The chuckwalla's preferred habitat is boulder-covered slopes, at elevations up to 4500 feet, although they are more common at lower elevations. They sun themselves on prominent rocks during warm weather, and it's not unusual to see several chuckwallas at the same time from a single vantage point. In the wild, chuckwallas are shy, and, if approached, will hide in the cracks and crevices of nearby boulders. If the threat persists, they can wedge themselves tightly in the crevice by inflating their lungs which causes their body to press against the rock faces. This makes extraction nearly impossible for a predator.
Chuckwallas are strictly herbivores in the wild.
Mating occurs between April and July, with a clutch of as many as 16 eggs laid between June and August. The eggs hatch in the late warm season. In desert communities with active development, the preferred habitat of the chuckwalla is under attack. In areas without disturbance, chuckwallas appear healthy and stable. Text and photo by Dick Schwenkmeyer.