It was quite a sight on the first Saturday in August. Here I was hiking down Wyanokie High Point Mountain located in Norvin Green State Forest, Ringwood, New Jersey. I had just witnessed a beautiful 360 degree view of vast woodlands. In the distance, I was overlooking New York City. The Wanaque Reservoir could be seen below, but it was only about 70 percent full. There were butterflies flying around and dragonflies buzzing far and wide.

I was feeling really good. I didn't realize then that I was about to witness my first sight of a lizard in New Jersey. Yes, that's right! Lizards do live in New Jersey.

(My first sight of a Five-lined Skink. It almost blends in with the cracks and crevices of this tall oak tree)

Hiking down the Blue Mine Trail, I spotted something move fast from a laurel bush onto a tall oak tree.  I didn't know what it could be. I stopped fast and continued my pace slowly.  I took my time, yet at the same time I didn't want to miss whatever was there.

I looked closely over the tree. Two eyes were looking intently back at me. It wasn't a salamander. No way would a salamander climb a tree. There it was in all its glory. My first sight of a Five-lined Skink!

(As their name implies, five-lined skinks have five light lines that run down their backs and tails)

Though the name sounds funny and weird, The skink family is a group of smooth, shiny, almost slippery lizards. The five-lined skink is the most abundant lizard in New Jersey, and can be found throughout the state. I just happened to find this one way up in the wilds of Norvin Green State Forest.

Normally, adult Five-lined Skinks are brown to black with five broad, light stripes running the length of the body. Yet, this isn't exactly what was sitting on a tree looking at me. Sure enough, it was a Five-lined Skink, but it had a bright, brilliant blue trail.

Checking a field guide that I had in my backpack, I found out that this was a the tail of a juvenile. As this skink gets older the tail turn gray, but for now the tail was a stunning sight to see. Who knows, perhaps this little skink was born just a few weeks ago and I might have been the first human it saw.

(Five-lined Skinks grow up to eight inches long, with males growing slightly larger than females)

According to NJ Fish and Wildlife, the Five-lined Skink is most likely to be encountered in wooded or partially wooded habitat, in damp areas with lots of debris for cover, such as rotting logs or rock piles. The skinks like to bask in the sun to warm up their bodies, so a good place to look for this lizard would be on top of a stump, log, rock, or outcropping.

I didn't think, however, this young skink was in the mood for sunning itself. My guess was this critter was in search of a meal. With not much sun along that portion of the trail, this particular skink was in search of a tasty meal of many types of invertebrates including crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, worms, centipedes, beetle larvae and even small mice. Food only a skink could love!

(A beautiful view awaits all that wish climb to the top of High Point within Norvin Green State Forest)

With temperatures in the 80s that day, it was a good day to find a skink. The Five-lined Stink likes a temperature range between 78 to 85 degrees. Because they are cold-blooded, skinks are most active from May to about early October.

The good thing for most folks is that you do not need to be afraid of the Five-lined Skink if you find one in your back-yard or along your favorite walking trail. Five-lined skinks are not poisonous and pose no negative impacts for human. In fact, they are beneficial in eating insect pests. They make really good natural neighbors.

So don't be put off by the name. Head for the wooded trails this summer and look for New Jersey's most abundant and in my opinion most beautiful lizard - the Five-lined Skink. It will be summer you will never forget!