Author: Scott Bowler | Published: April 3, 2025 | Category: Species Spotlight
This article originally appeared in The Source Weekly on March 12, 2025.
They’re where you find them.
Oregon is home to more than two dozen species of lizards and snakes—many found in our high desert. These reptiles range from legless to four-legged with five toes. Most lay eggs, yet some give birth to live young. Some eat insects and small animals, but others love plants. Many can swim in water, and some can “swim” through sand. There’s an extraordinary variety among these species’ habitats, behaviors and characteristics.
While vastly different, one thing these creatures all have in common is that they are plentiful — and fun to spot when you are out experiencing desert wildlands. Desert reptiles may not always appear abundant to visitors, as they frequent specific habitats under limited conditions. But, if you head out east between spring and fall, and you know where to look, chances are you’ll see at least a few of these compelling species.
Reptile Habitats
Reptiles in Oregon’s high desert are quite widespread, though few are especially common. You may see lots at some times and places or none if conditions are not right. It takes commitment, and an understanding of their needs and behaviors, to find more than a few different species.
Most of Oregon’s native snake species, such as the rubber boa, western rattlesnake, garter snakes and racer, can be found in a variety of habitats.
However, many desert reptiles have quite specific habitat needs, which make the conditions in which you may find them far more specific. The pygmy short-horned lizard, western fence Lizard and gopher snake are desert reptiles found specifically in shrub-steppe habitats such as sagebrush deserts, juniper woodlands and open coniferous forests. The more particular needs of the long-nosed snake and the night snake, which are both nocturnal and feed on cold-blooded prey on cool nights, make them partial to arid desert habitats found in eastern Oregon.
It might be helpful to note that habitat specificity should not be mistaken for scarcity. The most common lizard in Oregon’s high desert is the western skink, found in moist places such as under rocks, desert scrub, juniper or in grasslands. Other species frequently found in eastern Oregon’s desert and semi-arid shrublands are the western whiptail, desert horned lizards and long-nosed leopard lizards, which all prefer flat, sandy areas. Additionally, the Mojave black-collard lizard is quite common, and specifically prefers to perch atop rock outcrops.
Reptile Behaviors
One reason reptiles are not always present has to do with temperature, as they are famously “cold-blooded” or exothermic. This does not necessarily mean that their blood is always cold, but it does mean that they are dependent on external factors to warm or cool themselves. Thus, they’re not likely to be active on very cold days, nor by the same token on really hot days. They need that just right “Goldilocks” temperature zone.
Most species will come out of hiding in the morning to find a place to bask in the sun and warm up. When it becomes too warm, most will then retreat to a shady, cooler spot to wait out the hottest part of the day. In practice, I’ve found most reptiles active from mid-morning hours into early afternoon. On hot summer days, many species retreat to shelter and come back out as temperatures moderate.
Several species practice communal denning over the winter, which allows them to share body heat, increasing survival odds. From our standpoint, this can provide for some trail excitement if you happen to be out walking on the day when, say, dozens of hungry rattlesnakes exit their nearby den and disperse across your route.
Side-blotched lizards are among the first to come out in the spring, even on quite cool days — perhaps because their smaller bodies need more frequent food than bigger reptiles capable of catching larger prey, such as collared lizards or gopher (bull) snakes.
As for prey, smaller lizards mostly consume arthropods, although larger, faster and more aggressive ones like collared, alligator and leopard lizards consume anything they can catch, including other reptiles, small mammals or even birds. Snakes are excellent hunters, deploying a variety of strategies to capture their meal: waiting in ambush, climbing into shrubs, slithering down burrows, heat-tracking (like rattlesnakes), chasing down their prey (like whipsnakes) and even swimming. While garter snakes are our most aquatic species, I’ve even seen a rattlesnake swimming holding a small fish!
Habitat Protection
With such specific, limited habitats being critical to the lives of desert reptiles, it’s particularly important that the landscapes they prefer be supported and protected. Organizations like Oregon Natural Desert Association work to protect essential habitat, wildlife corridors and ecosystems that provide native species, including reptiles, the best chance of survival. With a robust community of advocates pursuing conservation, there are many ways to get involved in efforts that promote a healthy desert ecosystem.
While illusive, desert reptiles are in fact widespread enough to be one of our most often encountered high desert denizens. Keep a look out this spring, as they’re particularly abundant and fun to watch while they conduct their seasonal antics.
—Scott Bowler is a retired science educator and volunteer with Oregon Natural Desert Association.
