Considering that most lizard species are considered predatory animals, it’s very easy to imagine them as a dangerous sight to most smaller creatures in the animal kingdom, and while this is true, lizards are still a common snack for many large predators.
Whether it’s due to their incredible long-range vision, quick agility and speed, or simply a unique method of hunting, many animals will deploy different tactics to catch lizards out in the wild for food.
With that being said though, while many people are aware of what lizards enjoy eating, not as many know exactly what animals enjoy feasting on these small reptilian creatures, and that’s what we’re going to take a look at today.
Here are 6 animals that will always eat a lizard whenever they spot one out in the wild.
1. Hawks
Hawks are known for being fierce predators who scour the land while gliding across the blue skies, and thanks to their incredibly accurate vision which can spot even the smallest creatures from a mile away, it makes lizards one of their primary targets.
Lizards also stand out to hawks because they are ectotherms, meaning they need to bask in the sunlight to regulate their body temperature, and since they can only scuttle up to 15 mph, they are no match for a hawk that can glide up to 100mph when hunting.
Since lizards also have no way to defend themselves from airborne predators, they are easy prey for hawks, especially in sandy deserts where they can’t hide as easily.
2. Snakes
Despite both being reptiles, there’s no family bond shared between snakes and lizards, and since both tend to reside in the same geographical environments, it makes sense that lizards would be a quick and easy snack for snakes.
You also have to consider the fact that lizards breed in big numbers, making them a very common sight in woodlands and deserts, and because snakes need enough sun in the day to keep their bones and gut healthy, they will often run into lizards during their travels.
Just like with the rest of their food, snakes will first inject venom into the lizard to subdue it before eating, but if they are a bigger species such as a python or boa, they can also use their thick coil to constrict their prey instead.
3. Wolves
While wolves tend to feed on “hooved animals” such as deer, sheep, and chamois, when their food source starts to run out, they will then move on to smaller animals including rodents and reptiles.
Because of this, and the fact that wolves are able to live in much colder climates than lizards, the two don’t meet very often, but wolves are known for traveling very far to find their next meal, even trekking up to 30 miles in a day in some instances.
Therefore, all it takes is for a wolf to enter a rainforest, mountain, or desert region to catch a glimpse of a lizard, and since there are only 2 known poisonous lizards in the world, there’s also no need for the wolf to be cautious when catching their prey.
4. Cats
Unfortunately, there have been many cases over the years of house cats catching a pet lizard and snacking on it for themselves, which is why anyone keeping both in one household should always be extra careful not to let them come into contact with one another.
However, while trained cats will often think twice before eating a lizard, feral cats will immediately pounce at the chance of a new meal, and because of their incredible agility and speed, catching a lizard is very easy for them.
This is despite the fact that recent research has shown that consuming lizards is actually very bad for cats because many of them carry liver flukes which can move into the cat’s bile duct and potentially lead to inflammation.
5. Fish
Medium to big-sized fish such as the tiger barb, bass, and pike will all happily feed on any lizards that they see swimming in the water such as basilisk lizards and water dragons which have an affinity with aquatic environments.
This doesn’t just work one way however since bigger lizards such as the predatory Komodo dragon will regularly grab fish out of the water, but for the majority of the species that are all much smaller in stature, they are more often than not the one being hunted.
Additionally, aquatic lizards are seen as natural enemies to a lot of predatory fish, especially bass, who will have their egg bed raided by the lizards during the springtime.
It is therefore a natural instinct for many bigger carnivorous fish to kill a lizard as soon as they spot one, even if it poses no threat at that current moment.
6. Raccoons
Lizards are a great source of protein and vitamins for raccoons, making them a staple part of these small furry mammal’s diet.
Raccoons are completely immune to poisoning which could be posed by salmonella germs, so they are able to eat the lizard’s skin without any worry of being harmed in the process, and since they’re seen as opportunistic predators, they’ll eat any type of lizard, big or small.
With that being said though, adult lizards tend to be very fast on their feet, so raccoons will usually prefer to chase younger lizards and will use their sharp claws to dig up the soil if they can hear them scurrying around.
Summary
Many of us can often think of lizards as fairly defensive and, at times, intimidating creatures, especially when they grow much larger in size, but they are actually a common snack for many animals out in the wild who are much larger in stature.
Considering that barely any of them are poisonous and that they have no defensive capabilities, this makes lizards seem even more appetizing to larger predators who are searching for their next quick meal.
This is what inspired me to start The-Lizard-Lounge.com. I wanted to create a space that offers information about the care of various reptiles and lizards, to help those passionate about these animals learn how to care for them.
Join me, and learn all about these fascinating and fantastic creatures!
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