I don’t know if this is the same Mr. Skinky from last summer, but I hope so! I spotted this handsome being on the patio when I turned around after looking at the ponds. He calmly took a few steps in either direction while I took several photos. When I backed away, he walked under the door and disappeared in the dry stream bed.

Skinks eat mostly arthropods such as spiders, beetles, roaches, and crickets. They are harmless to people.

Scientific name: Plestiodon fasciatus

iNaturalist observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111873217

Other links: herpsofnc | ncwildlife