Lizards Aren’t Just Down South: They Are Native To Michigan, Too

When I moved to Orlando, it felt like a whole new world. Living in a place like Michigan, you get a new season every couple of months, with temperatures and climates changing drastically, leading to birds migrating and other animals hunkering in for the cold months.

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This was why I had been so excited to see a lizard for the first time. But it turns out, I’ve just been oblivious this whole time; Michigan is actually home to two native lizard species, and one of them is threatened. Here's what to know about Michigan's lizards, and what happens to them in the winter.

Six-lined Race Runner (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus) / Getty Images

Michigan's Two Lizard Species

Michigan has two lizard species: the five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) and the Six-lined Racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus). The five-lined skink is known for its "white to yellowish stripes running along the body and a bright blue tail," while the six-lined racerunner is known for its long tail and distinct "yellow coloration on the sides of the head, both above and below the lateral stripe", according to iNaturalist.

Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) / Getty Images

Read More: University of Michigan Releases Michigan Flora Plant ID App

The six-lined racerunner is far less common than the five-lined skink because its population is labeled threatened, having only been found in one county (Genesee) since 2016. The five-lined skink is generally seen in Northern Michigan.

iNaturalist

When it comes to winter, since these lizards are cold-blooded, cold weather leads to lizards entering a dormant state under rocks, logs, and leaves until spring temperatures return.

If you're headed around these parts, keep your eyes peeled if you're in wooded areas.