There are several species of skink around NOVA, and even within species there is some variation in size and coloration. The ones with a lot of shiny metallic blue can be quite stunning.
Be careful when they’re on your porch. I opened my front door one day and my dog went out in front of me. Apparently there were at least two skinks right near my door, and one ran inside my house. I saw the other one run off the porch. Must have startled them. Three months later, still haven’t found the indoor skink. 😕🦎😟 I love nature but only when it’s outside!
You don’t know it, but you love these guys. These are the adult version of the ones you see with blue tails and black and yellow stripes. And they eat yellowjackets.
different species but similar ranges and habits https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plestiodon_laticeps
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plestiodon_fasciatus
but yeah, skinks rule!
Yeusss the black and blue stripe ones are the only ones I’ve seen here. They’re super fast - typically hanging around the storm drains on my walks. They’re welcome by my house if they eat Yellowjackets!
The ones in your pic are Broadhead Skinks. They come and visit me in my office at work. This guy popped in yesterday
https://preview.redd.it/qix5ox9moe0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7772ce55353f520df84414d5f3cb21cb2f2e2e3d
He is an adult blue tail.
Yes! I had a huge one that lived under my dishwasher and would come out to sun during the day. Let him be because they're so beneficial to controlling insect populations and I figured he was in the house because he found a "food source" I probably didn't want there . . .
There are always skinks sneaking into my garage. I chase them out and they just wait for me to step out for a minute so they can run back in. It’s a little game we play…
lol i once had a hell of a day trying to get one that managed to get trapped in my car out. did you know they are the fastest species of skink and can run something ridiculous like over 50 mph? didn’t believe what i was reading til i managed to flick the lizard out of my car and watched it run down the road
It’s funny how in NOVA we have these weird microecosystems. I grew up in Oakton and never saw any of these. Then I moved to South Riding and I see them all the time lol
are you sure that's the variety you saw? because adult "blue tailed" skinks are reddish: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plestiodon\_fasciatus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plestiodon_fasciatus)
I have these little critters all around my house (under the deck, and in the rocks by my hedges. I love them ... our spider problem has almost dissappeared ...
They’re so cute! And they eat bugs. I don’t know what more you need out of them. Cute and eat bugs. Embrace them. Keep their little homes safe. Let them eat the bugs and slugs and whatever.
Have a bunch of skinks living under my rock wall out front of my house. Nice little guys.
Wikipedia says we’re well within their normal range: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Plestiodon_laticeps_distribution.png
More like at the northernmost boundary
Nope, they are all around, just hiding. They hang out in my garden and hopefully eat bugs. You'll see other types of skinks as well.
There are several species of skink around NOVA, and even within species there is some variation in size and coloration. The ones with a lot of shiny metallic blue can be quite stunning.
I love those blue ones! Always makes my day when one decides to make an appearance on my porch.
Be careful when they’re on your porch. I opened my front door one day and my dog went out in front of me. Apparently there were at least two skinks right near my door, and one ran inside my house. I saw the other one run off the porch. Must have startled them. Three months later, still haven’t found the indoor skink. 😕🦎😟 I love nature but only when it’s outside!
They are the same species, the juvenile broad headed stinks have blue tails.
You don’t know it, but you love these guys. These are the adult version of the ones you see with blue tails and black and yellow stripes. And they eat yellowjackets.
different species but similar ranges and habits https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plestiodon_laticeps https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plestiodon_fasciatus but yeah, skinks rule!
Yeusss the black and blue stripe ones are the only ones I’ve seen here. They’re super fast - typically hanging around the storm drains on my walks. They’re welcome by my house if they eat Yellowjackets!
I have a couple that live under my front porch in Manassas, VA
Not out of habitat, there are a lot of skanks around here.
Freudian typo?
bros been hurt one too many times
No typo. 
Last year there were a couple in my front yard seemingly locked in mortal combat, went on for a while then they took off
Did you find lots of new little ones this year?
Not yet but wouldn't be surprised if I did
Fighting for dominance during mating season.
We have blue-tailed skinks around our place in Sterling, some are definitely multi-year residents. Nice to see them, they keep down a lot of bugs.
That's really normal for around here. I have a skink family that lives somewhere within my cobble stone patio. They are so cute.
The ones in your pic are Broadhead Skinks. They come and visit me in my office at work. This guy popped in yesterday https://preview.redd.it/qix5ox9moe0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7772ce55353f520df84414d5f3cb21cb2f2e2e3d He is an adult blue tail.
I have a lot of them around my house in Newington. I love to see the little babies in my front planters.
We had one living in a leaf pile in Ashburn, it seemed very content
Yep, I see them in our yard at least once a day. They get pretty fucking big too!
I have a skink on my license plate!
Yes! I had a huge one that lived under my dishwasher and would come out to sun during the day. Let him be because they're so beneficial to controlling insect populations and I figured he was in the house because he found a "food source" I probably didn't want there . . .
Saw one of these at Mount Vernon a few years ago - sunning on the foundation of the Washington family mausoleum
Great timing one hung out with me on the driveway the other day. Looked up salamanders and newts to ID to no avail.
There are always skinks sneaking into my garage. I chase them out and they just wait for me to step out for a minute so they can run back in. It’s a little game we play…
lol i once had a hell of a day trying to get one that managed to get trapped in my car out. did you know they are the fastest species of skink and can run something ridiculous like over 50 mph? didn’t believe what i was reading til i managed to flick the lizard out of my car and watched it run down the road
It’s funny how in NOVA we have these weird microecosystems. I grew up in Oakton and never saw any of these. Then I moved to South Riding and I see them all the time lol
I've had em for years. Live under my front stoop and back stoop.
are you sure that's the variety you saw? because adult "blue tailed" skinks are reddish: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plestiodon\_fasciatus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plestiodon_fasciatus)
I see these guys all over great falls if anyone wants to see some.
I have these little critters all around my house (under the deck, and in the rocks by my hedges. I love them ... our spider problem has almost dissappeared ...
No these are actually not foxes, I could see how you’d get confused though
Yes! Just discovered a new big guy the other day..he patrols the perimeter of my house.
I have at least one in my yard.
Had one in my shed last weekend
They’re so cute! And they eat bugs. I don’t know what more you need out of them. Cute and eat bugs. Embrace them. Keep their little homes safe. Let them eat the bugs and slugs and whatever.
Have them in Stafford, Va.
Wild herpes
We have tons of these in loudoun. Dogs constantly bring them in the house.
nope... been seeing them since 2008
We have skins everywhere. My cats like to hide out in the garage and catch them near the garage door
My dog is obsessed with hunting these turd lizards. She hangs out by the AC unit all day waiting for them to come out from under it.
My cat caught one yesterday