Camping with Friends (and Lizards)

While enjoying a morning coffee next to the campfire with my good friends, I became acutely aware that we were being watched.  My head went on the swivel, and it became apparent that our time at the campsite was not welcomed.  To my left, a lizard was doing push-ups on a sun soaked rock – presumably in preparation of an imminent attack.  To my right on the table, we found a beetle browsing through our breakfast options.  And scurrying along the floor there marched platoons of ants.  We were in a war zone, and nature was conspiring to overtake our position.

But of course, we were the intruders.  No sooner after I relocated the beetle to a nearby tree, another lizard flanked around us and snatched it.  You’ll see him/her below, and they’re pretty pissed.  First, we take over their campsite, and then I interrupt his breakfast with my loud clicking black box (camera).  “How rude!” the lizard complains, as I inch closer and closer with my macro lens.  Nonetheless, the lizard stood its ground as I realize it was simply protecting its breakfast.  And after posing for my shot-and signing a model release-the lizard chowed down on the delicious beetle.

Luckily for us, we had our staunch defender and hero:  Leica the Lizard Hunter (a.k.a. cute puppy).  Although he caught no lizards, he did a great job pointing them all out to us, and showing us their hiding spots.  No lizard secret hiding spot is safe with Leica around, and soon they retreated to investigate other less defended campers.

On a more serious note, parts of the Angeles Crest Forest were devastated by a fire and is still recovering.  I think that the distinct lack of tree cover at the lower elevations has pushed out the predatory birds, so the lizards are feasting like kings.  If you’d like to see some lizards, spend a night at the Mount Chilao Campground.