In the Tracks of the Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard: A Conservation Workshop in the Desert Southwest

Last week, I participated in the 2025 Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard Workshop—a two-day deep dive into the biology, conservation, and field techniques centered on *Phrynosoma mcallii*, one of the Sonoran Desert’s most charismatic (and flat) residents. Day 1 kicked off with online lectures from leading researchers and land managers covering everything from climate adaptation and genomics to habitat regulations and survey strategies. One surprising takeaway? Round-tailed ground squirrels, commonly seen darting through the desert, have been documented preying on young flat-tailed horned lizards. You never quite look at them the same way after that.

Day 2 brought boots to sand. We met before sunrise at the Cocopah Casino in Yuma, Arizona, and headed south to the Yuma Desert Management Area—an ecologically significant zone bordering the Arizona State Prison Complex in San Luis. There, in just three hours of surveying, we found 19 flat-tailed horned lizards, including two adults over 65 mm SVL. The wind had wiped the slate clean the night before, making for excellent track-spotting. We also documented a Colorado desert sidewinder, zebra-tailed lizards, a long-tailed brush lizard, and even a Townsend’s warbler. This area, managed collaboratively under the Rangewide Management Strategy, continues to support robust populations, as confirmed by recent AZGFD occupancy surveys.
Although Dr. Rob Lovich was absent due to government cutbacks, his legacy and contributions to FTHL conservation were felt throughout the workshop. These two days were a reminder that real conservation happens with collaboration, sweat, and a healthy respect for both science and sand.