Describing the space use and activity patterns of endangered animals is important to implementing effective conservation strategies. Historically, collecting sufficient data on small-bodied species was challenging due to constraints of manual tracking and short battery life. The development of miniaturized tracking devices, such as UHF (ultra-high frequency) transmitters, has provided opportunities to better understand the ecology of many smaller-bodied species and assess conservation efforts. The blunt-nosed leopard lizard (BNLL; Gambelia sila) is an endangered species endemic to the San Joaquin Desert of Central California. We have been releasing captive-produced BNLL to bolster an almost-extirpated population on Panoche Plateau, Fresno County, where we installed an automated telemetry system of >150 remote nodes. In June 2024, we released 10 captive-reared BNLL equipped with UHF backpacks and later equipped four wild-reared lizards near the end of July. We monitored lizards with a combination of hand and automated tracking. We were able to use trilateration methods to estimate >37,000 lizard locations with a median error of ~27 meters, providing data to better quantify home ranges and habitat selection. Additionally, we used data from the remote telemetry system to predict when lizards are likely below ground, and to detect late season activity.

Dr. Steve Hromada is a wildlife biologist specializing in the conservation and management of herpetofauna. Currently a postdoctoral researcher at Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Steve is involved in the efforts to repatriation and restore the endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard. His previous work includes studying the movement and population ecology of the Mojave desert tortoise and examining how reptile and amphibian communities respond to land management practices in the southeastern United States.