[10]. People report it most often on GBIF in California, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho and Washington, but those counts follow where observers look[11].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: native, state rank S4WAIdaho: native, state rank S4IDMontana: introduced, state rank SNAMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: native, state rank S5ORNevada: native, state rank S5NVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: native, state rank S3UTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (7 states)
StateRankMeaning
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
IdahoS4Apparently Secure
MontanaSNANot Applicable
NevadaS5Secure
OregonS5Secure
UtahS3Vulnerable
WashingtonS4Apparently Secure

Habitat

NatureServe records many habitats for this lizard, including woodland, shrubland, savanna, grassland, rocky ground, cropland edges and riparian areas[12]. It is not found in severe desert, though it comes close on mountain slopes[13]. It usually stays on the ground or on low perches such as logs and fences, and sometimes climbs into taller bushes or trees[13]. Eggs are buried in loose soil[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size and diet

This lizard is an invertivore, which means it eats animals without backbones[14]. NatureServe notes that insects such as beetles, flies, caterpillars and ants make up most of its food, along with spiders[15]. The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 24 cm (9 in)[4]. Females lay between 3 and 17 eggs in a clutch, and bigger females, and those farther north or higher up, tend to lay more[16]. Eggs hatch in about 2 months, and young lizards start breeding when they are in their second year[16].

Trait Value
Typical length[4] 24 cm (9 in)
Food habits[14] Invertivore
Migration[17] non-migrant

When to look for it

The Western Fence Lizard is active during the day and is not a migrant[18][17]. It hibernates or aestivates, which means it rests through cold or harsh spells[18]. It is generally inactive in cold weather, and the length of that rest depends on the local climate[19]. It comes out of its winter shelters in late winter or early spring[19]. GBIF records peak in April, May and June, which shows when people look and report it[20].

January: 2,380 recordsJanFebruary: 7,309 recordsFebMarch: 18,233 recordsMarApril: 32,435 recordsAprMay: 30,076 recordsMayJune: 22,276 recordsJunJuly: 17,977 recordsJulAugust: 15,729 recordsAugSeptember: 15,001 recordsSepOctober: 8,485 recordsOctNovember: 3,556 recordsNovDecember: 1,412 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[20].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January2,380
February7,309
March18,233
April32,435
May30,076
June22,276
July17,977
August15,729
September15,001
October8,485
November3,556
December1,412

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Western Fence Lizard as present in 25 park units[21]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 1 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Washington[11]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Western Fence Lizard endangered?
No. It is not listed as Endangered or Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally[2].
Where does the Western Fence Lizard live?
It is native to California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington, and it is introduced in Montana[3][9].
What does the Western Fence Lizard eat?
It eats mainly insects such as beetles, flies, caterpillars and ants, plus spiders[15].
How big is the Western Fence Lizard?
The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 24 cm (9 in)[4].
When is the best time to see a Western Fence Lizard?
GBIF records are highest in April, May and June, which shows when people report it[20]. It comes out of its winter shelters in late winter or early spring[19].

Facts and sources

  1. Western Fence Lizard is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Western Fence Lizard: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Western Fence Lizard as native in 6 US states and territories: California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 24 cm (9 in). NatureServe Explorer
  5. Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) is a reptile in the family Phrynosomatidae, order Squamata. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe lists Western Fence Lizard as introduced (not native) in: Montana. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Western Fence Lizard (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Western Fence Lizard: California, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Washington. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Western Fence Lizard: Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Shrubland/chaparral, Savanna, Grassland/herbaceous, Bare rock/talus/scree, Cropland/hedgerow, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Western Fence Lizard. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on food for Western Fence Lizard. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Western Fence Lizard. NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe migration category for Western Fence Lizard: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Hibernates/aestivates, Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  19. NatureServe notes on phenology for Western Fence Lizard. NatureServe Explorer
  20. GBIF observation records of Western Fence Lizard in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  21. NPSpecies park lists recording Western Fence Lizard as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.