Nature isn't always pretty ...

The predator prey relationship can be downright gruesome to our eyes, but everything needs to eat! In late spring, we see skinks on our patio and pathways. Many of them quickly lose a portion of their long, shiny tails.

Adult skink beginning to regrow a lost tail-tip

Chipmunk eating a skink tail

Having never seen a skink get caught and lose its tail, I'd always thought that birds preyed on them. Today, as I gazed out the window, I witnessed this cute little chipmunk grab a skink by the tail and yank on it. The skink hobbled away with a stub of a tail remaining, and the chipmunk savored the tasty tail morsel. We have lots of chipmunks and lots of skinks, and one of them enjoys a meal at the expense of the other!