A lizard chases a squirrel

This morning I watched a desert spiny lizard successfully intimidate an antelope ground squirrel.

The squirrel is a delicate but scrappy creature.

The lizard on the other hand is a spiny and tentative being.

The squirrel lay bathing in a little patch of dust warmed by a sunbeam. He indulgently rubbed his belly and delicate neck into the dirt perhaps trying to rid himself of fleas and mites.

He looked blissful. He looked as though he cared not about the predatory eyes that might be fixed on him - hawks, coyotes, indoor cats watching from their indoor perches.

From a short distance, the lizard watched the squirrel debasing himself. He lifted his chest higher, followed by his belly and lengthened his neck. His body now resembling a person performing a straight armed plank pose.

It made no difference to the squirrel. Clearly the lizard had to escalate his offensive. He began his push-ups. Starting with a few slow dips, he picked up his pace - a menacing show of upper-body strength.

This got the squirrel's attention. The bathing stopped and the staring at the lizard began.

This was the cue the lizard had waited for. He advanced rapidly, body still a little lifted off the ground, approaching sideways, showing off his girth.

The squirrel scurried away and pretended to look for sunflower seeds that I had scattered out in the morning, his breath a little ragged, his fur a little scraggly.

Mission accomplished, the lizard contemplated his next venture.

To be fair, this is not what desert spiny lizards are all about. In another part of this town, one eats mealworms right out of my friend's hand. I have even seen one sample the Sulphur-yellow petals of a desert marigold.

Some day this lizard will learn about the good life.