A sad, mangy fox.

I love my spiny lizards! Just today I watched one out on the patio. He'd scamper a foot, and stop. Look at me and do a few push ups--then scamper another foot, stop. Look at me and do a few push ups. It was funny! Why do they do those push ups? It looks like they're breathing hard when they do them too. Roselee, I looked at your pictures and thought, hmmm does she really let a gila monster live on her front porch?? (That's what I thought it was) Here is a link that might be useful: gila monster

It might help if you could at least narrow it down to what continent it was seen on. It is a lizard, clearly. It might be one of the spiny-tailed Iguanas (Ctenosaura) or even some sort of Old World lizard in the family Agamidae. There introduced populations of of both groups in areas of the US and of course they are found in their native countries. Without knowing where you were there is no way to narrow it down further. I would consider this as dangerous as a small bunny rabbit, i.e. not at all.

WOW! THANK YOU!!! That's great! I was shocked to see the picture. I would never have guessed that in a million years. I think you are right!!! Yeah! :) So, that explains how these piles disappear after it rains. Its just a pile of dirt. My only question relates to the size. The pic you linked to doesn't have a discernable reference as those grass leaves could be any size. So since there is this size reference issue in the photo that you linked to, I will e-mail Walter Reeves at his site just to verify that the stuff in my yard is the right size for it to be these earthworm castings. It sure does look like it from the pic. I am so happy that's all it is! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!!