One of Los Angeles’ best-adapted urban creatures? Lizards.

March's record heat made it the most abnormally warm month in recorded U.S. history, bringing plants into bloom early and coaxing animals out of their winter hiding places ahead of schedule.

Among the creatures making an early debut: The southern alligator lizard.

One of the lizards crawled into a UCLA science building during Southern California's March heat wave, and UCLA reptile expert Brad Shaffer used the opportunity to tell Angelenos about the value of urban wildlife while gently shooing them back outdoors where they belong.

"They're great animals: They're harmless, they're useful, they're a native species and they can't hurt you," Shaffer said. "They help by eating all kinds of insects, including pest insects. If they come inside, just get a broom and gently coax them toward the door."

The rogue reptile caught the eye of local reporters, and after a day of showing the lizard to news cameras - and getting bitten repeatedly ("The bites can't break the skin, they just pinch") - Shaffer released the critter into UCLA's botanical garden.

"Southern alligator lizards are a little bit of a mystery, because they're our most-urban-adapted species," Shaffer said. "Western fence lizards are much more abundant in Southern California, but they're not thriving as well in cities. The native alligator lizards' success is a sign that we're doing something right environmentally to support them - and wouldn't it be wonderful if we could figure out what that is?"

Southern alligator lizards can be up to a foot long, with most of their length coming from their tails, which they can use to help them climb-a sort of fifth limb. They do well in parks and backyards, and are "a great addition" to the city's wildlife, Shaffer said.

"It's a beautiful lizard," he said. "It's got those bars across the sides, that stripe down the back - they're really lovely."

Less welcome are the rattlesnakes that also emerged early this season. While it's important to stay on guard in areas that could have rattlers, the local rattlesnakes also have an important part to play ecologically, Shaffer said.

"Rattlesnakes are generally only aggressive toward humans when provoked, and they prey on gophers, rats, mice and other often unwanted species," Shaffer said. "If possible, work with experienced individuals to relocate, rather than killing, snakes that are living a little too close for comfort."