In the Wild With Jackie: Leapin' Lizards, It's the Blue Belly!

By Jackie Johansen

This time of year, Menifee is just crawling with lizards!

These quick-footed animals can catch you off-guard sometimes, but they are great for your garden. They are often seen basking in the sun, where they absorb heat, and can often be seen doing something that can only be compared to human push-ups. This motion is done for the same reasons that that some humans do push-ups: To show their strength and to attract mates.

This display marks their territory and warns other lizards to stay out. If you ever get a chance to observe these push-ups, you might think that the lizard is trying to threaten you, but there is a better chance that there is another lizard lurking around that you didn’t even notice.

What lizards have you seen in Menifee? The most common type is formally called the “Western Fence Lizard,” also known as the “blue belly.” These names suit this species well because they are often found basking in the sun on rock walls or on fences, and can also be seen running up your stucco.

If you happen to be brave enough to pick up one of these lizards, you will find that their ventral side (the underneath) is brightly colored with blue stripes on either side -- hence the nickname of “blue belly.”

Blue belly lizards are also small medical miracles. These lizards create a protein that kills the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. This bacterium is carried in the gut of the western black-legged tick. When the tick bites onto and stays attached to a human for a few days, the bacteria is transferred to the human.

If an infected tick bites and attaches to the blue belly lizard, the protein from the blood of the lizard is transferred to the gut of the tick, and the tick is actually healed from the bacteria, and is no longer a carrier of Lyme disease. This amazing feature is still not fully understood, but is likely the reason California has had a much lower occurrence of Lyme disease than in eastern states.

What animals have you seen in Menifee lately?

Jackie Johansen loves everything outdoors and spending time with her husband and kids. She teaches high school biology for Julian Charter School and holds degrees in zoology, conservation biology, education, and technology. Her "In the Wild" column will appear here once a month.

In the Wild With Jackie: Observing the Great Egret

By Jackie Johansen

Have you noticed a large, white, svelte bird standing or walking near the ponds or in the fields of Menifee? Does it seem out of place?

This bird of 40 inches was most likely hunting, and is most often found near shorelines of either fresh or salty water. The great egret has a wingspan of nearly five feet, and often lives 15 years in the wild. Great egrets have been seen in our area for several years, and hopefully are a mainstay. Their “S-Shaped” body and height make it a standout among other birds in Menifee.

Once hunted nearly to extinction for its feathers, the great egret is a beautiful and carnivorous bird. It hunts by walking slowly or standing still for long periods of time before gobbling its prey. Favorite foods of the egret include frogs and fish, but in our area, they have been observed eating mice and lizards. Their pointy beak can deliver a sharp blow to their prey, which is then swallowed whole.

During mating season, these otherwise pristine white birds will develop a patch of neon green skin near their beaks. These birds prefer to nest near water, and the males will allow the females to work on the nest, but will often be seen completing it on their own. The finished nest is made up of pliable plant material that dries into a one-foot deep, cupped shaped nest that can be three feet across.

If no tall trees near water can be found, the birds may resort to nesting on the ground or on man-made structures. The parents of the chicks are monogamous, and both parents take turns incubating the pale blue/green eggs in 3-4 day time periods. After hatching, the baby egrets can be very aggressive toward one another and, often, only the strongest survive. After about 3 ½ weeks, the babies will fledge, or leave the nest.

The impressive wingspan of the egret helps this powerful flier reach cruising speeds of 25 mph with only two wing beats per second. Occasionally, you can spot an egret swimming in the water looking for its prey, but this is a rarity.

The great egret is also the official symbol of the National Audubon Society because of the massive recovery that it experienced over time.

Have you been curious about any of Menifee’s wildlife lately? Leave your questions in the comment box.

Jackie Johansen loves everything outdoors and spending time with her husband and kids. She teaches high school biology for Julian Charter School and holds degrees in zoology, conservation biology, education, and technology. Her "In the Wild" column will appear here once a month.

In the Wild With Jackie: The Painted Ladies Are Here

Editor's note: This is the first monthly column by the newest addition to our columnist lineup. Jackie Johansen's "In the Wild With Jackie" column will focus on wildlife found in the Menifee area.

By Jackie Johansen

If you have been out for a walk lately, or even had to clean your windshield, you have likely encountered lots of butterflies!

While winter didn’t really come to Menifee this year, spring is definitely here. Among the blossoms you will likely find lots of Painted Ladies, a delightful orange and black butterfly.

Painted ladies start out as an egg, usually on the underside of leaves. In their larval stage, they look like tiny ants, and eventually grow to the size of a 1 ½ inches. After four molts, and forming a chrysalis, this butterfly is ready to emerge.

But be warned: Just before hatching, the chrysalis can move wildly. This jiggling motion might make you jump, just like it is supposed to. The motion is meant to scare predators away from this otherwise tasty snack.

You are likely in for a good laugh if you watch a child try to catch one of these. The painted lady doesn’t fly very straight. In fact, their flying behavior has been described as a “cork screw.”

This beautiful butterfly is a helpful pollinator to our area, and is likely benefitting your garden, because it mostly feeds on weeds, like thistle. It also has a migration route from California to Mexico in some years.

Many scientists have hypothesized that their migration pattern is tied to El Nino weather patterns, when the deserts have more water and flowers. During this “irruptive migration,” an irregular migration that isn’t tied to any known environmental cues, this butterfly can travel up to 100 miles per day, and has been clocked at speeds of 30 miles per hour. This helps explain the windshield mess!

The painted lady is the most widely dispersed butterfly on the planet, and are most often found in Riverside County from July to October. It is a popular choice for science projects, and for home-hatching fun! Next time you see this little lady, take note. She won’t be around long!

What animals or plants have piqued your curiosity in Menifee lately?

Jackie Johansen loves everything outdoors and spending time with her husband and kids. She teaches high school biology for Julian Charter School and holds degrees in zoology, conservation biology, education, and technology. Her "In the Wild" column will appear here once a month.