This Lizard Cures Lyme Disease (in Ticks)

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  • čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
  • The western fence lizard seems like a pretty regular lizard, until you find out that its blood can cure Lyme disease in ticks
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Komentáře • 516

  • @lolamarie3555
    @lolamarie3555 Před 3 lety +928

    i love their little pushups

    • @Miikhiel
      @Miikhiel Před 3 lety +21

      ME TOOOOO

    • @blackdrake1472
      @blackdrake1472 Před 3 lety +57

      I used to live in California and we had those lizards everywhere. I can confirm that they naturally do pushups. Also it is amazing. Not sure if it is for the same reason we do them though. I think it has something to do with regulating body temp more then working at the gym.

    • @lolamarie3555
      @lolamarie3555 Před 3 lety +23

      @@blackdrake1472 Totally looks like a temperature thing, cute as heck though!

    • @mr.d00m37
      @mr.d00m37 Před 3 lety +55

      @@blackdrake1472 It's a territorial display used to ward off other males.

    • @BeckyNosferatu
      @BeckyNosferatu Před 3 lety +43

      @@blackdrake1472 Territorial and general 'hello!' If they headbob, they're saying 'hi!' but if it's a full pushup, they're basically saying "This is MY rock. Stay away!"

  • @enfinite6761
    @enfinite6761 Před 3 lety +462

    These type of lizards live in my backyard and they are really brave when they see me. They start doing push ups and just like to stare at me when I'm back there. Cool guys.

    • @BeckyNosferatu
      @BeckyNosferatu Před 3 lety +16

      They're saying "hello!"

    • @enfinite6761
      @enfinite6761 Před 3 lety +14

      @@BeckyNosferatu I know, that's why I chase my dog away when he tries to catch them 😅

    • @bucc5207
      @bucc5207 Před 3 lety +6

      My Eastern Fence Lizards do the same. They face me down with a few pushups. And it works because when they do it I eventually go away.

    • @bucc5207
      @bucc5207 Před 3 lety +6

      @Eastern fence Lizard they are free to leave any time. Besides, I can't get them to do any work. All they wanna do is chase each other around and show off for the females. Entertaining AF though.

    • @ViewThis.
      @ViewThis. Před 3 lety +4

      I also have those lizards around my house.(Western Fence Lizard0 I was sitting out in the yard, and all of a sudden one came running top speed across my lap to get a cricket that was that was on the other side of me. He didn't seem to care about giant me, only the meal he could get. I constantly chase the road runners out of my yard so my fence lizards won't get eaten.

  • @dogs-game-too
    @dogs-game-too Před 3 lety +589

    I used to be terrified of spiders until I realized how much scarier ticks are because of Lyme disease. Also these lizards are adorable and look like they're doing pushups in some of the clips haha.

    • @rdrgz6217
      @rdrgz6217 Před 3 lety +34

      In Spanish, push ups are called “lagartijas”, which is also the same word for lizard :)

    • @purcascade
      @purcascade Před 3 lety +8

      @@rdrgz6217 This is my new favorite language fact. ❤

    • @dogs-game-too
      @dogs-game-too Před 3 lety +3

      @@rdrgz6217 that's awesome!

    • @rparl
      @rparl Před 3 lety

      Yes!

    • @lonestarr1490
      @lonestarr1490 Před 3 lety +1

      @@rdrgz6217 So if you tell a spanish guy he looks toned and ask what he's doing for workout, it's totally possible that the answer is, "You know, lot's of lizarding."?

  • @avery3748
    @avery3748 Před 3 lety +311

    Imagine being a member of the town where researchers took away the tick countering lizards like "wtf"

    • @Razbeariez
      @Razbeariez Před 3 lety +94

      Specifically to see if more humans got sick, no less! That stood out to me as well

    • @mashimero
      @mashimero Před 3 lety +63

      Isn't that unethical?

    • @artiefufkin88
      @artiefufkin88 Před 3 lety +45

      @@mashimero It's very unethical, especially when you don't tell the population they're gonna be volunteers in their little experiment that they expected to cause lyme disease in humans. But, that's scientists for you.

    • @lonestarr1490
      @lonestarr1490 Před 3 lety +55

      @@artiefufkin88 No, that's not scientists for anyone. That's simply irresponsible. Real scientists wouldn't do that.

    • @Insan1tyW0lf
      @Insan1tyW0lf Před 3 lety +84

      @@artiefufkin88 poor wording, presumably. Expecting the experiment was watching for a change in the prevalence of Lyme in adult ticks in the controlled area, which would represent an increased risk to people If they were exposed - not that they removed lizards from a populated area and watched to see if there were more Lyme cases.
      The former is a controlled experiment; the latter is unethical and wouldn't be approved by any review board, or published in any respectable journal.

  • @BackyardDocumentaries
    @BackyardDocumentaries Před 3 lety +27

    Thanks for using my footage!

  • @amanderp21
    @amanderp21 Před 3 lety +112

    This is the lizard that I had for years. His name was Amarillo and he passed a few months ago. I'm now buying an Amarillo pin. For my little guy who lived as a king. I miss you bud, I hope the bugs are good where you are.

    • @beardlessdragon
      @beardlessdragon Před 3 lety +4

      Sorry for your loss. Amarillo sounds like a great lil friend!

    • @toyfan2812
      @toyfan2812 Před 3 lety +6

      I caught one at work and we kept her for a while. Called her Bark, crazy fast and enjoyed crickets

    • @czarinap
      @czarinap Před 3 lety

      I'm so sorry to hear about Amarillo. My sweet girl was Rocky and I'm getting a pin, too! These little lizards are so special and I'm so excited to get merch related to them!!

    • @amanderp21
      @amanderp21 Před 3 lety +1

      @Eastern fence Lizard My heart isnt ready for another one as much as I want more. My passion for keeping reptiles died with him. Maybe in the future, but right now I can't.

    • @chdwckvnstrsslhm
      @chdwckvnstrsslhm Před 2 lety

      Technically it’s illegal to collect and possessive native animals without a permit. Hope you don’t continue to poach our local wildlife 🤙🏼

  • @MistSoalar
    @MistSoalar Před 3 lety +221

    You know something in common with those lizards and californians?
    Outdoor push-ups.

    • @forthrightgambitia1032
      @forthrightgambitia1032 Před 3 lety +21

      Also cold blooded.

    • @zakib5960
      @zakib5960 Před 3 lety +4

      @@forthrightgambitia1032 lol 🤣

    • @werekamali
      @werekamali Před 3 lety +10

      we learned it from the lizards

    • @sonofaquack6987
      @sonofaquack6987 Před 3 lety

      hmmm...them and a couple other lizards are the only ones I've seen here in southern California

    • @nunyabiznes33
      @nunyabiznes33 Před 3 lety +1

      The lizards at least don't rub their diet on your face.

  • @saraserna9954
    @saraserna9954 Před 3 lety +137

    The lyme disease matter is quite relevant and all, but we really need aknowledgement and explanation for the little push-up dance they make :v

    • @shoulderacoffin
      @shoulderacoffin Před 3 lety +28

      he probably didn't mention it because it's fairly common behavior in lots of lizards, not just fence lizards! they do pushups as both a territorial display and the attract mates.

    • @Gatorade69
      @Gatorade69 Před 3 lety +20

      @@shoulderacoffin Ahh, so all lizards are chads ?

    • @drazilastral9566
      @drazilastral9566 Před 3 lety +1

      Hi Sara! Most desert lizards do push ups for various reasons. 1, they could be attracting a mate. 2, its a terratorial display, and they could be asserting dominance to nearby males, and 3, the ground is simply too hot for there little bellies, and there trying to cool it off by casting a shadow. Typically when they do this though they'll just stand up on all fours with there body elevated from the ground.

    • @drazilastral9566
      @drazilastral9566 Před 3 lety

      Whoops, I didn't see Jules response. Lol

    • @provenpatriot5076
      @provenpatriot5076 Před 3 lety

      The drill Sgt. Makes them do 10 push ups every hour. For training.

  • @thechickenwizard8172
    @thechickenwizard8172 Před 3 lety +83

    You guys should do a video on Namib web footed geckos. It has odd ducklike feet, lives in an almost inhospitable environment, can collect water from dense fog, and flouressces under uv light! As far as lizards go, they don't get more bizarre than that.

    • @BizarreBeasts
      @BizarreBeasts  Před 3 lety +41

      Oh wow, those are some good geckos!

    • @chinmayi9622
      @chinmayi9622 Před 3 lety +10

      And they are nearly translucent! Some of their internal organs can be see due to their translucent scales

    • @katiem.3109
      @katiem.3109 Před 2 měsíci

      OMG they're adorable!

  • @alisha-kae
    @alisha-kae Před 3 lety +64

    I got really excited when I saw the words 'cure lyme disease' less so when I was the 'in ticks' afterwards. I have lyme disease and trying to get treated for it is a nightmare. Still a very interesting little lizard though.

    • @moamo6737
      @moamo6737 Před 3 lety +1

      Check out bvt

    • @molybdaen11
      @molybdaen11 Před 3 lety +10

      Time to get a pet lizard and slowly extract some of its blood.

    • @alisha-kae
      @alisha-kae Před 3 lety +4

      @@molybdaen11 Yes! I live in a western state so I should be able to find one of these guys running around. 😆

    • @WoodlouseChucker
      @WoodlouseChucker Před 3 lety +1

      @@alisha-kae did you do it? XD

    • @alisha-kae
      @alisha-kae Před 3 lety +4

      @@WoodlouseChucker Not yet, but I'm keeping my eyes open for a lizard. 😆

  • @NewMessage
    @NewMessage Před 3 lety +89

    Some 'supplement company' is gonna be selling ground fence lizard powder any day now...

    • @benmiller5015
      @benmiller5015 Před 3 lety +11

      Prolly as a male enhancement supplement lol

    • @kwanarchive
      @kwanarchive Před 3 lety +7

      That's an episode of Cowboy Bebop.

    • @unidentifiedbipedallifeform
      @unidentifiedbipedallifeform Před 3 lety +5

      And a few years later some ambulance chaser will be saying something went wrong and they knew it so if you used it you might qualify for compensation

    • @DeadGirlsPoem
      @DeadGirlsPoem Před 3 lety +4

      I hope they say push ups prevent lyme and everyone starts to do more push ups... =P

    • @nunyabiznes33
      @nunyabiznes33 Před 3 lety

      Don't tell the Chinese

  • @AGDinCA
    @AGDinCA Před 3 lety +97

    It never ceases to amaze me how truly interconnected, and even, in some cases, interdependent living organisms really are.
    I've lived in Southern California my whole life, and have spent countless hours hiking through its forests. I've certainly come across ticks, as have my dogs, but never Lyme disease. In fact, I've never known a single person to get Lyme disease.
    This story about the lizards is really helping make sense of why Californians simply do not encounter much in the way of Lyme disease. It is very, very interesting... I just had no idea our lack of Lyme disease was due to a very surprising characteristic of an otherwise mundane and ubiquitous reptile.
    Nature is lit! 🤘🌎

    • @bimmer650
      @bimmer650 Před 3 lety +1

      I contracted Tick Borne Relapsing Fever/Borrelia Miyamotoi in the Bay Area hills.. ruined my life

    • @AGDinCA
      @AGDinCA Před 3 lety

      @@bimmer650 Really? You are the only one I've ever heard of in California. I'm terribly sorry to hear you are suffering so badly. 🙁

    • @solaris808
      @solaris808 Před 3 lety +1

      Sorry to burst your Lyme bubble, but I have Lyme as well.

    • @AGDinCA
      @AGDinCA Před 3 lety +2

      @@solaris808 Well, there's two of you now! At least you both know you aren't alone. 🤗

    • @kayagorzan
      @kayagorzan Před 3 lety +1

      Yes indeed

  • @Miikhiel
    @Miikhiel Před 3 lety +29

    My heart failed today after seeing the little lizards do their push-up dances.

    • @scrooba_man5270
      @scrooba_man5270 Před 3 lety +1

      They do that as to taunt me when I fail to catch them! Also they're really fast.

  • @a.j.kimball1240
    @a.j.kimball1240 Před 3 lety +30

    Yall need to do an episode on New Zealand Bat Flies. They are so bizarre, cause they are social, flightless, highly sexually dimorphic, non parasitic in an obligate parasitic group, have their own cadte systems, look incredibly unique, can create very loud noises to protect their young, have an incredibly interesting discovery story, and I could go on and on. You could make a full hour long video about all their crazy traits lol. Not many people know of these guys and I think that needs to change

    • @molybdaen11
      @molybdaen11 Před 3 lety +3

      That's the first time I heard of social flies. Have to check them out.

    • @a.j.kimball1240
      @a.j.kimball1240 Před 3 lety +1

      @@molybdaen11 yup, they are fascinating. They will form groups with their own caste systems to care for the young of the group and protect them from predators (beetles, spiders, and bats). Its incredibly fascinating and if I am remembering it correctly (I very well may not be, so take it with a grain of salt), the adults will form a circle around the young similar to that of larger animals such as musk ox

    • @8devkhan8
      @8devkhan8 Před 3 lety +1

      @@a.j.kimball1240 Very cool, thanks! Googled around a bit and found more info. Amazing!

  • @autodidacticartisan
    @autodidacticartisan Před 3 lety +27

    I used to catch these guys and remove the ticks from their necks as a kid. Id probably get 2 dozen a day. This is what happens when you grow up without cable, internet, or video gmaes

    • @Bambisgf77
      @Bambisgf77 Před 2 měsíci

      Reminds me of the guy Jacob out in Oregon that goes around saving shrimp from parasites on his YT channel. Very cool, thankfully you did not get bitten.

    • @autodidacticartisan
      @autodidacticartisan Před 2 měsíci

      @Bambisgf77 I recently caught a lizard the other day with 8 ticks on it. The poor guy looked like a little axolotl, since all the ticks were right behind his ears.

  • @cadumbra
    @cadumbra Před 3 lety +4

    Those lizards just out there doing full body push-ups making gains and we are all here watching CZcams

  • @rizzosmith6467
    @rizzosmith6467 Před 3 lety +19

    THANK YOU FOR SAYING "DISEASE-CAUSING BACTERIA" AND NOT JUST "LYME DISEASE" 🙌

  • @MDCF1565
    @MDCF1565 Před 3 lety +2

    After 30 years crawling in the woods literally on my hands and knees covered in spiders, ticks, and pushing rattlers and moccasins out the way hunting Spanish colonial artifacts in the nation's oldest continually occupied city St Augustine Florida est 1565, I think I can confidently say I have lime disease, I've dug 100s off me over the years and have been fighting with all the changes in my ability to think, balance and many other issues.
    Still out there diggin,
    Spanish Gold fever outweighs the fear of lime every time.

  • @BaalFridge
    @BaalFridge Před 3 lety +11

    Blue bellies: what can I say except you're welcome~

  • @spamletspamley672
    @spamletspamley672 Před 3 lety +7

    Apart from probable signalling to rivals with its blue belly, it looks to me that the 'push ups' may also be useful for gauging distance to objects that are difficult to focus on in the heat distorted air over the rocks.

  • @sliedogg
    @sliedogg Před 3 lety +2

    There is this really big lizard that lives in the large bush under my window. He comes out on the pavement and sits in the sun. He use to run away when I would walk past,. I've always left him alone to do his thing. I suspect he recognizes me because now when he sees me coming, he perks up, but doesn't run away. I enjoy seeing him out there.

  • @cocobeebunnied7371
    @cocobeebunnied7371 Před 2 lety +2

    As a kid who caught lizards in north Arizona and now as a teen lives in Arizona and sees/loves lizards everyday, it’s crazy I’ve almost certainly held them (and think we have two who I see do push-ups on our fence every day wich is so delightful)

  • @tinaflintstone8148
    @tinaflintstone8148 Před 3 lety +2

    5:05 - That’s EXACTLY what I was wondering. I love how this guy explains things. I used to see his videos regularly, but whatever channel he was on must have stopped. So, I’m very happy to have found him on this channel. 🥰

    • @ardzruni
      @ardzruni Před 3 lety

      I have excellent new for you: this guy is Hank Green and he has about ten bajillion CZcams channels, two-ish podcasts, and a delightful TikTok. Type his name in any search box anywhere and you gon have content for days.

  • @Lolibeth
    @Lolibeth Před 2 lety +2

    "Where are all the people with Lyme?" Because people think Lyme isn't around in California, doctors refuse to diagnose Lyme disease in people in California. I know several people with Lyme and all had such a hard time getting it diagnosed they're in long-term disability because it wasn't treated

  • @clantonaw
    @clantonaw Před 3 lety +2

    My back yard is covered in blue bellies. They have their little areas of territory. You get used to seeing the same individuals hanging out in their favorite spots. Neat reptiles!

  • @lyndondowling2733
    @lyndondowling2733 Před 3 lety +4

    What a lovely story... The Blue Belies have got our backs... and we did not know

  • @chocolatereigns
    @chocolatereigns Před 3 lety +3

    I had Lyme in high school that went undiagnosed for a full year. I'll probably have effects of it for the rest of my life. For everyone's sake, I sure hope science somehow finds a way to mimic this lizard's superpowers.

    • @kivvi3798
      @kivvi3798 Před 3 lety +1

      I'm actually a medical student (still basically a freshman) but still, we've recently studied a tiny little bit about lyme disease!
      seeing the video made me happy because I never heard about this, and now I can search better about how does it works.
      Although, I'm not much high in hopes, lyme disease and the bacterial group these pathogens are part of, are know to cause the disease itself because partially how our own immune system works, and a cure isn't the biggest deal here:
      oddly these bacteria usually respond well to antibiotics, the biggest issue of the disease itself is how hard it is to proper diagnose! The lyme disease often goes by with the person showing no initial symptoms for long periods of time until the symptoms appears, the tick bite which can sound mundane and overlooked can also be forgotten!
      We already have the cure, the big issue is how to diagnose it before it get worse, and overall avoid undiagnosed complicated patients!!
      (also sorry if anything sounded odd, English isn't my native language)

    • @TheFeldhamster
      @TheFeldhamster Před 3 lety +2

      @@kivvi3798 why don't we have a vaccine, though? Because there is a vaccine against lyme for *dogs*. My vet advertises it. But apparently there isn't one for humans.

    • @gaetiekn
      @gaetiekn Před 3 lety +2

      @TheFieldhamster a vaccine does exist for Humans but had some complications during its development process there is like three versions of it if I remember well, and one of those was accused to create auto-immune disease side effect reaction.
      Research was stopped because government and companies stopped to finance it. Although there is one vaccine available around still if I remember well. But it is difficult to get it and very expensive.

    • @kivvi3798
      @kivvi3798 Před 3 lety +1

      So... I didn't heard about neither of those things!
      So I made some research... It seems that there really used to have one, but it really wasn't cost-effective; between the reasons because lyme is still considerable rare occurring only on some places, antibiotics works just fine, you can vaccinate pets, and uhhh... anti-vaccine movements against it,
      I mean if it causes a mass of people unhappy over something that's supposed to be for them while you already have a cure, low level of lethality, profilatic measures and the populations it affects is considerable wealth then it's really ineffective and mostly is just rising conflict and mistrust over scientific cause that's already polemic and complicated. I mean, it really could save people and in the long term economical costs give those better life conditions they didn't knew they could lose... but at the cost of rising populational conflict.
      I didn't found scientifc articles specific about it, but also because I don't have time for searching for it right now, so I can't say anything about how does it works and neither how much safe it is or what kind of people can take them.
      From my point of view from the few articles I found, it actually did sounded promising and overall just safe

  • @johnsteiner3417
    @johnsteiner3417 Před 3 lety +3

    Also, the temperature range that the proteins form in is probably lower than our body temperature, and so it either won't form right or won't function when subjected to stable endothermia. The reason I suggest that as a possibility is that you don't see mammals developing similar proteins.

  • @Natural_Power
    @Natural_Power Před 2 lety +2

    I was recommended this video over 10 times
    I've been forced to this knowledge by CZcams

  • @jadedrealist
    @jadedrealist Před 3 lety +1

    Can't wait for my lizard pin! I'm totally rocking my wombat pin right now. :-)

  • @geekogen
    @geekogen Před rokem +1

    Where I lived in northern California, we had so very many blue bellies, and also alligator lizards. They started cross breeding. They basically looked like slightly faded alligator lizards but with greenish blue tums. So cool.

  • @CMZneu
    @CMZneu Před 3 lety +14

    Did you guys do a video about the Labord's chameleon and i missed it? If not do one because I can barely find any information!... also do one on the lizard with the air bubble on its head.

    • @BizarreBeasts
      @BizarreBeasts  Před 3 lety +13

      We almost did an episode just about Labord's chameleon, but just couldn't find enough footage! We do have an episode about glowing chameleons though: czcams.com/video/RIeJLxc40X4/video.html
      And this fantastic scuba diving lizard has been added to our very long list of potential future beasts!

  • @OrangeDragonofDusk
    @OrangeDragonofDusk Před 3 lety +1

    I occasionally encounter fence lizards when hiking. Fantastic to know that they can help reduce Lyme disease!

  • @jeremydeansausages1985
    @jeremydeansausages1985 Před 3 lety +1

    At my job I am literally swarmed by these lil guys. They charge at me and do pushups telling me that this is their area. I always respect their authority.

  • @btchpants
    @btchpants Před 3 lety +2

    It takes 24 hours for lyme to make it to the saliva glands of ticks. If you get rid of the tick before then, you're good. Always check for ticks.

  • @stax6092
    @stax6092 Před 3 lety +4

    That's a cool lizard.

  • @eliotdaoust3765
    @eliotdaoust3765 Před 3 lety +12

    Now thats what i wanted when i subscribed to Bizzare beast!!! Normal looking animal that have something you never heard off before!!!!
    But you gotta do a video on tuatara thought!

  • @puravidadew7031
    @puravidadew7031 Před 3 lety +1

    As a kid from Southern California, from 63 to 68 I caught many of these lizards in order to feed the snakes I was keeping as pets. Not once did I ever find a tick on a lizard.

  • @robinhahnsopran
    @robinhahnsopran Před 3 lety +5

    This... this is AMAZING. 💖

  • @JasmineStilletos
    @JasmineStilletos Před 3 lety +1

    I actually caught a fence lizard complete with ticks when I was a kid. They're awesome little lizards.

  • @AungTH1
    @AungTH1 Před 3 lety +1

    how is hank green in every single educational youtube channel i go to

    • @malrose
      @malrose Před 3 lety

      Hank Green is education

  • @Ranstone
    @Ranstone Před 3 lety +1

    Fun fact: Deer cure infected ticks in the same manner. It's a common myth that deer carry or transmit lime disease. Places with a high deer population also see a record low of lime disease cases compared to without. Lime disease in fact is transmitted to the tick in their first feeding by primarily rodents.

    • @ViewThis.
      @ViewThis. Před 3 lety

      I saw a documentary recently on PBS where they were checking all the reasons for Lyme Disease on the West and East Coasts, and doing it by checking Mice, not Deer.

  • @RedOnly
    @RedOnly Před 3 lety +2

    *Narrator lists lots of things lizards can do*
    Me: you forgot running for office and marrying into royalty😆😆😆

  • @TheDarkMessiah
    @TheDarkMessiah Před 3 lety +1

    I'm here for the lizard push-ups

  • @starrywizdom
    @starrywizdom Před rokem

    Our yard is literally crawling with western fence lizards, with whom I carry on occasional conversations about the warmth of the sun & the lengths of their tails. It's cool that they're getting rid of the Lyme disease bacteria in our ticks -- thanks, little buddies!

  • @ArmchairDeity
    @ArmchairDeity Před 3 lety +11

    Why is nobody screaming about the ethics of an experiment where a positive result is an increase of human Lyme infections? My wife nearly died… 9 years of our marriage spent with her in a nearly- to completely disabled.
    This infuriates and nauseates me.

    • @maddi4898
      @maddi4898 Před 3 lety +1

      I’m so sorry you and your wife went through that. Unfortunately many studies that lead to saving live take some in the process. When you see those ads for life saving drugs, all the possible causes of death they list are from actual people that died in the clinical trials. It’s a sad truth about discovery.

    • @juliusfucik4011
      @juliusfucik4011 Před 3 lety +4

      @@maddi4898 yep and we are now unethically running the largest medical experiment ever

  • @mindykb15
    @mindykb15 Před 3 lety +6

    Dangit. I don’t suppose we could, like, drop a million blue-bellied lizards on the Northeast … 😕 Also, do they not have deer in California? That’s wild.

    • @EatPhresh
      @EatPhresh Před 3 lety

      The only time I've seen deer here is in Yosemite

    • @katk7505
      @katk7505 Před 3 lety +3

      I'm from Northern California, pleeenty of deer, lol.

    • @Lolibeth
      @Lolibeth Před 2 lety

      lol no. so so so many deer

  • @barnacleburrito3728
    @barnacleburrito3728 Před 3 lety +1

    has anyone else noticed an apparent western fence lizard population decline? they used to be absolutely everywhere around my norcal home: every tree, every sizeable rock, etc.

    • @starandfox601
      @starandfox601 Před 3 lety

      Yep.they are facing lots of threats like habitat loss and inviase speices like the house gecko.

  • @fatherofhope
    @fatherofhope Před 3 lety

    Please have the scientists working on this contact me right away. I've a disability from the military for Lyme disease, & several infectious disease doctors can't understand how I'm testing positive for Lyme with all five bands all of a sudden. My lyme disease was supposedly cured 21 years ago. I moved into this new house one Valley over from Death Valley & was wondering what all these little lizards were at this new home I bought..... after seeing this I'm a little concerned because my Lyme symptoms have increased exponentially since moving into this new home, & I believe whatever mechanism effects someone's heart from Lyme disease is beginning to take effect on me, so before it does me in, maybe we can figure out why my symptoms went through the roof when I began habitation in an area inundated with these lizards, and I like the little guys and girls they're pretty cute.... 🙂
    Plus thank you for another great episode 😎

    • @starandfox601
      @starandfox601 Před 3 lety +1

      Could be you owes had it and stress from the move weakened your iummne system allowing for it to come back.

  • @CarlytheWolf23
    @CarlytheWolf23 Před 3 lety

    I gotta admire their little dances ngl, I mean preventing Lyme disease is pretty nice, but I mean their dance is pretty hard to come by.

  • @bradnarraway9141
    @bradnarraway9141 Před 3 lety +6

    I wanted to comment on the pushups these lizards are doing in nearly all footage of them, but I see I've been beaten to the punch! I am both glad these lizards exist for their Lyme-busting power, and curiously moved that it is something that we can't steal from them - it's not for us to have, and I think that's wonderful. Long live the Blue Belly!

    • @neolexiousneolexian6079
      @neolexiousneolexian6079 Před 2 lety +1

      Proteins aren't actually stolen but also shared, though. The gene is just a book to be read; Learning how to make the protein for ourselves doesn't have to take it away from the animal it came from.

  • @ihavenoname8628
    @ihavenoname8628 Před 3 lety

    Very interesting video. White-tailed deer also have this ability. Alongside field mice, lizards and snaked are the main intermediate hosts for juvenile/nymph stages of black legged deer ticks. Also a large reason why they may not be as infecting in the West is due to harsh warmer climate, that is also a big reason why they are not as aggressive in the southwestern parts of the United States; whereas they normally quest on branches, they will be in the underbrush on the ground. Also fun fact, the test that they use to determine if you have Lyme Disease is an out of date strain from the 1970s, so it is not impossible to receive a false negative if you go to get tested (happened to my professor’s wife and son). Also, transmission ochre Borrelia bacteria usually takes somewhere from a day or over to transmit after the tick has cemented itself to the skin. Another thing of note, make sure you’re careful taking off the tick, ripping off the blood sac (proper name is escaping me rn) will not stop the tick. Great video and I plan to show my research partner this!

  • @crypticspirit6297
    @crypticspirit6297 Před 3 lety +1

    I used to catch those all the time at the range when I was a kid. Love blue bellies.

  • @emrazum
    @emrazum Před 3 lety +3

    Tuck your pants into your socks and wear long sleeves when hiking!!

  • @seanrowshandel1680
    @seanrowshandel1680 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Thanks for knowing exactly that type of data. It's ok Hank. Just relax one tiny little bit more than is What You've Already Achieved (with regards to having contributed to your "level" of relaxation yourself).

  • @johnt3381
    @johnt3381 Před rokem

    I loved catching those lizards when I was a kid in So Cal. I had no idea how important they are.

  • @rhicola
    @rhicola Před 3 lety +1

    The theme song always makes me so happy

  • @owlivdejong5086
    @owlivdejong5086 Před 4 měsíci

    I had a blue bellied swift as a pet in the 90s. His name was Norman and he'd hang out on my shoulder.

  • @origaminosferatu3357
    @origaminosferatu3357 Před 3 lety +1

    Pizza-John shirt is back. The suit doesn't foil us, Hank, we see it.

  • @rexeleon
    @rexeleon Před 3 lety

    Sure ... lets steal the lizard superpower, I think Spiderman have something to say.

  • @ScarletBanter
    @ScarletBanter Před 3 lety

    I love these guys. Some of the most delightful critters around.

  • @copperheadysf23a85
    @copperheadysf23a85 Před 3 lety +4

    This species' Eastern cousin lives locally, I've caught loads of them throughout the years and they have beautiful blue bellies as well. I just wonder if the Easterns have the same lyme killing protein as the Westerns?

    • @quitlife9279
      @quitlife9279 Před 3 lety +1

      I looked it up, there's no direct studies but it did seem like it, no ticks carrying disease was found on eastern lizards, likely the immune response against lyme is common in many lizards, we just don't know it. But it didn't matter in the east as the study showed ticks didn't really feed on lizards in the eastern's range but on small mammals instead, which carry lyme.

  • @pattyandbustershow1031
    @pattyandbustershow1031 Před 3 lety +1

    With late stage lyme, I might be willing to bite a few bluebellies

  • @petrosthegoober
    @petrosthegoober Před 3 lety +1

    y'know I'm starting to think all life is bizarre

  • @benmiller5015
    @benmiller5015 Před 3 lety +11

    So are ticks that are cured able to be reinfected?

    • @Insan1tyW0lf
      @Insan1tyW0lf Před 3 lety +11

      Expecting it's sort of "yes and no". The ticks carry the bacteria in their gut, but aren't 'infected' by it the way a mammal that gets bitten would be.
      When a carrier tick bites the lizard, the lizard's blood kills the bacteria in the tick. The group of proteins responsible for this would presumably get broken down at some point though, meaning a tick could potentially re-aquire the bacteria.
      As far as I understand though, there isn't an opportunity to re-aquire the bacteria. Ticks only feed three times: once before transitioning from larva to the nymph, then again to transition to adult, then again if they're female and preparing to lay eggs. Larvae and nymphs can pick up the bacteria from biting infected rodents, but if they then bite the lizards, they lose the bacteria and don't have the opportunity to re-aquire before biting humans.
      (Thanks to Ze Frank for the always-excellent knowledge bombs)

  • @dickdastardly5534
    @dickdastardly5534 Před 3 lety

    Lizard : check my push ups out and look at these guns 😁

  • @chippy3901
    @chippy3901 Před 3 lety

    Alligator lizards bite if they feel threatened but if ur gentle and slow they’ll let u get close and pet them

  • @Lrr_Of_Omikron
    @Lrr_Of_Omikron Před 3 lety +1

    The first time I saw/caught one of these lizards I thought some ass decided to spray paint the poor lizard blue but than I kept finding more than it soon dawned on me, some weirdo is going around painting lizards blue🤷‍♂️

  • @emberrose82
    @emberrose82 Před 3 lety

    Just Subscribed to the pin club! A new collection to get crazy about! 😆🤣

  • @TheyForcedMyHandLE
    @TheyForcedMyHandLE Před 3 lety

    This is really well written.

  • @AdaSoto
    @AdaSoto Před 3 lety +1

    We used to catch these at summer camp. Got a couple lizard bites over the years.

  • @georgeparkins777
    @georgeparkins777 Před 3 lety

    I kept Eastern Fence Lizards as pets when I was a teenager! They do very well with a smaller heat lamp and a diet of crickets and grasshoppers.

  • @bellacapulet1933
    @bellacapulet1933 Před 2 lety

    You mean there's scientist out there just..... Catching lizards.

  • @procedingfishingboats4602

    nice subtle pizza john shirt hank!

  • @hobbithabits
    @hobbithabits Před 3 lety

    No one:
    Absolutely no one:
    Fence lizard: /UP, DOWN, UP, DOWN/

  • @MrBlack0950
    @MrBlack0950 Před 3 lety +1

    Aye, woke up to my favorite lizard species. They live in my region, and i love spotting them occasionally.

  • @DarkDragon_Midnight
    @DarkDragon_Midnight Před 3 lety

    Oh my gosh as soon as I saw the thumbnail I realized that I've caught these little guys before on a trip...I just love lizards and their adorable push-ups

  • @deevnn
    @deevnn Před 3 lety +1

    Showing off their guns...brings the ladies. lol

  • @jameswest4819
    @jameswest4819 Před 3 lety

    I've seen cats catch and eat blue-bellies...the cat will always end up throwing up after a while, so I don't think I'll be putting them in my blender.

  • @captain0080
    @captain0080 Před 3 lety +1

    Doing pushups kills the backteria.

  • @kristamonroe9120
    @kristamonroe9120 Před 2 lety

    3:18 Hittin Switches on That Thang!

  • @conductor666stitch
    @conductor666stitch Před 3 lety

    Cant take something from the system of a lizard but jellyfish are totally compatable.

  • @orellaminx3530
    @orellaminx3530 Před 3 lety

    Catch these guys all the time. Always love seeing them, and yes yes, I let them go after a few minutes.

  • @Chainsawwed
    @Chainsawwed Před 3 lety +2

    We had a ton of rainbow agama running around our compound during the month I spent in Africa and they were a favorite around lunchtime because we'd eat our MREs and watch them sprint at full speed then bust out a couple push ups!

  • @willcabamba8262
    @willcabamba8262 Před 3 lety

    So, if you live in an area with ticks,buy a bunch of blue belly lizards for your yard

  • @lisacoffman1302
    @lisacoffman1302 Před 3 lety +2

    Is it ethical to remove the lizard from an ecosystem, with the aim of infecting humans with Lyme disease, a potentially devastating illness?

    • @petergray7576
      @petergray7576 Před 3 lety

      They weren't looking for human transmissions so much as an increase in cases among rodents.

  • @bink9113
    @bink9113 Před 3 lety

    Omg I used to catch these down in Georgia. You had to search for them though. We usually found them on piles of wood or metal. I kept one as a pet. I loved these little guys. I'd love to see one again. Its funny because my friend and I called them fence lizards before we even knew what they were nicknamed because there design looks like a fence design.

  • @terrywade3696
    @terrywade3696 Před 3 lety +1

    Has any research been done on using these lizards as an antidote for Lyme disease?

  • @PACstove
    @PACstove Před 3 lety

    Teasel root doesn't cure, but helps people with lyme disease. It grows like a weed and easy to spot. Root is hard to clean but it has a mild carrot taste. Not bitter. I have some organically grown root in the freezer. Hit me up if you want some shipped.

  • @gmoburrito6090
    @gmoburrito6090 Před 3 lety +1

    Nice pizza john shirt xD

  • @Bladavia
    @Bladavia Před 3 lety +3

    Perfect, recently got bitten by one of those mofo ticks. Go lizards.

  • @LillianRZP
    @LillianRZP Před 3 lety

    I love the blue-belly lizards in my yard! So hyped for this episode

  • @fryfrom98
    @fryfrom98 Před 3 lety

    These little guys are awesome. The babys are so tiny! Way nicer than alligator lizards

  • @r2dxhate
    @r2dxhate Před 3 lety

    I used to catch these things every day back in the 90's. As a kid, I was a little expert in the reptiles and amphibians found around Sacramento.

  • @alannabanana6255
    @alannabanana6255 Před 3 lety

    Love you guys!

  • @abhijatsinghshakya1399

    Crash course sent me 😀😀😀 very good video 👍👍👍

  • @mybackhurts7020
    @mybackhurts7020 Před 3 lety +1

    I can literally step out on the back porch and catch one lucky we don’t have too many ticks up in the high desert

  • @kimsmith1746
    @kimsmith1746 Před 3 lety +1

    Wouldn't Lyme disease disappear entirely from the region? I'm not sure how the ticks contact the bacteria, but if the lizard kills it in younger ticks, it seems it would not be there transfer.

  • @stickdude1014
    @stickdude1014 Před rokem

    I love their little dance

  • @RyanStonedonCanadianGaming

    Opposums are the cutest tick killer.