Western fence lizards, Sceloporus occidentalis, are greenish brown to black in color and have black stripes on their backs. The male lizard is known for its bright blue belly as well as patches on their throats. This bright coloration is faint or absent in both females and juveniles.

The western fence lizard occupies a variety of habitats, including wetlands like McNabney and Moorhen marshes. These lizards are commonly seen sunning on paths, rocks, fence posts, and other high places. To avoid predation by birds and mammals, they protect themselves by employing fast reflexes and a defense mechanism called caudal autotomy, where the lizard can detach its tail. The lizard will then regrow a new, shorter and duller, tail.

The western fence lizard eats spiders and insects such as beetles, mosquitoes, and various types of grasshoppers.  

Like most other lizards, the western fence lizard goes through a period of hibernation during the winter. These lizards mate in the spring with females laying one to three clutches of 3 to 17 eggs. The eggs hatch in late summer. Western fence lizards are territorial, especially during spring mating season. Around this time, keep an eye out for male fence lizards doing "push-ups." This is a display that male lizards use to try to attract females.