Watch out for short-horned lizards

GREAT FALLS – Montana of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is asking the public for help in monitoring the giant short-horned iguanas.

If you see one of these lizards, please let FWP know its location, date of sighting and, if possible, a photo.

The greater short-horned iguana is a species “of greatest inventory need,” meaning FWP does not have enough information on it to establish a baseline of the lizard’s major locations within the state.

The Great Shorthorned Lizard is often mistaken for a toad, but is easily recognized by its heart-shaped head with horns and tail. They are usually the size of a hand, no bigger than a mobile phone, and are found in grasslands or sparsely vegetated areas.

“The public’s observations were the best resource for us as we tried to develop this good methodology,” said Brandi Skone, a non-wildlife Region 4 wildlife biologist for FWP. “We actually found that getting a lot more observations from the public was a way to expand our database.”

The lizards are not very dangerous to humans, but FWP recommends observing them respectfully from a distance.

You can report a sighting by email or phone, or use nature apps such as iNaturalist or the Motana National Heritage Program app.

Montana FWP can be contacted by email at [email protected] or by phone at (406) 444-2440.

MT FWP