The Largest Skink In The Southeast: The Broadhead Skink! (4K)

Of all the native lizards of the Southeastern US that I have encountered on my adventures, none have been as large or impressive as the broadhead skink. Learn all about these charismatic reptiles in today's episode of The Wild Report!

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If you've made it this far in the description, remember to be safe when creature adventuring! Most wild animals can cause injury if harassed, and I do not recommend attempting to capture any creatures without purpose and practice. The reason that I interact with wildlife is to produce these educational videos, and I have years of zoology experience under my belt. Also, I always ask permission from a land owner before exploring on their property, and you should do the same.

Keep adventuring everywhere, and keep your adventures safe at all times!

-Ben Zino

"To the Lord your God belongs the Heavens, even the highest Heavens, and the earth and everything in it."
Deuteronomy 10:14

#herping #wildlife #lizard

[TheWildlifeBrothers]

You got a broadhead! That is not easy to do, Broadhead skinks are notoriously fast and hard to catch, so well done with that textbook capture. He was certainly a pretty one as well, their red head coloration is really spectacular later in the season. Interestingly, Evan and I were able to spot a Broadhead in Southern Florida in Fort Myers, which was much farther south than I had initially thought their range to be. I wasn’t fast enough to catch it though, which made this video all the more exciting! Great work Ben!
- Harrison and Evan

[TomPearsall]

I’m in southeast Georgia and found one in my house yesterday! took over an hour to catch and release outside and you are right those things are FAST!

[illuminotme]

I love skinks! I have grown up on the Altamaha River and been around so many snakes, alligators, spiders, turtles in my life I'm only happy around nature and right now have had an Eastern Glass Lizard I rescued 2 years ago. When I said to the people it wasn't poisonous and pretty sure it isn't a snake, I was laughed at but I proved them all wrong after that day. It has been a gentle and wonderful creature. She will curl up in my hair as I watch T.V. Back to skinks, the babies are so fun to watch because they move their tails like the old stop motion dinosaurs in old movies. Their speed is amazing as well. One thing you may not believe is at a certain creek I saw some very unusual reptiles etc. I caught a two tailed lizard, it split about halfway down the tail. I also came upon a skink whose size was incredible. I didn't mistake what it was. It was easily 4 times bigger than this one but I would bet larger. It almost looked like a monster lizard but it was a skink and I have never seen one so huge. I tell you if I could've caught it, maybe would be the world's record. Of course growing up near a river and swamp you see things people won't believe like an8- 10" grasshopper that was almost entirely pink.I am so happy I grew up with nature instead of neighbors.

[kelseywhite]

I’ve caught just a couple at a few of my houses in Tampa, Florida. Currently have one female in rehabilitation in my reptile room after my Husky injured it. This one you encountered looks to have something wrong with it by it’s movement and larger lower abdomen. Definitely one of the largest ones I’ve seen. It’s head size is quite small for a make which is odd. He was definitely adorable. I would of been ecstatic to catch one of that size. Thanks for the video!

[Barberslave]

Man, you find the greatest stuff! I only see basic toads and bugs.
This is another great episode!

[daveb]

I watched one chase down a large grasshopper this morning. They are anything but slow. They dont live in the trees here in mid ga, they tend to live under things like my deck steps where leaves and such blow under. Ive got at least three that are on my deck and they are very aggressive towards other broadheads and anoles. We also have the fabulous eastern fence lizard, one of my favorites and the blue tail skinks that also match the length but not girth of the broadheads. They seem to hold there own against the broadheads probably because they are a lot quicker.

[dazmaster]

I would say their range is farther west in North Carolina than you mentioned, I live near charlotte, so deep in the Piedmont region of the state and they are a regular staple reptile around here. Good job on catching one as well, try as I might I have never been able to actually catch one, lol.

[WildEncountersTV]

That is a huge skunk! I’ve never seen them before, but I’ve seen many other herpers find them when looking for snakes. Great find and great video!

[MyWildBackyard]

No way a broad head! I have so much trouble catching these guys! I live probably on the western edge of their range, and at the peak of summer we’ll get males up to 12 inches long with massive red heads. I’ve heard trapping works, but I’ve yet to successfully catch one.

[JimJWalker]

Me and my wife just saw a very large Broadhead Skink running to a Oaktree. The one we saw had to be at least 13-15 inches long. We live about 20 miles north of Gainesville Florida, which must be the tip of their range.

[mariemaroney]

Great video. I loved it. Love skinks too. Sadly Connecticut’s only lizard the Blue Tailed Skink are gone from pollution along the Naugatuck River. I live in Naugatuck, right along the River too. There were all rubber and brass factories here in the 70’s and the wildlife couldn’t take the dumping in the river. Although the rivers are nice and clean now and they say there are a few lizards in small pockets here it’s controversial, some say yes, some say no. I’ve never seen one here. 😢

[AnimalEncountersEP]

Tubby indeed bro! we also have them in Florida, but they don't range as far south as my area, kinda of the same situation you've got in NC!

[lynn]

I'm going to be coming home with one here soon. A female hitched a ride apparently with a trucker and wasn't spotted until she got to my area. A coworker has her and shes being well cared for. She laid fertile eggs that will hatch in probably the next 6 weeks or less so shes trying to find them good homes. I have the means to keep at least one well cared for. I figure they should be an interesting critter to learn more about and care for.

[bdogjr]

Awesome Ben《☆》I haven't seen any skinks in my yard🤓 I have lots of anoles. A few years ago I noticed the Mediterranean Gekos were taking over in droves. I've only seen 1 geko this year and it was a younger one :*: Greetings from⛾Duval🤳my friend🤓🎱☮🔊✌👍🏾

[codyflake]

I see these skinks in my neighborhood a lot. The first time I saw one years ago I almost mistook it for a snake because of the color and how fast it moved. That aside, they are probably one of the most beautiful reptiles native in my state. That’s just my opinion of course

[ryanhburnette]

We have broadhead skinks all over our yard (outside of Augusta, GA) and those suckers are way faster than the tubster in this video. Most of the ones we see are on the ground, but at Phinizy Swamp, there are trees just covered in skinks which is just pretty awesome to see them scatter for cover. We’ve had some big enough that upon first glance of just their head, we think it’s a snake for a second before the “what is this animal, is it venomous” moment wears off and and then we can admire it’s scaly skinkiness.

[smetlogik]

Def one of the coolest looking skinks, dig that color.

[machmustangguy]

Yea I live right on the intercoastal in Virginia we have a colony of these guys under my porchdeck. They are big and are used to us they will sun themselves while I’m outside gardening

[rottweilerfun]

I love these lizards. The ones that live around my house have me trained to hand deliver wax worms to them. This is the second place that I have lived where I have been able to hand feed the broadhead skinks. They climb on me but I never try to handle them. Sometimes one of them will just hang out on me while I sit outside and read. They're my little buddies.

[xilverxoul]

There's one over by a bridge I run on that has been peaking his head out of a crevice for the last week or 2. Pretty sure he is guarding some eggs!