I had a lizard running around in my garage. I needed some help! So I reached out to the experts at Urban Reptiles for tips on how to get rid of the lizard in my garage without harming it.
Prevent lizards in your garage by closing cracks and gaps, decreasing their food source (insects), and eliminating spots where they hide. Use natural deterrents like peppermint oil or eggshells. Set up lizard traps. Avoid hazardous substances. Clean the garage regularly, and remove potential hiding places.
Follow the advice we are going to share with you to help keep Lizards out of your garage and home.
Understanding Lizards – What Attracts Lizards to Garages?
Lizards are Adapting to Urban Environments
A study done by a well-known expert in Lizard (Kristin Winchell) showed that Lizards have been able to tolerate more heat in urban environments.
Urban lizards were capable of carrying out their activities in temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F). You should expect to see more lizards around.
Warmth
Lizards require warmth to keep active and healthy. So, during the cooler months, they enjoy spending time in our homes and garages, where they may find a warm haven.
Lizards are likely to invade Homes & Garages more during winter when our homes provide shelter heat and possible food and water sources.
Smell of Food
They have this incredible sense of smell that lets them detect food from quite a distance. Depending on the lizard type and surroundings.
Some can sense it even from several meters away Certain species, particularly those with an acute sense of smell, may detect the scent of possible prey or food sources from a distance of up to 30 feet.
So keep any leftover food in air-tight containers or sealed in the fridge.
Bugs in the Garage
Lizards eat bugs when they are in the wild. Garages are known to be a sweet spot for bugs to hide. Lizards are big fans of insects, and if your place has a lot of bugs like flies, mosquitoes, ants, or spiders, well, that’s like a lizard buffet!
Close to Natural Habitats
Homes and garages near natural habitats such as forests, grasslands and bodies of water are more likely to attract lizards as they can encroach on residential areas for food.
Should I be worried about a lizard in my Garage?
You walk into your garage and notice a lizard. While it’s natural to have some anxiety or uncertainty, there’s no need to worry.
Contrary to widespread belief, lizards are not harmful. The vast majority of lizard species found in garages and homes are non-venomous and pose little threat to humans. They are quite shy and want to avoid all human interaction. If you see one scurrying away, it’s merely their way of seeking a peaceful place where they may escape unnoticed.
How to Catch and get rid of a small and large lizard from your garage?
Firstly we recommend trying natural methods to get rid of them.
Lizards despise anything that smells strong, such as mothballs, and spicy aromas, such as cayenne pepper, and particularly do not enjoy the smell of garlic.
Best Natural lizard repellents
We tried a few of the best selling and recommend lizard repellents and we found the one below
Colton’s Naturals Lizard Repellent
This has 2 main ingredients, natural peppermint & Cinnamon Essential oil. its safe around children and pets. Natural Reptile Spray provides a long-lasting defense against lizards and geckos.
The unique combination of peppermint and cinnamon oils, benefits last long after spraying. You can prevent reptile outbreaks by using repellents on a regular basis. To regain control in instances with greater severity, simply boost the application frequency.
Mighty Mint Peppermint Oil Rodent Repellent Spray
The Mighty Mint peppermint oil spray is for most rodents that includes some reptiles like lizards.
Ingredients derived entirely from plants. The components, in addition to Northwest peppermint essential oil, are produced from plants such as soybeans, palms, and vegetable oils.
Mighty Mint Rodent Repellent is non-toxic to humans, dogs, cats, and other pets. When you use this spray around your house, you can be certain that no hazardous or detrimental chemicals will be left behind – just the fresh peppermint aroma!
Sponge method
If you are not afraid to handle a lizard then the sponge method works well, it doesn’t harm them and lets you handle them with ease, unlike using your hand the sponge acts like a cushion preventing injuries to the lizard.
- Place a large sponge in your hand (thick sponge) preferably a sponge size bigger than your hand.
- Hover above the lizard and then quickly but gently place it on top. This doesn’t harm the lizard if you’re gentle.
- After the lizard is under the sponge you can scoop it up into a plastic container and set it free into the wild.
Home made lizard traps
This method involves a few items that you may have around the house anyway it’s simple, but you may have to observe to see if it caught the lizard and not any other rodents.
- Lizard-friendly traps: Create a simple lizard trap using a cardboard box supported by a stick and bait (such as a small piece of fruit).
- When the lizard enters the bait box, pull the stick and the box will fall and stay inside the lizard.
Make a DIY Lizard Lasso/ lizard noose
Lizard Noose is a trick used for centuries to safely catch lizards in the wild and this easy method can now be used in the garage as well as the home.
- Lizard Lasso: Make a lizard lasso using a string or thin rope and a little loop at the end.
- To create a lasso effect, gently toss the loop over the lizard’s head and progressively tighten it.
Pet Carrier or Cage Trap
Use a tiny pet container or travel cage with a door to catch the lizard if you have one.
Open the door, assist the lizard inside, and then close it.
you can add some bait like fruit or a small piece of meat or even a live bug.
Catch a Lizard Using a Handheld Net.
Hand Held nets can be a useful tool to catch a lizard. We have listed a simple step by step way to ensure a safe capture of the lizard.
- Choose the Right Net: To avoid hurting the lizard, make sure your portable net is made of a soft mesh material. A butterfly net or a tiny mesh fishing net is suitable. see some of the best nets here
- Set Yourself up: Approach the lizard gently and quietly to avoid startling it. Set up your position so that you may approach the lizard from the side or slightly behind.
- Holding the Net: Use both hands to keep the net open and ready for action. Check that the net is not dragging on the ground.
- Gently lower the net: Move the net gently and steadily toward the lizard. Be patient and prevent abrupt movements.
- Catch the Lizard: As soon as the net is in close proximity to the lizard, softly and swiftly scoop the net up from the bottom, enclosing the lizard inside. Smoothly raise the net in one move.
- Closing the Net: To keep the lizard contained, hold the net firmly in one hand. Use the drawstring or other closure on the net to tighten it around the handle and prevent the lizard from escaping.
- Raise the Net: Lift the net gently while ensuring that the confined lizard is at ease and not being pinched.
- Move the Lizard: At this point, you can relocate the lizard-containing net to a suitable container or a public space for release. This procedure should be taken carefully to avoid the lizard from running away.
minnow trap to catch a lizard
Minnow traps are particularly good for catching several lizards at once.
- Pick the Right Trap: To keep the lizard from escaping, use a minnow trap with a small mesh size. The trap must be strong enough to hold the lizard without harming it.
- Set the Trap: Take out any additional trap components that could hurt the lizard. While the lizard is inside, you want to provide a safe environment for it.
- Lay Bait Inside: To entice the lizard, place the bait of choice inside the trap. The bait might be placed on a tiny dish or platform within the trap. Lizards are typically drawn to tiny insects and worms as bait. Choose bait that is common in their native environment, such as crickets, meal worms, or small bits of fruit.
- Remain Patient: Lizards are wary creatures, therefore be patient and allow them time to inspect the trap and bait. It may take some time for them to feel comfortable entering.
- Monitor the trap: On a regular basis to check whether the lizard has been trapped. If you see a lizard inside, explore the trap quietly so as not to startle it.
- Handle with Caution: If the lizard becomes trapped in the trap, slowly remove it and carefully transfer the lizard to an area for safe transport.
- Safe Release: After you’ve caught the lizard, transport it outdoors to a suitable release location. Establish that the place is appropriate for the lizard’s species and habitat needs.
How to keep lizards out of your garage
- Seal Access Points: Check your garage for openings, breaks, or cracks through which lizards may enter. To keep out the lizards, seal these spaces with caulk or weatherstripping.
- Consider adding fine mesh screens if your garage contains windows or vents. These screens will allow in fresh air while keeping lizards at bay.
- Eliminate Food Sources: The lizards are drawn to insects, so keep them out of your garage. Dust and clean the garage on a regular basis to remove crumbs and dirt that may attract pests.
- Keep your garage neat and organized by de-cluttering it. Lizards may hide in cluttered areas. Make the garage less inviting to them by reducing hiding places.
- Ultrasonic Repellents: Think about utilizing ultrasonic repellents. These generate high-frequency sound waves that irritate lizards and cause them to flee the area.Ultrasonic Repellents: Think about utilizing ultrasonic repellents. These generate high-frequency sound waves that irritate lizards and cause them to flee the area.
- Trim the vegetation surrounding your garage, since plants may provide hiding places and attract insects. By preserving the outside, you make the area less appealing to lizards.
To summarize, keeping lizards out of your garage requires an integration of blocking access points, keeping it clean, and establishing an atmosphere that is less desirable to them. You may dramatically reduce the probability of lizards entering your garage by addressing potential access points, decreasing clutter, and eliminating food and moisture sources. Using natural repellents and considering ultrasonic devices can also give an additional layer of protection. Remember, the aim is to create an atmosphere that makes your garage less appealing to lizards while yet remaining in harmony with the surrounding environment. You could have a lizard-free garage space with a little work and attention.