Lizards are curious creatures that we often see scurrying around our homes and gardens. But have you ever wondered – are they actually afraid of us giant humans?
If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer: most lizards are not innately scared of humans, but they can become wary if they have negative experiences. Their reaction depends on the species, environment, and whether they are used to human interaction.
In this nearly 3,000 word guide, we’ll take a comprehensive look at lizard behavior to understand what really makes them dash away in fear or confidently stay put when we approach.
Lizard Basics: How Do Their Brains and Senses Work?
Visual Perception Abilities
Lizards have excellent vision and heavily rely on their eyesight for hunting, navigating their environment, and detecting predators. Their eyes contain cones and rods that allow them to see colors and detail.
Many lizards like chameleons have eyes that can move independently, giving them a wide field of view. Some gecko species even have sophisticated night vision abilities. Overall, lizards Visual acuity ranges depending on the species – some have vision nearly as sharp as humans while others are more nearsighted.
But in general, lizards have very advanced visual capabilities compared to other reptiles.
Hearing and Smell Capabilities
While lizards depend more on eyesight than other senses, many species also have a strong sense of hearing and smell. Lizards lack an outer ear, but have a workings inner ear with an eardrum and bones that transmit vibrations.
This allows them to pick up low-frequency sounds and detect prey or predators moving nearby. Some lizards like geckos can even vocalize. When it comes to smell, lizards use their forked tongue to collect chemical samples from the air and ground.
These are analyzed by an organ called the vomeronasal or Jacobson’s organ. So lizards have a decent sense of smell that aids their hunting and ability to recognize others.
Fight or Flight Response
When lizards sense a potential threat through sight, sound, or smell, their instinctive reaction is either to flee quickly or freeze in place hoping to avoid detection. Smaller lizard species rely more on speed to escape predators.
Larger lizards may try to blend in with their surroundings by changing color. If forced to fight, lizards will bite or use their tails to slap enemies – though this is a last resort. Their brains are wired for the “fight or flight” response to perceived dangers.
Lizards also have a release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. So they definitely experience fear and anxiety even if not the same complexity of emotions as humans.
Specific Lizard Species and Their Typical Reactions
Small House Geckos
Small house geckos like Hemidactylus species are very accustomed to human environments and often enter homes looking for insects to eat (1). They tend to exhibit little fear towards humans and will cling to walls and ceilings while people walk below them.
Quick movements may startle them, causing them to rapidly run away and hide, but overall they seem more intrigued by than afraid of humans in their territory.
Fence and Backyard Lizards
Common fence and backyard lizards like anoles, skinks, and swifts are more wary of humans than small house geckos (2). These small- to medium-sized lizards often bask on fences, trees, and logs in yards and may flee and hide when people approach within 10-15 feet.
Fast movements or direct approaches can trigger their strong escape response, causing them to rapidly dart away to vegetation cover. But if humans move slowly and indirectly, many backyard lizards seem to accept human presence to some degree, allowing observation from a reasonable distance.
Large Monitor Lizards
In contrast to smaller synanthropic species, large monitor lizards found worldwide tend to show much stronger avoidance behaviors towards humans (3). For example, the Komodo dragon which can grow over 10 feet long are known to avoid areas of high human activity, limiting close encounters in the wild.
Most monitors utilize speed, biting, hissing, clawing, and whipping tails when defending themselves, though unprovoked attacks are rare. Historical reports of monitor “ferocity” have been exaggerated and most negative interactions result from human encroachment on sensitive nesting areas.
In areas where regular ecotourism occurs, increased monitor habituation to humans has been documented over recent decades (4).
Lizard Group | Typical Reaction Distance | Defensive Behaviors |
---|---|---|
Small House Geckos | Allow very close approach | Flee sudden movements |
Common Backyard Lizards | Flee at 10-15 feet | Rapid escape; hide |
Large Monitor Lizards | Avoid areas of human activity | Bite/claw/tail whip if threatened |
(1) Geckos in Homes: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/reptiles/gecko1.htm
(2) Anole Responses: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3892507
(3) Monitor Defenses: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1990.tb05930.x
(4) Monitor Habituation: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000632070700284X
What Influences Lizard Behavior Around Humans
Regular Exposure and Interaction
Lizards that are regularly exposed to harmless interactions with humans tend to become habituated over time. This means they learn not to perceive humans as a threat. Lizards in urban areas or popular hiking spots often exhibit tame behavior around people since they are frequently encountered.
However, even urban lizards may initially react skittishly if approached too suddenly. With routine positive exposure though, these reptiles recognize that humans in their habitat do not pose a danger. Their fight-or-flight response is diminished through this learned experience.
Some indications that a lizard has become accustomed to human company include:
- Allows people to get relatively close without fleeing
- May approach or linger near areas where people are present
- Appears visibly calm rather than agitated when humans are around
- Displays curious behaviors like head-bobbing or watching people
This comfort with human presence develops over time as the lizards learn we are not predators. With regular neutral interactions, the lizards habituate and no longer view us as threatening.
Environment and Safety
Lizards rely heavily on camouflage and speed for predator evasion. If they perceive their environment as unsafe due to a lack of hiding spots or obstacles, they may demonstrate more skittish behaviors.
Open areas without vegetation or rocks for cover amplify a lizard’s perception of threat since they lose their primary defenses.
Some examples of insecure environments that could make lizards more apprehensive include:
- Manicured lawns or gardens with minimal ground cover
- Exposed sandy beaches or open fields
- Bare rock landscapes with sparse crevices
- Areas recently cleared of vegetation
Lizards may associate the vulnerability of these settings with higher predation risk. Without their go-to strategies for evasion, they often react more fearfully to any potential threat, including humans. Providing more hiding and escape routes can help reduce fearful behaviors.
Handling by Humans
Getting picked up or restrained can be very alarming for lizards. Since they rely on fleeing to safety, being grabbed by a much larger predator like a human triggers considerable fear. Even if people have harmless intentions, being held against their will can cause panic.
Signs of stress from handling may include:
- Attempts to bite or whip their tails
- Wild thrashing to break free
- Screeching distress calls
- Defecating or urinating
- Remaining completely motionless and stiff (freezing response)
These behaviors demonstrate how scary and dangerous this interaction is from the lizard’s perspective. Being held captive triggers survival instincts, regardless of the handler’s intent. While some exposure can help habituate them, forced handling often reinforces their fear rather than alleviating it.
It’s best not to grab or pick up a wild lizard unless absolutely necessary.
Conclusion
To conclude, most lizards have the capacity to get used to human presence and learn that we are not predators through regular neutral or positive interaction. However, they rely strongly on sights, smells, and environmental cues to activate their self-preservation instincts when they feel unsafe.
Understanding what makes lizards tick can help us live in better harmony with these curious backyard visitors.