Have you ever seen a lizard with a bright blue tail? It's a blue tailed lizard! There are a number of methods for catching these lizards if you want to take a closer look or remove them from your home. While you may need to catch these lizards, they are wild animals and should not be kept as pets but should be caught and released back into the wild.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Your Hands
Step 1. Use your hands if you need to catch the lizard right away but don't have a net or trap
Catching the blue-tailed lizard by hand is very difficult, as the lizard is quite fast and quickly releases its tail. If you have no other choice or like a challenge, then you can try to catch it this way.
If you're having trouble luring the lizard out of its hiding place, it's going to be difficult to use your hands. Try using traps instead
Step 2. Prepare a temporary home
Any sturdy container that is unscented can be used as a temporary home. You can add leaves and grass, along with food and water. Blue-tailed lizards will eat spiders and other insects, but the easiest food to get is crickets.
- While it's not recommended, you should do your research on the most suitable housing for these lizards if you're setting up a permanent home. It may be helpful to talk to employees at a local vivarium, which can be found online or in the yellow pages.
- If you plan to keep lizards permanently, check the laws and permits in your area first.
Step 3. Find the lizard
If you know where the lizards live the most, then move towards that area. If you can find a hole where the lizard comes out, that's even better.
Step 4. Lure the lizard out
Blue tailed lizards are attracted to light. Place a light and some bait (either crickets or worms) near the area where you think the lizard is.
Step 5. Move slowly towards the lizard
Don't scare him too early, so approach slowly and without sudden movements. You should come towards him from behind (or above, if possible) so he is less likely to see you.
Step 6. Quickly move your hand over the lizard
Use your hands to quickly catch the lizard from above or behind. Make sure you try to catch it by its body, not its tail. If you try to catch the tail, it is very likely that the tail will just fall off and the lizard will run away.
- Be careful not to press too hard, or you could injure the lizard.
- Keep your fingers away from this lizard's mouth. Although these lizards are not poisonous, you can still get hurt when they bite!
Method 2 of 3: Using A Net
Step 1. Use a net
Do this if you haven't caught it with your hands yet, or don't want to touch the lizard. Using a net can be easier than using your hands, as you have more reach for the lizard and you don't have to worry about the lizard releasing its tail.
If you are having trouble pulling the lizard out of its hiding place, it will be difficult to use a net. Try using traps instead
Step 2. Prepare a temporary home
Any sturdy container that is unscented can be used as a temporary home. You can add leaves and grass along with food and water. Blue-tailed lizards will eat spiders and other insects, but the easiest food to get is crickets.
- While it's not recommended, you should do some research on the most suitable housing for these lizards if you're setting up a permanent home. It may be helpful to talk to employees at a local vivarium, which can be found online or in the yellow pages.
- If you plan to keep lizards permanently, check the laws and permits in your area first.
Step 3. Buy a net
The best nets are butterfly nets, which have a long handle and a wide net at the end.
- A long handle will allow you to reach the lizard from afar, increasing your chances of catching the lizard.
- A wide net will also make catching lizards easier because you don't have to be so precise when closing the net on the lizard.
Step 4. Lure the lizard out of its hiding place
Place a bowl of food and light near the area where the lizard is hiding, to draw the lizard out into the open.
Step 5. Trap the lizard by wrapping the net around it
While the lizard is busy eating, lower the net and cover the lizard to trap it under the net. It is best to approach the lizard from behind so it is less likely to see you.
Step 6. Tuck a piece of cardboard or other thick paper under the net
Tuck the cardboard under the net to trap the lizard in the net. This will prevent the lizard from escaping when you flip the net.
Step 7. Turn the net over so that the lizard falls into the net
Holding the cardboard over the opening of the net, flip the net over so you can carry the lizard. Keep the cardboard in the top hole so the lizard doesn't jump or crawl out.
Step 8. Turn the net upside down again to place the lizard into its temporary home
Remove the cardboard and turn the net over to let the lizard fall or crawl into its new home.
Method 3 of 3: Using Traps
Step 1. Use traps when you are unable to lure the lizard out of its hiding place
A trap can be set and left for several days while waiting to catch the lizard. this will reduce the amount of time spent waiting for the lizard to come out of hiding.
Step 2. Prepare a temporary home
Any sturdy container that is unscented can be used as a temporary home. You can add leaves and grass along with food and water. Blue-tailed lizards will eat spiders and other insects, but the easiest food to get is crickets.
- While it's not recommended, you should do some research on the most suitable housing for these lizards if you're setting up a permanent home. It may be helpful to talk to employees at a local vivarium, which can be found online or in the yellow pages.
- If you plan to keep lizards permanently, check the laws and permits in your area first.
Step 3. Get or create a trap
You can purchase a glue trap or mousetrap from your local hardware store. Or you can make your own traps using boxes and plastic wrap. Cover the box opening with plastic wrap and make a slit in it about 6 inches (15 cm) long.
- Glue traps are also quite humane and can be used safely for lizards.
- If using a mousetrap, try to get one that doesn't drop too quickly. You don't want to hurt or kill the lizard, but just catch it.
Step 4. Feed the trap
If using a glue trap, you'll need to attach a few crickets to the glue. If using a mousetrap, you may need to use dead worms or crickets as bait. If you're using a homemade trap, you'll need to place the bait (if it's light) on top of the plastic wrap to lure the lizards over it.
Step 5. Set traps where lizards are likely to come
Look for areas where you usually see lizards and set traps.
Step 6. Check the trap several times a day
You don't want the lizard to starve or die of thirst before you release it so you should check the trap frequently to see if the lizard has been caught.
Step 7. Be patient
You probably won't be able to catch the lizard right away, but eventually the trap should work. You may need to change the bait after a few days to prevent it from getting old or rotting.
Step 8. Move the lizard to a temporary home
When you have caught a lizard, you can move it to the temporary home you have prepared.
- For lizards caught in mousetrap or homemade traps, you can simply allow the lizard to crawl into its new home.
- If you have caught a lizard using a glue trap, then pour a few spoonfuls of cooking oil on the trap. This will break the glue and allow the lizard to escape. You can also release the lizard from the trap with your finger, but be careful not to get bitten or cause the tail to drop.
Tips
Handle the lizard carefully to prevent the tail from falling off.
Warning
- Lizards can bite, so be careful!
- Keep pets away from the blue tailed lizard tail! If the tail falls from the lizard, keep your pet away as the blue tailed lizard tail is poisonous if swallowed.
