Free-roaming domestic cats are an invasive species that prey on native mammals, reptiles, and birds and contribute to wildlife mortality globally. We evaluated whether the common Western fence lizard and rare coast horned lizard are naive to domestic cats as a predator by exposing them to introduced (domestic cat) and native (bobcat) mammalian predator odors in both locations where domestic cats are rare (UC Santa Cruz Fort Ord Natural Reserve in Monterey County, CA) and locations where domestic cats are common (adjacent residential areas). We conducted behavioral trials to record differences in chemosensory and anti-predator responses displayed by lizards when exposed to predator urine. Our preliminary analyses found trends suggesting that lizards inside the private reserve displayed more vigilance behavior when exposed to bobcat urine, while lizards outside of the reserve displayed more vigilance behavior when exposed to domestic cat urine. Our preliminary results suggest that native reptiles that live in urban areas perceive domestic cats as a greater threat than native predators such as the bobcat.

Sara is a second-year graduate student currently completing her Master’s in Environmental Science at CSU Monterey Bay. Her thesis focuses on the impacts of domestic cats on native reptiles. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2023, contributing to research on marine invertebrate conservation and the behavioral ecology of freshwater fishes. Sara hopes to work as a wildlife biologist or data/spatial analyst after graduating and is interested in pursuing a PhD in applied behavioral ecology or wildlife biology in the future.