The western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) is an important prey item for many species including the State and Federally threatened Alameda whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis euryxanthus). Understanding the diet of grassland animals is fundamental to their conservation and informs science-based rangelands management efforts. This work used DNA techniques to investigate the arthropod diet of the western fence lizard in Alameda County grasslands located at Garin and Pleasanton Ridge Regional Parks in 2024 to 2025. Drift fences in combination with pitfall traps (n =10) were placed at both sites for two years. Fecal samples were collected either directly from live trapped individuals or from the ground near the traps, yielding a total of 143 pellets. We used DNA metabarcoding of the 16S mitochondrial DNA region to amplify arthropod diet sequences. We will compare the sequences recovered from diet to a custom reference library of DNA sequences from arthropods to facilitate a high taxonomic resolution of lizard diet. Our findings will advocate for the importance of grassland insect biodiversity for the Western Fence Lizard, and the assorted group of special status species that also consume arthropods including the Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus), Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius Ludovicianus), and California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense). This work will help inform grassland management and support recovery goals of listed wildlife residing in Central California rangelands.