The specific lizard species (if you really want to get nitty-gritty about it) is going to depend on what state you are in and what environment you found it in. And also altitude. While it looks exactly like a western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) it could also be the common sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus graciosus) or any look-alike species. These lizards live in the same states as each other. Plus, there are subspecies of each e.g. Sceloporus occidentalis occidentalis (the Northwestern Fence Lizard) or well...this is too much work. Here's a
website that you can check out for each subspecies' respective range:
http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/pages/s.o.occidentalis.html
(You can do "control F" and then type "subspecies" and a map should pop up and show the ranges--there's quite a bit and this is only in California!).
Cool facts about western fence lizards and lyme disease:
--https://news.berkeley.edu/2011/02/15/ticks-lizard-lyme-disease/#:~:text=The%20Western%20fence%20lizard's%20reputation,ticks%20that%20transmit%20Lyme%20disease.
(One reason why lyme is less common on the west coast)
Also, most lizards can change their body color, just not as drastically as chameleons and anoles.
Western fence lizards also brumate during the cold season (at least the subspecies in my area). They are super active in the summer and cannot be found in the winter when it freezes at night.
They are an overall cool species of lizard! As a kid, I would catch one and keep it for a day or two and then release it. I had some salamanders and newts at the time, so I would offer them crickets. It's pretty cool to have them eat right in front of you. Their care should be pretty easy, though they will still need supplements etc.
Ultimately, whether you keep the lizard or not is up to you. Just remember that its life is just as precious as your chameleon's life. We aim to replicate nature while excluding the parts that cause stress such as predation or habitat loss.
