Lizards are a common backyard visitor in many parts of the world. Lizards come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny geckos to large iguanas. While some lizards prefer warm climates, other species have adapted to live in colder regions as well. If you have noticed lizards scurrying around your backyard, you may be wondering exactly where these reptiles are living and how they survive there. Read on to learn all about where different types of lizards make their homes in backyards and what you can do to make your yard more or less lizard friendly.
Hiding Places Lizards Seek Out
Lizards are experts at finding little nooks and crannies to tuck themselves away in your backyard. Here are some of the top hiding spots lizards search for:
– Under rocks, bricks, woodpiles, and other debris: Lizards love to squeeze into small, sheltered spots under objects sitting on the ground. The shelter protects them from predators and weather while also providing a warm, humid microclimate.
– In shrubs, bushes, and dense vegetation: Shady, damp areas within bushes and plantings offer cover. Lizards often rest in these locations during the heat of the day.
– Under patio furniture: Chairs, tables, and benches sitting on a patio provide shade and access to bugs lizards like to eat. Lifting up patio furniture may reveal a lizard taking refuge.
– Within decorative yard features: Ceramic planters, fountains, statues, and other decorative elements with hollow spaces inside are prime real estate. Lizards climb in through any openings.
– Behind siding and trim: Gaps around siding, vents, door and window frames, and trim boards allow lizards to get inside and hide. Watch for their tails disappearing into narrow openings.
– Among piles of firewood and lumber: Stacked materials found around a yard make appealing hiding spots with plenty of insects to eat.
– Inside open garages and sheds: Lizards often enter outbuildings and hide among the clutter, especially in warmer months.
– Within piles of yard waste and compost: Places where leaves, grass clippings, and other organic matter accumulate are attractive to lizards seeking insects.
Where Specific Types of Lizards Reside
Different lizard species have preferences for where they like to reside in a yard based on their natural habitats. Here is a look at where some common backyard lizards live:
| Lizard Type | Backyard Living Spaces |
|---|---|
| Green anoles | Trees, shrubs, vines – climbs easily using sticky toe pads |
| Fence lizards | Wood fences, walls, rocky areas – likes high perches |
| Skinks | Leaf litter, underground burrows, rotting wood |
| Geckos | Undersides of patio furniture, house eaves, garage doors |
| Iguanas | Tree branches and trunks, hollow logs |
| Monitors | Burrows in soil, termite mounds |
As shown, small, climbing lizards like anoles and geckos stick close to the house, patios, and plants. Larger lizards such as iguanas and monitors prefer natural microhabitats that mimic their native environments. Knowing where each is most likely to live helps you know where to look for different lizard species in your yard.
Factors That Attract Lizards to Backyards
When it comes to lizard real estate, location is everything. Lizards search for yards that meet their fundamental needs of food, water, shelter, warmth, and safety. Consider these factors that can attract lizards to make themselves at home:
– **Insect populations**: Ample bugs like ants, beetles, caterpillars, and flies draw hungry lizards seeking an easy meal.
– **Sources of standing water**: Birdbaths, fountains, moist groundcover, and leaky hoses provide drinking water.
– **Rocky areas**: Piles of stones retain heat lizards use to regulate body temperature.
– **Woodpiles**: These offer both warmth from decomposition and insects living in the wood.
– **Places to hide**: Ground debris, dense plants, and clusters of yard items provide refuge and shade.
– **Ungroomed areas**: Long grass, vines, and weedy overgrown sections give shelter from predators.
– **Sunny spots**: Patios, rocks, walls, and open soil provide basking areas to absorb heat.
– **Gardens**: Flowers, vegetables, and fruits attract insects that lure lizards to feed.
– **Minimal pesticide use**: Less chemical use equals more insects and spiders for lizards to eat.
The more of these features found in a yard, the better the chances of lizards moving in. Having both food and shelter close together is particularly attractive.
Constructing Intentional Lizards Habitats
While some homeowners may not want any lizards scurrying around, others find them beneficial, interesting, or harmless. If you wish to intentionally create an inviting backyard habitat for lizards, consider these tips:
– Build a rock pile or lizard lounge made of small stones for basking and shelter.
– Install elevated flat rocks or logs for lizard perches.
– Plant native vegetation with dense cover at ground level.
– Set out shallow dishes of fresh water.
– Leave areas of leaf litter and dense groundcover undisturbed.
– Allow access to warm, sunny spots along the foundation.
– Reduce or eliminate pesticide use to increase the insect population.
– Set up a compost pile that will attract many insects as it decomposes.
– Provide hiding spots such as turned-over clay pots, stacks of firewood, and unused debris.
– Accept a certain amount of messiness and less manicured areas.
Creating an attractive lizard habitat takes some planning but can be very rewarding for those who enjoy observing the reptiles up close.
Deterring Lizards from Making Your Yard Their Home
Not everyone wants to host lizards in their outdoor living spaces. Lizards pooping on patios, climbing screen doors, and scaring pets can be undesirable. If you wish to evict lizards from your yard, here are some smart strategies:
– Remove easy hiding spots by clearing clutter and debris.
– Prune back overgrown plants to eliminate dense cover.
– Seal cracks, holes, and gaps in foundations, walls, and screens.
– Discourage insect populations by fixing leaky outdoor faucets and using pest control measures.
– Install slick surfaces such as metal flashings or double-sided tape on fences and posts to prevent climbing.
– Apply natural or commercial repellents around the perimeter. Peppermint, garlic, and vinegar work for some species.
– Trim vegetation away from the house and patios to eliminate convenient access.
– Reduce moist, shady areas in the landscape that create comfortable microclimates.
– Use plastic owl statues, fake snakes, or wind chimes to scare lizards away.
– Keep lizard predators like birds and lizard-hunting cats around.
– As a last resort, contact a professional pest control company for humane trapping and removal.
Deterring lizards involves making the yard less hospitable by taking away food sources, water, and hiding spots. Be aware it may take some time to fully evict unwelcome lizard squatters.
Coexisting with Lizards in Your Yard
For those who don’t mind the presence of lizards, a “live and let live” approach is best. Leaving them alone and taking a few simple precautions allows peaceful coexistence:
– Accept that lizards play a role in the backyard ecosystem by eating insects. Their presence can indicate a healthy environment.
– Learn to identify harmless species vs. venomous or aggressive ones that may need removal. Many common lizards are not dangerous.
– Take care when working in gardens and flowerbeds where lizards hide. Gently encourage them to move or wait for them to leave rather than injuring them.
– Supervise pets when outdoors to prevent them harassing or killing lizards.
– Do not leave pet food outdoors that could attract lizards.
– Keep garage and shed doors closed when not in use to prevent entry.
– Set boundaries by gently relocating any lizards that wander indoors back outside.
– Make minor modifications to problem areas, like sealing gaps lizards slip through or using barriers to block certain access points.
A yard can usually support both a human family and lizard residents with a few thoughtful adjustments on both sides. Improving conditions for backyard lizards even has conservation benefits for some declining species. With a little understanding of lizard behavior and needs, sharing your yard with them can be surprisingly easy.
Conclusion
Lizards may scurry through your backyard seeking food, water, warmth, shelter, and seclusion. Different species inhabit various micro-habitats that meet their unique needs, whether in rock piles, woodpiles, dense vegetation, or under man-made structures. You can intentionally create appealing lizard habitat with landscaping choices that provide their key requirements. On the other hand, deterring lizards involves eliminating access, food, moisture, and hiding places. With some awareness of where lizards reside and why, you can either embrace your backyard herpetological neighbors or discourage them from moving in. A balanced ecosystem with room enough for both nature and human recreation is possible with a little knowledge and cooperation.
