Skinks: Are They Good Or Bad For Your Habitat?
You’ve probably seen these lizards before, about the length of a pencil and often different colors. Should you do anything about them?
They sunbathe on rocks, or along landscaping brick, and if you scare one, it might frantically (and fruitlessly) try to climb a brick wall.
They love to hide under gutter splash blocks, landscaping paver stones, or wood stacked in the yard. If you have a bucket sitting next to something climbable, you may have found one that unfortunately fell in and was unable to get a grip on the bucket’s slick sides.
They’re called skinks. But are they good for your garden? Short answer: Absolutely. Definitely. Without-a-doubt. Yes.
Skinks are of the family Scincidae. There are over 1,500 species worldwide and they range from a few inches to over a foot in length. Skinks are very common in temperate and tropical regions, and are actually found on every continent except Antarctica.
Skinks are natural pest controllers. Their diet consists of insects and small invertebrates like slugs, beetles, spiders, and even the occasional caterpillar or snail. While spiders are also great pest controllers, these rest of these insects can wreak havoc on your garden. Skinks naturally eat these nuisances, which protects your plants from damage without the need for pesticides.
Skinks also contribute to soil health indirectly. As they forage, they dig into the soil surface, aiding aeration and decomposition of organic matter. Some species even eat small seeds or fruits, which can assist in seed dispersal.
Their presence can also attract birds or larger predators, which (subtly) boosts local biodiversity.
As for habitat, skinks favor moist, sheltered spots. They find homes under rocks, mulch, or dense foliage. When the sun is out, they bask in sunlight to regulate their body temperature. Their camouflaged, often metallic-hued bodies (brown, gray, or bronze, sometimes with stripes) help them evade predators like snakes or cats.
You’ve also probably heard (or seen) that a skinks tail can fall off. This is true for many species of skink. When a predator grabs their tail, or the skink feels threatened, it can detach the tail voluntarily. The tail will wriggle when detached, distracting the predator while the skink escapes.
Over time, the tail will regrow, though the new one might be shorter, differently colored, or less detailed than the original, as the regrowth is made of cartilage rather than bone. The ability for an animal to voluntarily detach a part of its body is called autotomy.
So, are skinks good for your garden? Yes. Ask them to invite their friends. These little creatures are like little helpers that protect your garden and can reduce or eliminate the need for sprays or pesticides.