Wed 17 Sep 2008
The Lizard Dilemma:
Managing Desert Wildlife Around the Home
Managing Desert Wildlife Around the Home
Posted by jbross under Desert Living
[2] Comments
Written by Jeff

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I count myself among the minions who feel that we are custodians of the earth and its inhabitants. When dealing with “pests,” I use Integrated Pest Management (IPM), the use of a variety of controls - cultural, organic and chemical to limit - the impact on the environment.
The desert has some pests that you wouldn’t want in your house. Scorpions and tarantulas can cause harm while lizards, geckos, earwigs and crickets are annoying. One way to deal with these critters is to use glue traps. You may be aware of glue traps as a method for trapping rodents, but the basic glue trap is excellent for trapping vermin before they enter the house.
The trick is to place these traps where the invaders will step on them and be caught. The best location is generally on the sides of garage doors and doorways leading to the outside. While I don’t want to save every insect that gets caught in these traps, I do feel obligated to release lizards and non-venomous snakes. I might even try to free a tarantula if I can figure out how to avoid getting bitten.
The primary release targets for me are the lizards which sometime stumble into the glue traps near the garage doors. It took several tries to find the best method, but I think I have the system perfected at this point. I have released a half-dozen or more creatures using this technique and they don’t seem to be too badly affected by it.

I try to inspect the glue traps daily once the lizards are “out”. I think one very hot day in a glue trap without water can kill a lizard even if the trap itself has not physically harmed it. The first hint that a lizard is in the trap will generally be that the trap has been moved by the animal’s struggle to release itself. A second indication might be a long tail extending from the trap. When approaching the “tail” in the trap, be careful as snakes and lizards may look alike from the tail end.(click for larger image)
Once the animal has been identified, I gather a flat tool such as a small putty knife and move the trap with victim to a shady area. The following steps depict the technique I use from this point:
- Carefully open the trap to expose the animal. Rocks may be used to keep the trap open and avoid further entanglement of the lizard.(click for larger image)


- Take sand and spread it on the glue trap by moving the trap from side to side. Gather enough sand to have extra on hand throughout the procedure.(click for larger image)






- Carefully grasp the tail and begin to scrape the glue and tail off of the cardboard. Care should be taken to be sure that the putty knife or other tool is under the tail and not scraping off the skin and scales of the animal. If glue is coming up with the tail, this indicates you are far enough under the tail to avoid most damage.(click for larger image)






NOTE: Some lizards will have brittle tails that break easily which helps them escape from predators. This may happen and if so, don’t be too alarmed. The idea of course is to avoid breaking the tail altogether and to avoid any injury.
- Continue to scrape the tail and as the tail is released from the trap, continue to spread sand on the newly exposed surface.(click for larger image)






- As the tail is released, move the grasp closer to the uppermost part of the tail to avoid damaging the thinner portions. Once the tail is released, grasp the lizard by the base of the tail.
- With the tail firmly grasped, begin by releasing one back leg continuing to cover newly exposed parts of the glue trap with sand. As the leg is released, gently grab and hold it along with the tail. This reduces the lizard’s ability to move. NOTE below how the grip has been moved higher on the tail. (click for larger image)






- Work the second leg free. Dust the trap with sand again. At this point grab the lizard in the middle of the torso. Don’t grab too hard as it may cause damage.(click for larger image)






- Free each of the front legs. You may need to hold one or more of the legs as it is released depending on the amount of movement the lizard is exhibiting.
- Finally, work the neck and head free.(click for larger image)






- Gently pull off any glue that will release without injuring the lizard. See if the toes will spread. Dust the bottom of the lizard with the sand pressing firmly, but not hard to reduce the stickiness of the skin.
- Wet the lizard a bit to provide some relief from the heat. If it is during the heat of the day, release the lizard under a bush or tree. If it is cooler then the release can take place anywhere. Watch the lizard to see if it is injured and to assure that it can move freely.
NOTE: Don’t be surprised if the animal does not move immediately. They often wait a moment or two after being released to try their escape.
Hopefully the lizards released this way will be able to return to their environment and finish their lives in a normal fashion.
What types of Integrated Pest Management have you found effective in and around your home?
Gardening on the Moon, www.gardeningonthemoon.com, originally published this post


