How to Get Rid of Lizards in a Garage

Spring and summer can be peak lizard season.

Lizards aren't harmful, but they can be annoying. Since they're naturally fond of dark, enclosed spaces and cool, moist areas and subsist on insects, your garage makes a mighty inviting lizard lounge. If you can catch them, you can manually remove lizards from your garage, but you'll need to adopt and maintain lizard-proof practices to keep them away.

Things You'll Need

• Terracotta pot
• Thin cardboard
• Replacement mesh screen
• Mortar
• Putty knife
• Insecticide pellets
• Lawnmower
• Rake

Instructions

1. Trap lizards by placing a terracotta pot over them. They won't feel scared in a dark, enclosed environment, and you can easily transport them. Slide a piece of thin cardboard under the pot, then pick up the cardboard and pot to move the creature outside. Set your lizard free in your yard. Remove all lizards like this if you can.

2. Identify holes in your garage where lizards could be coming in. Patch holes in any screens. Seal all other holes, shut drafty windows and don't leave your garage door open. Lizard-proof cracks in your garage foundation or walls by patching the area with mortar. As you eliminate holes, you close off access to the pests.

3. Scatter insecticide pellets according to the manufacturer's instructions around the interior of your garage. As bugs die from the insecticide, the lizard's food supply will diminish, pushing the creatures to move elsewhere.

4. Mow the lawn and remove weeds if your garage abuts your lawn. Lizards are naturally drawn to moist, cool areas, so a patch of thick grass by your garage might invite them there. Leave no more than 3 inches of mulch around shrubs, rake and remove leaves and maintain a clipped lawn to discourage lizards from your home.

Tips & Warnings

• Lizards can bite if you pick them up, so avoid doing so.

References

• Ask the Exterminator; Lizards; Rick Steinau
• North Carolina Cooperative Extension; Lizards; Peggy Drechsler