Lizards are found all over the world, but you can often catch a glimpse of them before they disappear into their hiding place. Luckily, there are techniques you can apply to catch them without getting too close and scaring them off. Like any wild animal, lizards should not be kept as pets without extensive and adequate preparation, but above all without having first ascertained the laws governing their capture. After you get one, show it to your friends, take pictures or a drawing of it, and then release it into the wild.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Set up a Trap
Step 1. Get to know the lizards that live in your area
Do a research on their behavior before setting up a trap, so you will know what they are attracted to and you can use a suitable bait. A book for the identification of reptiles or a dedicated website both contain useful information. You can also observe their behavior at home, in the garden or where they congregate.
If you are unable to obtain information, follow the general rules in this section
Step 2. Prepare a box as a temporary or permanent shelter for your lizard
Any sturdy container without strong odors is suitable. If you want to keep the animal indefinitely, do some research in advance to understand how to build a reptile house that adapts to the species in your area. For temporary catches, make sure that the box is comfortable and that it has leaves and grass on the bottom of the place where you caught it. This way the trap will look less suspicious.
- If you want to keep the pet forever, check the laws and regulations in your area before proceeding.
- If you don't know how to build a reptile house, visit local nurseries. The clerks will surely know how to help you.
Step 3. Close the box with cling film and cut out a slit
The plastic must wrap around the box and stick to the edges. Make a long incision that allows the lizard to fall inside the box.
If you are unsure of the size of the lizards that populate the area, make a cut of about 6 inches
Step 4. Place the trap in a good position
If you've seen active reptiles in a particular spot, place the box there. Otherwise, look where there is the greatest concentration of insects, such as near the lights on at night. Hidden spots in the garden, such as a rock wall or bushes, can also be good solutions.
Step 5. Put a bait
Many lizards eat insects, but since there are an infinite number of species of these animals, it is best to inquire about the eating habits of those in your area. As a general rule, you can rely on crickets, moths, flies, or other insects small enough to be considered prey by lizards. Remember that most lizards do not feed on dead insects, although live prey is difficult to manage.
If the bait is light enough, put it on the cling film, near the crack
Step 6. Check the trap often
You may not catch anything for several days, so don't be discouraged if you don't get immediate results. Check the box 2-3 times a day at a minimum to make sure the captured lizard is not starving. Replace dying baits with live ones every day to keep them fresh.
If you decide to abandon your purpose, remember to remove the trap and throw it to prevent any animal from falling into it
Method 2 of 2: Use a "Fishing Pole" for Lizards
Step 1. Use this method for small lizards only
You have to build a kind of "fishing rod"; this technique, surprisingly, is the most used by biologists. However, he does plan to take a frightened squirming specimen out of a noose, so don't go with this method with large, sharp-toothed lizards unless you're an expert and don't wear protective clothing.
Step 2. Find a long stick
It must be at least one meter long; you can use a real fishing rod, if you have one, but replace the line with a softer material as described later.
Step 3. Attach a long piece of floss to the stick
It must be at least as long as the "cane". If you don't have dental floss, you can rely on another material such as a long, sturdy blade of grass.
Step 4. Make a slip knot at the other end of the thread
Form a loop at the end of the string. Grab it on the side closest to the stick and form a new loop by moving your fingers through the first one. Pull until the first ring is tight. You should now have a kind of fishing rod with a noose at the end.
The noose must be wide enough to accommodate the lizard's head
Step 5. Look for lizards in the most likely places
You can find them where there are insects, such as near the compost bin. If you don't see them running around or stretching out to sunbathe, they may have hidden under wooden boards, in the log pile, or other similar places.
If you know which species live in your area, do some research online about their behaviors or read a reptile guide to find all the information you need
Step 6. Look for lizards at night around light sources
If you can't catch them during the day, you may have a better chance at night, as some species are more active after dark. You can see them chasing insects that congregate near the porch light, near lighted windows and around other light sources.
Step 7. Slowly approach the front or side of the reptile
Paradoxically, this technique works better if the animal sees you, because it will focus more on you than on the noose. Move very slowly and only enough to be able to catch the lizard with the "fishing rod". The sudden movements will scare the animal that will run to hide.
Step 8. Gently pull the noose around the lizard's head
Some species react quickly to the noose, while others remain motionless even if the rope hits them multiple times. When you have found this second type of reptile or have improved your catching skills, you can slip the noose around the lizard's head. Its own weight will make the knot tighten and prevent it from escaping.
Step 9. Remove the loop with great care
Grab the reptile gently but firmly on the back. Don't grab it by the tail, head or limb. Remove the loop with a quick but gentle motion.
Step 10. Don't keep the lizard with you forever, unless you are prepared and have a reptile house set up
Caring for these animals requires a lot of effort, a proper home, and specific knowledge about the species you have caught. Permits may also be required (if it were ever legal to keep lizards in your region). In most cases, it is recommended not to keep the lizard for more than two hours; once you have observed or photographed it, release it as soon as possible where you captured it.
Advice
- Grasp it gently, but firmly, taking it from the body. Many lizards tend to lose their limbs (especially they drop their tails) in order to escape.
- Note that some lizards are critically endangered and protected by law. This especially refers to the species found on the pet market, such as some true chameleons. If in doubt, check with an organization or association for the protection and management of wildlife. Sometimes a permit is needed to capture, keep or export them. It may be possible to obtain this authorization, depending on the species and the level of danger of extinction.
- Be careful when handling lizards, as they are very fragile and could injure them.
- You can make a snatch tool with a piece of cheesecloth or jute sewn around a metal frame made from a coat hanger. However, the faster species of lizards are very difficult to catch with a net.
Warnings
- Other creatures populate the environments frequented by lizards, including poisonous spiders, scorpions and insects.
- Some lizards bite. Very few are toxic or poisonous, but make sure you know your prey and respect the ones that are dangerous.
