ID request - Latvia. Saw this HUGE lizard in my garden a while ago. I’ve never before saw reptiles that big, aside from snakes, in our climate. Are these common here? I often notice something about as big running away through grass beside trails, but never catched a glimpse. Always assumed those were mice or rats.

This is a female sand lizard ( Lacerta agilis ), family Lacertidae. One of only three or four lizard species found in Latvia, this is not the most common, but they are relatively common and open sandy/grassy areas. ￼