Today’s photo features a curious fellow I spotted peeking out from a hole in a large log. It’s a five-lined skink, and judging by its recent activity level, it seems spring has definitely sprung at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge!
This past week, the Oklahoma weather has been warming up considerably, and I’ve noticed a surge in skink sightings around the refuge. It’s a welcome change after a long winter.
Speaking of winter, some of you might remember my previous post (September 25, 2023) on the “Hibernation Habits of Five-lined Skinks“. In that post, I discussed the fascinating ways these reptiles prepare for and endure the colder months. Interestingly, I wasn’t able to find any definitive information on the ideal hibernation temperature for five-lined skinks.
However, based on my observations here in eastern Oklahoma, it seems these little guys typically emerge from hibernation and become active during the warmer months, starting around April or May. My own personal guess, based on what I’ve seen at Sequoyah, is that they time their emergence with consistent temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s when I typically start checking the logs near the auto tour road for signs of life.
And sure enough, with the recent warm spell, the skinks seem to be waking up and ready to greet the spring sunshine! Keep an eye out for these curious reptiles on your next visit to the refuge. They might just be peeking out from a hole in a log, waiting to be discovered.