Lizard Repellent (Top 12 natural & chemical deterrents)

lizard

Though lizards are mostly harmless reptiles, some people try to employ lizard repellents to keep lizards away from their homes or yards. Before trying lizard deterrents, however, you should ensure you remove common lizard attractants, if feasible.

For example, some lizards enjoy being close to water. People living in tropical or desert areas of the world tend to find lizards hanging out around swimming pools, in gardens near bird baths, or near plants that collect rainwater well and around fish ponds.

You might consider moving bird baths or rain-collecting plants further from your home to make the area around your home less attractive to lizards.

Most lizards enjoy basking on warm rocks in backyards or hanging out in fruit trees or vegetable gardens.

Some lizards actually eat fruits and vegetables which is not good for a garden or orchard. Other lizards, however, dine on the insects on the fruits and veggies, which is very beneficial for gardens and orchards.

Some lizards like geckos like to find their way inside your home. Geckos often find to find their way into homes through tiny holes and cracks in foundations, walls, or around door and window frames.

For these reasons alone, people who live in areas where lizards tend to invade their space look for ways to repel them away.

Thankfully, there are many methods you can use to help repel lizards, but it is important to keep in mind that lizards are important to the environment because they eat a lot of annoying bugs like mosquitoes and tend to keep the general bug population under control.

Repelling lizards, geckos, and anoles naturally.

What are some methods to use to repel lizards?

As mentioned, there are several methods you can use to keep lizards away. We explain some of the advantages and disadvantages of different lizard deterrents.

Bleach

An unfortunately common lizards deterrent that people use for lizard infestations is pouring bleach over the top of the lizards themselves.

Does bleach kill lizards or geckos?

Bleach will likely burn, poison, and kill any lizards or geckos that the chemical comes into contact with (as well as any lizard eggs that might be within the infested area.) It is an inhumane lizard removal method, however, since bleach causes lizards serious pain.

Mothballs

Mothballs are another remedy used to repel lizards away from homes and areas people do not wish to have them near, but again mothballs are poisonous and aren’t exactly healthy for you, the environment, or your pets.

However, they do work wonders for keeping lizards away.

The Lemon Vinegar Cayenne Solution

A solution that is less harmful to the environment and to your health and more friendly is the vinegar and lemon solution mixed up with some finely ground cayenne pepper.

This solution is often sprayed around the foundation of a home (or wherever you want to keep the lizards from hanging out).

Lizards hate the smell of the lemon and vinegar solution. The cayenne pepper tends to cause a burning, irritating sensation to their skin, eyes, and nose when they get too close to it, which deters them away naturally without killing them.

Does vinegar kill lizards?

If a lizard was coated in vinegar, the vinegar’s acidity could kill a lizard. Vinegar solutions used as lizard deterrents, however, should not kill lizards because lizards tend to avoid any area sprayed with vinegar as when they smell it and will not end up getting much vinegar on their skin.

Will baking soda kill lizards?

No, baking soda normallly will not kill lizards. Some people sprinkle baking soda around their property thinking it will prevent or exterminate lizards. While baking soda helps prevent and eliminate some insects, there is no research suggesting that sodium bicarbonate does the same to lizards.

Seal Up Cracks and Holes

If you want to keep lizards out of your house, garage, garden sheds, crawl spaces, basements, and tool sheds, it is best for you to seal up any cracks and holes that the lizards are capable of crawling in through. Making sure cracks and holes around windows and doors are sealed up properly with cocking will also keep the lizards out.

Plant Mint Plants Around the House

The smell of menthol coming from mint plants is a scent lizards rarely enjoy so planting these kinds of herbs around your house can help repel the lizards away naturally without causing any harm to them.

Install Bug Traps

One of the main reasons lizards might be attracted to your backyard or hanging out around your home is because the insect population is high. Installing bug traps and removing any bee’s nest from the house can help keep the lizards far, far away.

Remove Lizards’ Food Sources

Since lizards love dining on fresh fruits and vegetables it is important to keep outdoor dining areas picked up after each meal. Not doing so could cause you to experience an unwanted visitor later on that just might scare or surprise you a bit when you walk into the outdoor area again for cooking up another delicious meal.

Use Glue Board Mouse Traps

This may sound like a silly solution to your lizard problem, but it does work. Sometimes the best way to repel a lizard away is to trap them first with a glue board mousetrap. However, when you end up finding one stuck to the trap it is wise to take the trap to a different location and pour some coconut oil or vegetable on their little feet so they come unglued without being harmed in any way. However, this method will not prevent more lizards from coming into your yard, but it will catch them so you can physically remove them from your property yourself.

Keep in Mind When Deterring Lizards

The only true way to prevent and repel lizards in a yard is by keeping their food source down and any shrubs away that they enjoy living within. Otherwise, if you live in an area where lizards do too you are just going to have to learn to live with them and love them, or live with them and deal with them one way or another. Remember, our planet is their planet too.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lizard Deterrents

Are lizards dangerous?

Most lizards are not dangerous to humans. Even lizards that pose a threat to humans tend to avoid people. Gila monsters have a venous bite, for example, but are apt to run away when they see you. The same is true for most lizards—they’ll likey scurry away from you so there’s no need to worry about them.

Do lizards bite?

Lizards can bite but they don’t normally hurt humans. Most lizards will scurrry away from people as soon as they see them, so you don’t need to worry about them even if the sight of lizards freaks you out.

There are some lizards, however, that can bite people and harms them. For example, Gila Monsters have a poisonous bite, Tokay Geckos have strong jaws that, once latched onto a person, don’t let go for a long time, and many monitor lizards (very large lizards) have a strong bite too. But again, most of these lizards leave people alone.

Can lizards swim?

Yes, most lizards can swim, however, they can’t swim forever. Most lizards will eventually tire out and sink. So, if you see a lizard in your swimming pool, bird bath, or pond, they can likely swim back to shore before they become exhausted but there is a chance they don’t make it.

Further Lizard Repellent Information:

  1. Lizards, Frogs, and Toads – Virginia DWR
  2. Gecko Control in Home and Outside – NeverPest
  3. Lizards – ucanr.edu
Published
Categorized as Lizards

By David Jackson

I enjoy learning about new pest control strategies and sharing what I learn at NeverPest.com. I aim to create a reliable resource for people dealing with all sorts of pest issues.

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