Don't think your lizards would like the nine feet of snow we get up here...thank goodness! Ewww!! Gimme a nice warm, furry bear or moose any day.
As for seeing, or even hearing, bears right away, don't count on it when this is where you live...mailbox is on the right, in front of that four foot high split rail fence...side and back yards are just as wooded only closer to the house. Very quiet, to say the least.