The appearance of lizards around a residential property is common, especially in warmer climates, because these reptiles are specifically seeking out conditions that meet their basic survival needs. Their presence is often a direct result of the local environment providing an attractive combination of food, shelter, and suitable temperatures. Understanding the reasons for their arrival is the first step in determining how to manage their population near your home.
Environmental Factors Attracting Lizards
Lizards are primarily drawn to residential areas because these environments inadvertently offer a concentrated supply of food, water, and refuge. The most significant factor is the readily available food source, mainly insects, which are often attracted to exterior lighting. Outdoor porch and security lights can draw moths, flies, and other small arthropods, creating a reliable, nightly hunting ground for insectivorous lizards right on the walls of a home.
Man-made structures also provide an abundance of ideal shelter and thermal regulation spots. Lizards are ectothermic, meaning they rely on external heat sources to maintain their body temperature, making sun-drenched walls, concrete patios, and foundations highly appealing for basking. When they need to cool down or hide from predators, they utilize the numerous cracks in foundations, gaps around utility pipes, debris piles, and dense landscaping near the house.
Access to moisture, even in small quantities, also makes a property more attractive to these reptiles. Leaking exterior faucets, air conditioning condensation, pet water bowls, and standing water in garden features can provide the necessary hydration for lizards, whose bodies are approximately two-thirds water.
Common Species Found Near Homes
Homeowners frequently encounter specific types of lizards that have adapted well to human environments. The Common House Gecko, for example, is a small, nocturnal lizard that is often gray or pinkish-ashy, known for its large eyes and unique toe pads that allow it to scale vertical surfaces, even glass. These geckos are typically seen hunting insects near light fixtures after dark.
Another common visitor is the Green Anole, or its invasive counterpart, the Brown Anole, which are often mistaken for chameleons due to their ability to change color. Green Anoles can shift from bright green to brown and have a prominent throat fan, or dewlap, which males display for territorial or mating purposes. Skinks, such as the Common Five-Lined Skink, are also prevalent, recognized by their smooth, shiny scales and often having a bright blue tail when young, which serves to distract predators.
Are Lizards Harmful to People or Property
For the vast majority of residential lizard species, the risk they pose to people or property is minimal. Most common house lizards are not venomous; the only venomous lizards in the United States, such as the Gila monster, are confined to specific desert regions and rarely enter homes. Small lizards may bite if they are handled or feel threatened, but their teeth are generally too small to break human skin.
The primary health concern associated with lizards is the potential transmission of Salmonella bacteria, which many reptiles naturally carry in their digestive tracts. This risk is mainly linked to contact with their droppings or handling the animals and can be mitigated by practicing good hygiene, especially in food preparation areas. Lizards do not typically cause structural damage to homes and often provide a benefit by consuming household pests like spiders and mosquitoes.
Managing Lizard Presence Around Your House
Managing the presence of lizards can be achieved through habitat modification, which targets the factors that initially attracted them to the area. To deter them, homeowners should focus on exclusion and reducing food sources. Sealing small cracks, gaps, and entry points around windows, doors, and utility penetrations with caulk or weatherstripping will prevent them from moving indoors.
Managing the insect population is an effective long-term deterrent, as lizards will move where food is less abundant. This includes switching bright, white exterior lights to yellow or sodium vapor bulbs, which are less attractive to nocturnal insects. Removing debris, wood piles, and dense vegetation that sits against the foundation eliminates potential hiding and nesting spots.