blue tail skink
husband found one on property in northern Michigan underneath a bunch of logs - kept him overnight to show and see if anyone knew what it was - left him in garden this afternoon - how did he get to MI? We called him "geico". 6/21/08
— marilyn K, June 21, 2008

Blue Tail Skink
I have a siamese cat that was fine one day and the next day it was flipping, staggering, and its eyes twitching. I rushed him to our vet and he examined him and said did he eat a blue tailed skink? I did not know if he did or not. Here it is now 4 day's later and he is still at the vets. Don't know if he will make it or not. I know cats like to play with things that move. And we can't be around them 24hrs. So be careful when your cat is outside. I also had a dog who ate one and had siezures. We had to put him to asleep.
— Marlene, June 18, 2008

keon
is a blue rare lizard fast.
— keon, June 15, 2008

msn
do a blue rare lizard fast.
— keon, June 15, 2008

I live in Lewiston, Idaho, and I just saw one of these lizards on my deck today. I have never seen a lizard like it, so I searched for it--and here it is!
— Mary, June 9, 2008

These blue tailed skinks (lizards) are totally harmless. Please don't be afraid of them and/or kill them if you see them in your house. They are not after you they eat spiders & other bugs. Catching lizards & making them pets is sad, they are wild animals & need to stay that way. Once I found blue tail skink caught in Glue trap at a friends house. The only thing I knew to do is with a Q-tip dab a teeny bit of olive oil to loosen him, it worked. Not sure how the oil affected him but there was no other way to get him loose without ripping him apart from the Glue trap. Glue traps are cruel. If pesticides/poison is used in your house/yard, you are killing more than the bugs. U r killing lizards/frogs/snakes/bees/grasshoppers & the birds that eat them & polluting the ground water. If anyone works or plays (kids, pets) in the yard the are contaminated too and track it back into the house. Sadly, my neighbors soak their yard every year in pesiticides
— TC Caldwell, June 4, 2008

Amphibians have been likened to canaries in the coal mine: just as miners used sensitive canaries to warn them of toxic gases in the mines, amphibians might be warning us of unsafe environmental conditions that could eventually seriously impact our health. Please don't harm them, it is getting more and more rare to see them. BTW, I have not seen one single honey bee this year nor have I seen any hummingbirds. It's quite frightening what we have done to our planet.
— TC Caldwell, June 4, 2008

it was the weirdest thing
I went out front on my porch to sit and I saw a deep blue tailed lizard and was wandering how it got there. I didnt think we had any where I live. I tried to catch it but it ran off the porch and under a bush. If I see it again I will try again. I have lived in maryland for 23 years and I'm 24. And I have never seen any lizards. So evidentally they are in Easton maryland too.
— Patricia O'Sullivan, May 27, 2008

We have these blue tailed skinks around our front steps. Our cat has been watching a crack where one will pop out of every now and then. The other day the cat caught the skink and had it in the house and I tried to rescue it and it got away IN THE HOUSE!! I tried to find it but it ran under the armoir and bookcases along the wall. Our cat kept looking under the armoir so that's where I thought it was. I got the flashlight and searched but couldn't find it. I left the door open hoping it would find it's way out. Tonight when I got home from work I found it's tail on the kitchen floor and no sign of the skink. How can I find it and catch it to turn it loose back outside? It will surely die in the house with nothing to eat or drink! And after reading what they do to cats who eat them I certainly don't want our cat to eat it!!! HELP!
— Linda, May 16, 2008

I am right now studing the blue tailed lizard in school and girl scouts
— j,r,, October 29, 2007

hi am what size do thay grow to
— dean, October 6, 2007

Hi Nick, Most skinks feed primarily on insects and other arthropods, but some of the larger forms are partially or completely herbivorous
— Ludo Wuytack, September 24, 2007

what do these blue tailed lizards eat?
— nick, September 23, 2007

I have caught several blue tail lizards!
Last year I caught 2 males and today I caught a prego female!!! I'm lovin' it!
— Ashley K, September 20, 2007

I found a blue tailed lizard!
i found a blue tailed lizard in my grandmas flower bed today.She told me to look it up on the internet.We live in carson city,Nevada.Thank you for your information about these wonderful creatures!
— Madeline Paas, September 15, 2007

Yeah, it will be fine. They "drop" their tails sometimes when they are frightened that they might be eaten by a predator. This way they can get away and leave the predator with just the tail. The tail will grow back, perhaps not as long and perfect, but it will grow back nonetheless. In captivity they are handled very carefully so they don't lose their tail... it can be a little stressful for the lizard even if it does grow back.
— Sokotra, September 1, 2007

I found one of these at my work. When I finally caught it, I put it in a bucket, then noticed it's tail was just hanging off it. I let it go, and it took off. Will it be ok? This was in Northwest Indiana.
— LoGunn, August 30, 2007

Don't be afraid of them... they don't bite hard enough to hurt you, but they eat nasty bugs like spiders and roaches that might be in your house. I wish I had more around our house! I caught one a few days ago and am building an environment for it. It seems to be doing well in the 10 gallon terrarium with sand stuff to hide under and small crickets to eat. This one seems a bit darker than others.. anyone else live in southeast Kansas caught one?
— Sokotra, August 27, 2007

HELP
Hi I hope someone can help me I get these fast little skinks in my house everyday matter of fact there is 2 in my house now and I am terrified of lizards can someone please tell me how to keep them out of my house, and I heard they were poisonous and some ppl say they r not which is it yes or no? email me at blackvelvet021@aol.com and let me know. p.s put in the subject line blue tailed lizard, thanks
— Anita ( Mississippi), August 24, 2007

SPEEDY GONZALAS
There's a blue tailed skink in my yard. It's so fast i call him Speedy Gonzlas. i can't catch him yet but when i do, hil be my Speedy Gonzalas
— R C M, August 8, 2007

whatever they are in that pic
I have a yard full of them all over my house.I have an 1800's cabin and I think they live under my house.I see them all over.They scare me.Are they harmless or what?
— Deanna, July 30, 2007

The Skinks
Over the summer I caught 4 Blue Tailed skinks and I keept them as pets. They all eat insects then they all died.[NO I'm just kiding.]There stil all alive.All the lizerds have the same nik name like A.K.A STRIPER. FROM TENNESSEE!!
— Alex, July 29, 2007

This is AWSOME!
Hi, Yesterday I lifted up a rock and found something that looked like a snake with eggs. I got my parents cause I thought that it was a snake,I found out shortly that it was a Blue Tailed Lizzard Mom!with eggs,my dad busted one of the eggs to make sure that it wasnt snake eggs...it wasnt,IT WAS BABY BLUE TAILED LIZZARDS! right now I am going to keep them all...2 of them dided though! But I still have 2 eggs that havent hatched yet..and one egg hatched today and one hatched yesterday!So now im going to have 4 baby Blue Tailed LIzzards!...

And Baby Blue Tailed Lizzards r so friendly but i dont know what they eat! Im goin to keep all of them cause they are so cute!

A TIP:

If you ever have blue tailed lizzard eggs:If the eggs are soft that means they are getting ready to hatch so be ready!!!
— Brittany, July 27, 2007

hi
i found one while camping and kept him for a pet for my son.
— martina, July 19, 2007

chlorine
can clorhine kill them?
— lexy, July 19, 2007

i found one by our pool and am keeping iit as a pet i would like everyone to know that they are very fast and harmless they like a moist area with thing to climb on and hide under i would recomend special food for it such as the kind that the pet store recomends, hope this helps.
— lexy, July 18, 2007

My kids found one wandering through my basement today, what a beautiful little fella. They said it was very hard to catch. So they are in Vienna Virginia as well
— Jody MacDonald, July 15, 2007

These aren't blue tails,they are yellow
I have about 8 in my backyard,they live under some logs.They dont have blue tails ,they have yellow tails,with 5 strips a few shades brighter ,a glimpse they look like platinum gold jewelry,the biggest one is about 7in from head to toe.If you want them ,come catch them.Seguin,Tx.send e mail for direction beaface5@aol.com
— Kevin Stewart, May 17, 2007

Just found this little blue tailed skink, after running over it with my atv, it's unfortunate that his tail fell off, apparently tails grow back much shorter and stubbier than before. It's rather interesting... His tail continued wiggling even after it had fallen off. He's a cute little dude, and I'd guess he's not hurt after being run over by how fast he is!
— Luke, April 26, 2007

Now in Rocklin CA...very near Auburn CA
I read about these lizards over 15 years ago (I'm now 21) but never saw one until my Dad started building on an oldest, undisturbed piece of property in Rocklin. He hit a nest of them while building a wall and helped them move to safety. I caught one earlier today while weeding and will tame and take him to Los Angeles where he will become my apartment pet (we go to UCLA and he has blue and gold colors).

I do not believe he these skinks are native to the region because they are much slower than the alligator lizards and blue-bellys and, furthermore, stick out like a sore thumb in the usually dry and green-brown landscape of placer county. I think they were brought here from the outside and have flourished in the short term due to the favorable conditions brought about by construction in Placer (i.e. countless (over 300 yds on our property alone)new rock walls while preserving reserves and wildlife.)

Please email me with any pet care advice. Thanks - Marshall
— Marshall J, September 13, 2006

Very Kewl!
Hi,

I just saw one for the very first time. We've been living in SW Florida for 2 years now, I had never even so much as heard of them. What a beautiful blue tail! It passed underneath the screen door of our porch and immediately ran underneath the nearest planter...and then it hissed! Did I imagine it or do these lizards actually hiss?

Thanxxx in Advance, LL1
— LL1, September 12, 2006

Western Skink found in Auburn, CA
Was grading at a friends home with my tractor and after we did all the work, we saw a blue tailed lizard sliding around the fresh cold dirt. Everyday I try to find something neat for my boys to look at and this one so far topped it. A blue tailed "Western Skink" is one of the prettiest lizards I have seen. Looks like a Salamandor to me more than a lizard. Going to try to keep it for a few days and feed it to learn more about it. Other than dead spiders, live crickets and I think I read some old fruit, what else will this eat easily to keep it healthy? Have to keep it away from my boys to ensure the tail stays on and keep looking great. :)
— Craig, September 10, 2006

My husband is seeing things
While my husband waters every morning, he see the blue tailed lizard in the garden. I have never see one so I inquired on the innernet to see if they were common.I still haven't seen one, But thank you all for letting me know their real.
— Sherree, September 9, 2006

found blue tail lizard in my house.
beautiful of her color... yeah... funny for me .. chase her .. wow! she's too fast run.. hide anywhere .. now i catch her .. i keep it unitl who want blue tail lizard... i live in jonesboro, arkansas... please send e-mail me back any time ... thanks
— stacy rogers, August 31, 2006

how cool they are
blue tailed lizards are really cool they have nice tailes.
— christina cogar, August 11, 2006

FRUIT LOOPS
I HAVE ONE THAT COMES AND GOES FROM MY HOUSE AS IT PLEASES. WE HAVE EVEN GIVEN HIM A NAME. THE OTHER MORNING I WAS ON THE PHONE WHEN I HEARED A STRANGE NOISE, I TURNED A ROUND AND THERE WAS GATOR MUCHING AWAY ON A BLUE FRUIT LOOP THAT MY SON HAD DROPPED
— HOLLY, August 8, 2006

Blue Tailed in Skink in Madisonville, LA
I didn't know what these things were. I thought it was a lizard. My neighbor said it was a salamander but I discovered online today that is it a skink! I have several of these blue tailed skinks inside & outside of my new house in Madisonville, LA (on the north shore from New Orleans). I have a creek behind my house, maybe that's why I see so many now, because they like the water. I lived only 12 miles away in Covington, LA and never saw a single one. The latest one I saw was this morning in my kitchen floor as my cat tried to chase & kill it. It was just a baby waddling back & forth & not that fast. I caught it & freed it outside. Happy skink...unhappy cat!
— Tara Thomason, July 11, 2006

Lizard lover
Lizards are not poisonous except for gila monsters and mexican bearded lizards. the tails on other lizards are meant to come off and allow the lizard to escape the predator, the bright colors on the tails are to draw attention not warn off. Keep your carburator cleaner to yourself. thank you for reading
— Wesley, June 22, 2006

They are very dangerous to cats if cats eat them, them are poisonous. Symtons are loss of balance, dizziness, etc. Ours had these systons at 9:00pm and the vet immediately kept her for 3 nights and administered antibiotics. It's been 4 weeks and she's much better but still runs into a wall or two - but she lived!
— Lisa Anderson, June 4, 2006

saw one in my driveway yesterday. he was already dead and did not have a tail. my neighbors cat has meowed for 2 nites and keeps trying to climb in my windows. i think he ate it. we are in charleston sc. my friend called today and said she saw 2 out on kiawah island.
— kim jones, April 25, 2006

I found one in our yard in NW PA
We saw one of these lizards in our grass and got a couple pictures of it. We haven't been able to find any thing else on them but what is on here. Seems like they are every place.
— Grace, November 28, 2005

My Blue-tailed Skink
I found a Blue-tailed skink in my bathtub.I caught it and am keeping it for a pet.I just wanted to tell everyone that it really likes to hide in seashells.
— Shawn, November 13, 2005

is it ponisouis
I HAVE ONE AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW IS IT POSINIOUYS OR NOT AND IS IT A LAND THING OR A WATER TYPE. BUT MY BRTOHER LOVE ANIMALS LIKE THAT I DONT ECAUSE THEY ARE WERID AND THAT THEY ARE NOT NICE
— ASHLEY RIGGINS, August 15, 2005

We have blue tailed lizards living in our yard. We have had them for years. Just last Wednesday, I was getting ready to mow our yard and had to move a board that had been placed on the ground. When I lifted it up, there were four, very small, oval shaped tan eggs. The mother blue tailed lizard was wrapped around them. Just this past Sunday, four baby lizards were hatched. They all have brilliant blue tails. What an exciting site! Karan, S.,KY July 27, 2005
— Karan, July 27, 2005

Louisville,KY
WE SAW ONE! It is living in our backyard, it first scurried off of the back porch out into the yard. Two days later, we saw it climbing around on the house. I tried to kill it with a broom and sprayed it with carburator cleaner. It got away, it was too fast. We wanted a look at it to identify it.Found out what it was on the internet. I just don't want my pets to get ahold of it. Never had one living right in the yard. Never even saw one before!
— Subie90, July 24, 2005

I take it no one has or knows of a cure or treatment for aiding the hapless cats who seem to be poisoned by these skink tails????
— don, July 17, 2005

Cool Site!
I'm so glad this site is here. We just moved into a new house about a month ago when my Dad started spotting our little lizards. We weren't sure what they were so I got on-line to do some checking. They seem to be just about everywhere. We live in central Indiana! Cool!
— Rebecca, June 4, 2005

Dog ate Blue Tail~Help?!?
Does anyone know what to do for an animal that has eaten one of these? I can't get him into the Vet 'till thurs. I found him chewing on what was left of the skink a few days ago but didn't know they were posionious. He now has a HUGE knot on his neck but acts like he feels fine. I am trying to find a vet to see him sooner but am afraid because the Knot is getting bigger!
— karen, May 23, 2005

I was outside a few minutes ago, and looked down, and to my surprise there was a little lizard in my yard. He had the most beautiful tail, almost glowing like. I caught him, and then i looked him up on the internet, and ended up here. lol. just thought i would tell you. I live in alabama.
— Paige, May 22, 2005

Blue tails in abundance in Tryon, NC
We have an abundance of blue tail's around our house in Tryon, NC. They seem to enjoy playing hide and seek and are no where as friendly as the Anole's that live here too. The Anoles like the Camellia Bush better than the Blue Tails. The blue's love the rocks and the bricks on the front porch.

Only thing that I know that these critters don't like is black snakes. Seems we have one who drops in for dinner occassionaly. I have captured him and removed him as far from the house as possible. I prefer the friendly lil critters to the black snake.
— Dallas Williams, May 20, 2005

Blue tailed skink poisoned my cat??
This has also happened to me about 10 years ago.I actually witnessed my Siamese cat catching a blue tailed skink and eating it very quickly before i could get it,the next day my cat seemed to have a dialated pupil and also some sort of parilization in the neck,causing it to keep its head turned to the side.I then took my cat to the vet and he told me the it had probably eaten a blue tailed skink recently,i told him yes that i had witnessed it.Unfortunately my cat did not make a full recovery but lived for about another year and 1/2.Is this just a very rare and unsual coinsident???
— DeWayne, March 13, 2005

Blue tailed skink poisoned my cat??
Years ago when looking into my siamese cat's eyes, I noticed one of her pupils was undilated while the other was fully dilated. Very Spooky!! The vet checked her for neurological problems and concluded that she had probably "just eaten a blue tailed skink." He said this could account for her pupil dilation as it acted as a poison. Blue tailed skinks were very common in our area of Alabama. She made a full recovery. Anyone else ever have a similar experience with this type of skink???
— elizabeth, September 22, 2004

My girls and I just love these blue-tailed skinks. My girls can catch them a lot easier than I can--they are really fast! The stinks love to hide just under the edge of the siding on our house and let their blue tails hang down on the cement blocks below to tantalize us. We've seen up to six of them at one time around the outside of our house. We just LOVE these entertaining little creatures. They are so cute!
— Lisa in Michigan, May 11, 2004

I've seen several of these lizards in central Louisiana. I was actually researching these a little bit for part of a school assignment and there are evidently two species of blue tailed skinks, western and mole. The western one looks like the one pictured and is generally said to be around California. The mole one seems to be labeled as "threatened" and lives primarily in Florida. The ones I've seen are western I think, so they must be more widespread.
— Ryan, February 16, 2004

I have seen them on a tree outside my apartment in Easton, MD.
— Richard L Tucker, October 28, 2003

Neighbor found one
This evening my neighbor brought one over that he caught in his driveway. This one is only about 1-1.5" long, body and tail. I have never seen a lizard like this. How common are these little things in Wichita, Kansas? All information that I find indicates that they are only west of the Rockies. Would somebody kindly educate me about this little guy? Should we keep him as a pet or should we let him go?
— Meier Family, October 12, 2003

Blue Tail Lizard
Boy am I glad I finally found this page....We Moved into our new house a year and a half ago... Last Spring My son was at the age of telling tall tales when he told his mother and I about a blue tail lizard he saw out on our deck.... Not believing him for weeks we both began seeing the blue tail lizards...They live in our flowerbox and we have seen up to 4 to 5 of them.... We have seen them this summer too... We joked with the previous owners about them bringing them back from Florida in there Luggage... How that all may be true as I here they are indiginous to the South... We are here in Southern Ohio East of Cincinnati.... and none of our neighbors have seen them in there yards...

Certainly a beautiful Blue Tail...and are they Fasssssssssst........

Just wanted to share
— Michael, October 4, 2003

I just saw a blue tailed lizard in my garage in Thousand Oaks California. Kinda freaked me out. The tail was so blue it was almost glowing. I think I accidently sprayed it with bug spray. Thats when I saw it run.
— Scott, October 3, 2003

my two blu tails
i have two blue-tails at home...i actually have more at my job cause i catch them pretty easily since they are every where out here..as a matter of fact i cant seem to go a day with out seeing at least four or five of them at work here in norfolk v.a..........but why do i keep hearing they are poisonus
— Damien, September 30, 2003

I used to catch these guys as a kid. I have a lot of good memories scouring the Southern California hillsides (Thousand Oaks) looking under dumped trash for a juvenile with a really bright tail. I had to be quick as these guys were fast and skittered into the grass in an instant.
— Robert Philippo, September 29, 2003

I found one today. I'm at work and went to the bathroom and this little guy darts across the floor. And they are not easy to catch. But I managed to do so without injury to him or myself. He's going home with me and will be a nice addition to my other pets (a True Fire Skink, milk snake, corn snake, 2 golden geckos, fire belly frog, trantula and a scorpion).
— L Kincaid, September 26, 2003

how to care for your blue tail lizard
this lizards are very easy to care for i have six of them myself and they are do very well i tryed to feed them several things but it all boils down to crickets they love the crikets besides that a nice tank and things to climb on and under and a drinking bowl and you will be just fine i hope this helps good luck
— bernie, September 19, 2003

they have alot of fun at night
— christopher gilbert, September 18, 2003

Noticed all the comments about Blue Tailed Lizards (Skinks) and just had to add my story. Dateline Louisville, KY: When I got in my shower this morning I had a visitor, that's right, a Blue Tailed Skink! What a surprise! I caught it, not an easy task by the way, and let it go outside.
— C Lilly, September 18, 2003

A third grade teacher found a small lizard with a bright blue tail. He turned it over to our gifted class to identify and care for it. We placed it in our terrarium and have now identified it as a western blue tail skink (or lizard). We will try to feed it for a few days, then set it free near the school. Thanks for the information at your website! ....Sweetwater Elementary School 5th Grade Students
— Program Challenge Sweetwater, September 17, 2003

I have one as a pet
I found a blue tailed skink here in Kansas, I keep him as a pet. He is called Blue and he is by far the most beautiful of all lizards.
— Joan Perkins, KCK, September 16, 2003

found a blue-tailed lizard today(skink)
we found a skink at a sand playground that was located at rocky point mountains in chatsworth california it was a very metallic bright blue and very wet looking skin, it was pretty.
— julia and jose, September 14, 2003

Blue Tailed Skinks are good!
Folks have asked if the blue tailed lizards are poisonous or harmful. The answer to both questions is NO!

The Blue Tailed Lizard is actually a Skink (type of lizard) and is harmless in all respects. It will bite only if seriously provoked and the bite is so weak that it is harmless and not painful.

This Skink, like most lizards eats insects and other small pests, so they are actually very good to have around.

Someone also asked if a detached tail will grow back. The answer is yes, but it will be stubby and not the pretty blue.

So, treat your skinks kindly! :)

For more information you can do a Google search on "Blue Tailed Skink" or just go to: http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-tailed+skink
— John, September 11, 2003

How to get one out of my house!
Does any one know how to capture a blue tail lizard? I saw one scurrying across my den floor and I sure don't want him watching TV with me. gossett4@juno.com
— Charmaine Gossett, September 8, 2003

Found one today!
I found a blue-tailed lizard today. My brother did actually. He is a very pretty creature, especially his tail. That is a gorgeous tail. He is only like maybe 2 inches long.He is just a baby. He is a keeper. Anyone know how to take care him as a pet. E-mail me please.
— Ashley, September 8, 2003

today when I went outside I saw something blue and guess what it was a blue tailed lizard.I wanted to set it free but I didn't know if it was poisinous what should I do?
— Dillon, September 7, 2003

found injured blue tail
As I was emptying the trash in my office I found a blue tail in the bottom of the basket. It appears to be injured and is not using it's back legs. I don't want to release it if it cannot fend for itself. What can I do to help this creature!!??
— Carol, September 4, 2003

what is it
what is this blue tailed lizard and is it poisiones
— brittany, September 3, 2003

This is wild. I burried a bathtub for a worm bed in Clarkston, WA After about a month I noticed something in the wormbed. It was a 6" female Blue Tail. I now have Mamma, and two 2" young ones. If any one knows what Blue Tails do in wimnter please e-mail me as I don't know. Thanks.
— Bill Wall, September 3, 2003

saw one
I saw one in Tennessee.I dont know if they are harmful or not?
— John Bodoly, September 3, 2003

Student Speciman
My student brought me a blue tailed creature found in her mother's garden in Northwest Missouri.
— Mrs H, September 3, 2003

We have lots of them here. It is a myth that their tails do not grow back. They do grow back, very slowly and not as pretty as they once were though.
— Karen, September 2, 2003

Lots and Lots of blue tails
Over the summer I have seen about 10 blue tailed lizards underneath my house and around my property. Ranging from 4 inches to about 10 inches I have considered cathing one. Anyone have any advice on doing so. BTW I live in newburgh indiana about a block from the ohio river.
— Carson Catlin, September 2, 2003

Found two in San Diego
I saw one of these two beauties on my front walk. I was just amazed. Then yesterday I fished a little on out of the pool and he was just about dead. I set him on some warm cement and about an hour later he was gone. My kids thought it was awesome.
— Jeff Richards, September 1, 2003

in Charlotte, NC
I tried to catch the lizard that was walking across my floor, and it's tail came off, I felt soo bad!! but I didn't want it crawling all over the house....finally I got it to run out the front door.....it's ashame the tail dosen't grow back, it was so pretty!
— Kay, Charlotte, NC, August 20, 2003

In Northeast Florida, we call these guys Blue Streaks. They are extremely fast, and can be quite territorial. They can also grow to be a very good size, 12 inches is not uncommon. They can also be aggressive during their mating season, late January, and will even bite a cat! But they are good at keeping unwanted bugs (cockroaches) and such away. If their tail breaks off, it will heal but not grow back. Their Latin name is Eumeces egregius lividus. The common name is Blue Tailed Skink.
— DCPulley, August 20, 2003

in Charlotte, NC
I was sitting on my couch watching TV, and this blue tailed lizard was just walking across my floor!!! I couldn't believe it, but it is the most interesting thing I've seen!!
— Kay, Charlotte, NC, August 20, 2003

Does anyone know if the tail will grow back, if it breaks off?
— Lisa, August 20, 2003

blue tailed lizard
hi, i live in New Jersey and i just walked outside and it was sitting trapped in a bucket so i let it go and took a few pics. This creature is awesome.
— Patrick, August 10, 2003

Lizard ate his tail!
Found this great blue tailed lizard or salamander in my real estate office in Redmond, Oregon. Lost his tail in capture, but then proceeded to eat it while in the coffee cup. Thinking of keeping it for an office mascot...Does anybody know anything about our new pet????
— Debbie Hershey, August 8, 2003

blue tailed lizard
i live in a town south of nashville called murfreesboro, and i am no stranger to these pretty little guys. There is a nature trail here called the Greenway populated with them. you have to be quick, though!
— d shearon, August 8, 2003

Surprised sighting in Orlando, Florida
This morning a friend of mine shared the sighting of this beautiful Blue Tailed Lizard in Orlando, Florida. It was very shy, but did pop out to catch some flying bugs. Having lived here for a few years, neither one of us has ever seen this type of lizard. Now we wonder if it will survive here? I see, in other postings, this lizard is usually seen in the Western U.S., and then the Smokies. Well, it has been quite a thrill seeing this colorful Blue Tail.
— M M Stadler, August 6, 2003

I don't know what they eat but they do scramble good with eggs
— bubba in smokies, August 2, 2003

I have these beautiful creatures where I live in SE Washington st. I love watching them. You can tell where they got the name Blue Tailed Racer.
— Bill Wall, July 31, 2003

is it harmless?
— someone, July 31, 2003

I live in central Mississippi and just caught one of these little buggers scampering across my living room! I wanted to keep it to show my kids so I put it in a jar and went out to catch some tiny bugs. I moved a rock and there was a second one! The pair are waiting to impress my kids now. I thought it was kind of weird that I'd never seen one just like this before and now I found two in half an hour! I noticed someone said they eat moths and I've noticed a lot of moths on my deck at dusk. Maybe they drew them. How large do these grow? These two are between 3-4".
— Cynthia, July 28, 2003

We found an awesome blue tailed lizard right next to our pool in California. It was amazing!
— Someone in Somewhere, July 28, 2003

The brilliant blue tail
We were at Cowans Gap State Park located in PA for a day of cooking out, paddleboating, swimming, and hiking when we saw this brilliant blue tailed lizard "skutter" across a picnic table. We were inquisitive about what exactly we saw.... it was so beautiful.
— Louise Davis/ Bobby Parks JR, July 27, 2003

I found one in my house in western Wyoming. I thought it was very strange to find one here.
— Nina pack, July 23, 2003

Ok, I live in Michigan, and we've never seen anything like this before. Could anyone tell us or me anything about this lizard?
— Amanda, July 20, 2003

the blue tail skink is very common in all the usa mainly in temperate climats i spent many summers in W.V. chacing them as a kid and i just caught on on my faters property in OH. while remiving a bee hive
— Zac, July 17, 2003

Western Blue Tailed Lizard
My husband and I were hiking to the top of Castle Craigs Park in Dunsmuir, California when we came across this wonderous creature. We thought for a moment that we were seeing things as we've never seen anything like it. In trying to get a photo of this lizard, my husband lost his footing and almost tripped. Luckily he has excellant balance. What a wonderful gift from God to see and allow me to take a breather! Michele Parks
— Michele Parks, July 15, 2003

That is actual a western blue-tailed skink whick is a type of lizard that eats spiders,grasshoppers,and moths. ,bradley
— bradley, July 14, 2003

I have one of these blued tailed lizards running around my place in Nevada City, California. They are beautiful.
— Romaine, July 10, 2003

hi, we spotted one of these blue tailed lizards in our garden. We were shocked to see something this bizzare where we live and are wondering where these come from and where their natural habitat is??? Please email us with the answer. thanks!
— sarah, July 1, 2003

blue tailed lizard
I live in Indiana and found one of these in my basement. I have never seen or heard of these before and was trying to find out what it was when I ran across this picture on the web. Where are these generally found?
— Susan Morrow, June 21, 2003

Maybe you should say what it eats. No offense.
— jimbo, May 15, 2003

Glad to help. I always like to identify things, so I did a search on "skink" (I did know it was probably a skink), and out popped the wesetren skink.
— Steve Axford, August 10, 2002

Beautiful blue tail
But are you sure that's a salamander? It looks like a lizard to me - probably a juvenile western skink (Eumeces skiltonianus). http://www.wildherps.com/species/E.skiltonianus.html
— Steve Axford, August 9, 2002