Advice from a Lizard

Lizards are a group of reptiles with over 7,000 species.  They are found across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains. Lizards prefer warmer climates and because they are cold blooded they cannot regulate their body temperature.  They are rarely found in colder countries because they find it difficult to survive.

Lizards range in size from chameleons and geckos which are a few centimetres long to the three metre long Komodo dragon.  Most lizards are quadrupedal meaning they are four-footed.  They use all four feet when walking and running.  Lizards run with a strong side-to-side motion.  

Lizards are often territorial.  Males fight off other males and they signal with bright colours to attract mates and to intimidate any rivals.  Most lizards reproduce by laying eggs. 

Lizards eat garden pests such as slugs and harmful insects.  They often sit-and-wait to attack their prey.  They make use of a number of ways to protect themselves from predators.  These include venom, camouflage, and the ability to sacrifice and regrow their tails.

Lizards are not typically aggressive. Their presence in homes and around yards can be a nuisance. Lizards will bite if threatened. There are no known species that are poisonous.  A few are able to deliver a potent venom with their bite.  Lizards tend to avoid a confrontation and bites are only inflicted when they are cornered and feel threatened.  Most lizard bites do not cause serious health problems. 

Don't freak out if you spot a little lizard in your house.  It may be a good thing.  Most lizards eat insects so they can help get rid of harmful critters in your home or garden.  They often eat spiders, snails, caterpillars, and all kinds of insects that they find crawling about.

Lizards are non-poisonous but their skin carries salmonella. After touching or handling a reptile you must thoroughly wash your hands first, before touching your mouth.  You can infect yourself with salmonella. Lizards live in dark places like behind furniture.  Very few of the species make vocal sounds so it is very rare to hear lizard noises.  

Cold water causes lizards to go into a state of shock.  Because they are cold-blooded creatures, if you splash ice-cold water on them, it will make them immobile. Coffee powder combined with tobacco powder is a very effective way to kill lizards.  Roll the powder into small balls and stick them on toothpicks or matchsticks.  Leave them around the house and if a lizard bites the ball of coffee powder, it will kill the lizard instantly.

Here is the advice from a Lizard as found on the Active for Life Bookmark by Your True Nature.

• Soak up some sun

• Snap up opportunities

• Be a colourful character

• Appreciate stillness

• Keep a low profile

• Shed your old ways

• Be dashing!

Here is what these sayings made me think of as I read them.

• Soak up some sun - get outside and enjoy nature.  

• Snap up opportunities - take advantage of new opportunities.  Don’t wait till you have it all figured out.  Jump in and discover something new.

• Be a colourful character - add some colour to brighten your day

• Appreciate stillness - be still and listen

• Keep a low profile - work quietly in the background

• Shed your old ways - develop new skills and change your old habits that hold you back

• Be dashing! - for a lizard that means move quickly, for a human we think of dressing up and looking our best.

Enjoy your day everyone!

# living life abundantly   # published author   # travelling tuesdays