A chain link fence separates our farmette from an acre of land that has mature fruit trees, mostly sweet and sour cherries and wild plums. No one lives there anymore. The man who owned it passed away and the property has passed to his heirs. At some point, the land will be sold, but until a new owner takes control of the property it has become a wildlife habitat for many species.
Fruit, anyone?
I love peering through the fence. By moonlight, I’ve spotted an occasional owl and also an opossum. Throughout the day, songbirds and woodpeckers share space with squirrels on branches of the eucalyptus, pine, willow, and oak trees.
My neighbor's large fig tree
Some of the critters dine on the wild berries and the fruit clinging to trees. Although the apricots and cherries are gone, the small yellow and sweet red plums that hang close enough to the fence for me to pick are now ripe. Many have fallen to the ground where ants and other insects are devouring them.
Are there more like you under the brush?
This morning, as usual, I strolled over to the fence with my cup of steaming coffee. A lizard darted from under nearby brush onto an old log and slid into position to catch some rays. I confess I’m not a big fan of lizards, but this one seemed pretty nonthreatening and, in fact, was kind of cute.
Small fig we planted in May 2010
Is that your secret gift to a bloodsucker?
A quick check on the California Academy of Science website revealed that my newfound acquaintance is a Western fence lizard, common to many parts of California. But here’s what I found really interesting: scientists have discovered that the lizards have a blood protein that kills the Borellia burgdorferi bacterium that causes Lyme disease. After the Western black-legged tick that carries the bacterium in its gut sucks the blood of a Western fence lizard, the tick is cleansed of the bacterium.
Zowie! I have newfound respect for that long-tailed little fellow.
