Many people love to catch and study wild lizards. The trap is a useful tool, but what happens when you see an interesting specimen and don't have time to build or get one? You have several solutions to catch a lizard; no matter which method you choose, always proceed gently and be careful not to injure the little creature.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: at Home
Step 1. Identify the animal's whereabouts
Some lizards move quickly, others are slow; if you find one, you have to act fast to get it. If he escapes and, for example, hides behind a heavy piece of furniture, you have to wait for him to show up again before making any moves.
If he hides somewhere for a long time, you have to resign yourself to using a trap
Step 2. Force it into a corner
Force her into an ever smaller space, move your hands in front of and around her to guide her in a certain direction; for example, if you want it to go to the right, place your hand near the lizard from the left. Keep it away from doors, windows and vents; lead it to an area that is clear and offers a good view. Once cornered, she can't escape.
- Move slowly towards her; if it starts running, stop and the lizard will probably do too.
- You can spray it with cold water to slow it down or stop it completely.
Step 3. Place a cardboard box along the edge of one wall
It should have an open side facing the reptile; if he starts climbing the wall, you or a friend can use the box to block his way.
- Once inside the box, close the opening with another piece of cardboard to trap the animal; make sure the lid has lots of small holes to allow air to circulate.
- If the lizard has no interest in getting into the dark box, you can get it to do so by gently brushing it off with a broom; carefully push it towards the container using the bristles of the broom and touching only its side, tail or hind legs.
- Don't hit her with the broom.
Method 2 of 5: with a Sliding Knot
Step 1. Get a long, thin stick
It should be 60-90cm long and no thicker than 2-3cm; if you can't find any object with these characteristics, you can carve a larger and thicker branch to the correct size.
Step 2. Take some floss and form a slip knot
The thread should be about 25cm long, 17cm of which should form the loop and the remaining 8 should hang from the end of the stick. Form a loop and secure it with a slip knot using dental floss.
- To make a knot of this type, bring one end of the thread towards the other for about 2/3 of the length of the segment; at this point, it should be in the shape of a letter "C".
- Holding the curved part of the "C" with your left hand and both ends with your right, turn your left hand to form a loop. Insert the same hand into the loop and pull the lower end through it; be careful not to slide the whole end through the ring, let only the tip stick out.
Step 3. Capture the lizard
Tie the long end of the noose to the end of the stick; the thread should hang about 10-15cm. Slowly and carefully approach the noose to the reptile you want to catch; let the ring dangle in front of his muzzle and wait for it to enter or slide it so that it wraps around his neck. Either way, when the neck is in the noose, slowly pull the thread to tighten the knot and catch the lizard.
Step 4. Remove the loop as quickly as possible
To do this, place the creature on a flat surface, hold it steady with one hand so that the index finger is on its head; move your other hand slowly but carefully towards the knot around the neck and pull the thread away from the reptile's body. By doing this, the loop opens and you can take it off the neck.
With this method there is some chance that the lizard will harm itself or choke on the noose when the knot is stuck for a while; however, if you let the reptile resist and try to escape, it could injure itself. Try to untie the slip knot as soon as possible
Method 3 of 5: Underground
Step 1. Locate the reptile
Follow the path and look for the imprints of the abdominal scales in the surrounding soil, which indicate the presence of a nearby lizard burrow. Find the hole and wait for the animal to enter its nest before proceeding, otherwise you run the risk of doing a lot of work around an empty den.
Step 2. Find the escape hole
It may be completely out in the open, and in this case, your job is almost done. If not, it means that you are dealing with a species of reptile that closes the opening of the hiding place with a thin layer of soil. Scrape the surface all around the entry hole for a 1.5m radius using a shovel to find the way out; when you notice the earth or sand collapsing at the touch of the shovel, it means that you have found the hole.
Step 3. Guard the ends of the lizard's tunnel
Find the midpoint between the exit and the entrance and get into position; at this point, ask a friend to stand in front of the exit hole and a third person to monitor the entry hole. Both must be ready to grab the lizard as soon as it comes out of the burrow.
Step 4. Retrieve the reptile
Treads hard on the ground in the central point of the tunnel, between the exit hole and the entry hole; in this way, you loosen the sand in and over the hiding place. Put your hand deep into the earth to look for the lizard. Grab it and take it out of its hiding place.
Method 4 of 5: Blocking the Escape Route
Step 1. Wait for the animal to come out of the burrow for a while
Some lizards, such as the underwoodisaurus milii, sit with their bodies partially in the tunnel and their heads out to summon possible mates. When you see this type of reptile, approach it from behind with a shovel, moving slowly and silently so as not to frighten it.
Step 2. Push the shovel into the ground
Hold the tool at a 45 ° angle to the ground and stop when you are about 1-2 m from the creature. Use all your strength to plant the shovel behind the lizard to keep it from escaping into the burrow.
Step 3. Collect the reptile
It is likely that he became frightened and immobilized with fear; if so, remove it from the burrow gently using one hand. It is worth having a small container or box on hand to restrain the lizard and keep it from escaping; if she does run away, chase her to avoid finding refuge in another underground tunnel.
Grab her as soon as possible by placing a hand under her abdomen and your index finger just below her head; the other hand must gently block her back
Method 5 of 5: Personal and Lizard Safety Precautions
Step 1. Make sure the reptile is not dangerous
While most of these creatures are annoying but not harmful, there are some exotic species that can prove to be a serious problem. Always make sure you know exactly what type of lizard you are trying to catch before making any attempt.
- If you have a lizard in your home that can pose a risk, call the animal control officers or an exterminator who specializes in wildlife.
- The leopard lizard and the collared lizard should be treated with special care.
Step 2. Catch the lizards in the house as soon as possible
Although most of these creatures do not pose a threat to humans, they can still carry various bacteria, such as salmonella; if your dog or cat takes one and eats it, he could develop salmonellosis. Similarly, children may think that it is fun to play with the reptile, but at the risk of getting infected; for these reasons, if you notice the presence of one of these animals in the house, you should catch it and get rid of it quickly.
Step 3. Use gloves when handling the lizard
To avoid contaminating yourself with salmonella bacteria and other germs, wear disposable latex gloves; after you have captured the animal and placed it in a container or terrarium, take off the gloves and throw them away. If you have to deal with a large creature, you should opt for thicker gloves to protect yourself from bites and claws. Those from work or from gardening should be sufficient; also be sure to wash any clothing that has come into contact with the reptile.
Step 4. Consult local regulations before releasing the reptile
Depending on the type of lizard you have caught, it may not even be possible to free it in the wild; contact the veterinary ASL or the animal control office of the municipality to find out how to behave.
Step 5. Approach sideways
If you try to grab it by the tail or somewhere above it, the lizard is very likely to panic and wriggle; consequently, depending on the species, it may detach its tail. The reason is that this gesture is very similar to that of the natural predators of these creatures. Instead, let the lizard see you as you approach from the side and lift it with one hand under its abdomen.
Step 6. Support the body of the small reptiles with one hand and the larger ones with two
When dealing with small creatures, you can usually only use one hand; bring it under the abdomen of the reptile with the index finger that forms an arc between the front legs and stops just before the neck. When dealing with larger species, such as the iguana or the monitor lizard, you must support the specimen with two hands. Place one in the same position you would use for small lizards and rest the other under the animal's abdomen with your wrist between its hind legs.
Advice
- Do not grab it by the tail because the lizard detaches it and runs away.
- To bring the reptile home, place it in the palm of your hand and use the other to hold it steady by the back.
- If you put the lizard in a terrarium, make sure it can breathe and feed it twice a day.
- Don't grab her by the head or neck because you hurt her.
- Be careful when you bring your hand to his mouth as he may bite you.
- Some lizards are poisonous, such as the Gila monster and the hideous eloderma, so be very careful when handling them or not catching these kinds of animals.
Warnings
- Some hand held lizards can urinate on the skin causing a burning sensation; as soon as you get home, wash your hands with soap and water to eliminate discomfort and sanitize the skin.
- Handle lizards gently and carefully.
