The Great Plains Short-horned Lizard in Canada

Dr. Larry Powell (University of Calgary) discusses current scientific research on Phrynosoma brevirostris and will talk about what the species needs to survive in Canada.
P. brevirostris is of considerable scientific interest, as it is one of the few lizards that displays some ability to deal with unseasonable cold weather and harsh winters. It is a rare species in Canada, and can be found in coulee and canyon edges, and exposed Bearpaw shales in southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan.
Suitable hibernation sites require adequate snow cover, as hibernating lizards do not bury themselves at great depths. Their annual activity is between early April to the end of October and their diet generally consists of ants, grasshoppers, and beetles. Great Plains Short-horned lizards rely principally upon camouflage for defence and are preyed upon by snakes, hawks, and small predatory mammals in their habitat.