Conservation group finds record-high number of endangered blood-shooting lizards in Alberta

About the size of a chicken wing, Alberta's only native lizard species lacks protection from predators — so they shoot blood out of their eye sockets.

And earlier this week, as part of an annual search for the endangered blood-squirting reptiles, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) found eight greater short-horned lizards in southeastern Alberta.

It's the highest record of the species the NCC has ever found.

"I don't think we've ever found more than two or three.… So to be able to find that many — it's pretty incredible for us," said Megan Jensen, NCC's natural area manager for southeastern Alberta. 

"There's just a profound sense of gratitude to be able to see something that a lot of people don't even realize exists."

Greater short-horned lizards are found in isolated areas in Alberta and Saskatchewan. They live in areas with loose soil and rely on grasslands, one of Canada's most immediate endangered areas.

Jensen says the light brown reptiles depend on the fact that they look like soil and can blend into their surroundings to protect themselves from predators, like birds and coyotes.

But their main defence mechanism? They shoot blood out of their eye sockets when they get picked up by predators.

"It's really disgusting tasting, so some of the species will drop them and that will save them from demise," said Jensen.

Each year, the NCC applies for permits from the government and organizes searches — what they call "surveys" — to find the endangered species in its natural habitat.

She says the lizards are only found in very limited areas that can be subject to habitat loss.

This year, the search team included six interns and two managers, including Jensen. They searched a property managed by NCC.

"You spread out over the entirety of the hill and the bottom of the hill and you kind of just do a sweep for them," she said.

After searching for four hours in 35 C temperatures, they found eight greater short-horned lizards.