Karen - thanks so much for the info. I will now think twice about letting them go out, even with me there. When we encountered the lizard, my cat went beserk when I tried to pick her up and put her in - either because her adrenalin was running or she got scared, as I had. Since the lizards here are so large, I would hope the cat (on the petite side) couldn't do anything to it - but I'm not going to chance it.

If anyone reads this & lives in Ca, I'd like their opinions, too.