Red Alert: Montanans Want to Avoid Being Sprayed by Bloody Tears

In the spirit of Halloween, we remind outdoor recreation lovers to be on the lookout for a fascinating Montana creature with a creepy talent.

PUFFING UP AND READY TO FIRE IN THE FACE OF DANGER

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks tells us that to see this critter, you need to look down. But don’t look too close or you might get sprayed with bloody tears. That’s right, the greater short-horned lizard has a peculiar defense behavior – not only the blood-shooting eyes, but they can puff up their bodies to make their spikes even scarier looking.

HABITAT AND PREFERRED FOOD

Greater short-horned lizards, also called horny toads, have a round, flattened body, a heart-shaped head and a row of spines. These lizards munch on beetles and ants, which they hunt by sight during daylight hours.

Their preferred habitat is in sunny spots on bare soil in sagebrush and grassland habitats, mostly in eastern Montana. But this habitat is threatened by non-native plant species, such as yellow sweet clover and native prairie conversion.

Because of the imperiled habitat, greater short-horned lizards are a species of greatest conservation need, and Montana. FWP is taking action to protect the species and its habitat through public education.

HOW TO LEARN MORE

That education effort includes teaching folks about the impacts of non-native plant species. Another focus will be on the importance of lizards in the ecosystem and their role in reducing insect numbers.

FWP encourages the public to report sightings of the lizard to help fill in data gaps on population and distribution in Montana. But while observation data is needed, it’s more important to leave the lizards where you find them.

For more information on greater short-horned lizards, visit the Montana Field Guide. To report an observation, click here.