Deep in the dense, tropical jungles of my backyard, you're bound to come across a lizard or two.
On this day, we found two so we shot them from every different angle we could before they scampered away.
Lizards are okay out here. It’s when they come inside that we seem to have a problem with them.
That's what we asked Wes Seitz a biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. He came prepared with his own sample.
"If you can grab `em fine. If you're a little bit slow, throw a towel over `em and nab `em that way. Even if you have a net, that'll work fine. Anyway you can grab `em..then you can just toss `em outside."
Wes says, “Cats'll kill `em; that's about all there is to that.They’re no danger to your pets; they're no danger to your family."
Wes set us straight.
He said the little creature most likely to find its way into your home isn't a lizard at all...it's actually a "tropical house gecko"..the same as that little cartoon character with the British accent who's always trying to sell us insurance.
Geico Commercial "You can't even imagine the pressure."
Wes, who jokingly refers to himself as a "gecko geek," is in the business of helping wildlife...
So, unless it's a life or death situation, which isn't gonna happen with a lizard, he suggested to try to capture it using a box or a net..and set it back outside.
Wes: "They are gonna rid you of any insects that get into your home, whether it be cockroaches, flies, anything they can find..and they are voracious eaters."
Favole asks, “But they're not harmful to you, per se?”
Wes answers "Not at all."
Favole asks, “And they're as scared of you as you are of them?
Wes answers, "exactly."
Wes says your best bet is not to let the lizard get inside in the first place...so make sure your weather stripping is in good shape. Keep your windows and doors shut and check for holes in your screens and repair them.
After you've done all that, you may want to get yourself a good "guard cat."
All right, let's keep things in perspective. It's only a lizard and it won't hurt you. If you don't catch it, it'll eventually find a way out..or die of starvation.
Oh, and just be grateful that it was a gecko..and not a gator...they're popular in Florida too.
On this day, we found two so we shot them from every different angle we could before they scampered away.
Lizards are okay out here. It’s when they come inside that we seem to have a problem with them.
That's what we asked Wes Seitz a biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. He came prepared with his own sample.
"If you can grab `em fine. If you're a little bit slow, throw a towel over `em and nab `em that way. Even if you have a net, that'll work fine. Anyway you can grab `em..then you can just toss `em outside."
Wes says, “Cats'll kill `em; that's about all there is to that.They’re no danger to your pets; they're no danger to your family."
Wes set us straight.
He said the little creature most likely to find its way into your home isn't a lizard at all...it's actually a "tropical house gecko"..the same as that little cartoon character with the British accent who's always trying to sell us insurance.
Geico Commercial "You can't even imagine the pressure."
Wes, who jokingly refers to himself as a "gecko geek," is in the business of helping wildlife...
So, unless it's a life or death situation, which isn't gonna happen with a lizard, he suggested to try to capture it using a box or a net..and set it back outside.
Wes: "They are gonna rid you of any insects that get into your home, whether it be cockroaches, flies, anything they can find..and they are voracious eaters."
Favole asks, “But they're not harmful to you, per se?”
Wes answers "Not at all."
Favole asks, “And they're as scared of you as you are of them?
Wes answers, "exactly."
Wes says your best bet is not to let the lizard get inside in the first place...so make sure your weather stripping is in good shape. Keep your windows and doors shut and check for holes in your screens and repair them.
After you've done all that, you may want to get yourself a good "guard cat."
All right, let's keep things in perspective. It's only a lizard and it won't hurt you. If you don't catch it, it'll eventually find a way out..or die of starvation.
Oh, and just be grateful that it was a gecko..and not a gator...they're popular in Florida too.