Why Am I Seeing So Many Lizards In My Yard?

While most local lizards are harmless, seeing them can still be frightening. That’s especially true when you notice a huge influx of lizards in a short period of time. So, why am I seeing so many lizards in my yard?

Seeing a lot of lizards in your yard indicates that you have lots of insects and standing water nearby. Lizards also stick around areas with lots of ground-cover plants, lawn debris, and hollow logs. Their diet includes fruit, so you may find lots of lizards if you have fruit-bearing plants in your yard. 

Keep in mind that deterring lizards doesn’t always carry many benefits. After all, lizards eat many bugs that would otherwise annoy you and ruin your time in your yard. Follow along as we explore why you see so many lizards in your garden and yard.  

What Attracts Lizard To Your Yard?

1. Insects

Some lizards have a diverse diet, but you can always count on them eating insects. Insects attract hungry lizards to many people’s yards as they provide a steady food source. You’re more likely to see a lot of lizards in your yard if you have an insect problem. 

For example, common lizards like skinks and anolis lizards love to eat mealworms, crickets, grasshoppers, and even moths. Common lizards don’t typically discriminate when it comes to eating insects. You can reduce the bug population in your yard if you invest in pest control treatment. 

Lawn pest control treatments cost up to $200, but you can find better deals with some companies. It’s worth the cost, as you can not only keep lizards away but also enjoy a mostly bug-free yard. Keep up with pest control treatments 1-2 times per year. 

2. Time Of Year

Did you see any lizards in your yard during the fall and winter? If not, then you probably live in a climate with cold winters and warm summers. In that case, the lizards in your yard most likely hide when the temperature drops during the fall and winter. 

The influx of lizards in your yard most likely correlates with the rising temperatures during spring. That, paired with the increased humidity and frequent rain during the spring, makes lizards show up more often. Many types of lizards, such as skinks, mate in the early summer months like June.

However, some lizards mate earlier and hatch eggs by late spring. That can explain why you see more lizards in your yard between late spring and early to mid-summer. 

3. Water

Lizards drink water from any source they can find, and that may include your yard. For example, some people find lizards in their bird baths and water dishes for their cats and dogs. If you leave water bowls out, the lizards will find them.

Lizards may also visit your yard if the lawn is poorly graded. That’s because water may pool in your yard, attracting both lizards and insects. Water also attracts insects, so the presence of bugs and water is a strong combination to attract lizards. 

Be careful about where you place birth baths and water dishes. Otherwise, you can forego them altogether and only leave water bowls outside when you spend time with your pets outside. 

4. Debris

Lizards often visit yards to find shelter to sleep, eat, and even mate. They like to shelter in concealed spots, such as hollow logs and beneath thick brush. Dense greenery and vines provide a great hiding place for lizards to avoid predators and seek food. 

Even the weeds in your yard can attract lizards, so it’s a great idea to pull them or spray them with a weed killer. It’s also a great idea to remove fallen leaves, branches, twigs, and sticks that may attract lizards. However, it’s worth considering that the lizards in your yard aren’t likely to do any harm.

Lizards are great for the ecosystem as they help control the local insect population. Most common lizards in the United States cannot harm humans, and they’re easy to coexist with. It’s still worth cleaning your yard, but you may want to leave a few hiding spots for lizards. 

5. Groundcover

Groundcover plants can add character to any yard. However, they can also attract lizards who are seeking shade and shelter. For example, you may hear lizards scurry away when you walk past a groundcover plant, like creeping thyme and creeping phlox. The good news is that such groundcover plants won’t likely attract lizards, such as skinks, into your home. 

That said, you may want to trim your groundcover plants and keep them away from your doors to be safe. Lizards may not harm you in your house, but they can still startle you. Lizards sometimes crawl beneath door cracks because they’re confused and are looking for food and water. 

They won’t harm you, but they may aggravate your pets. No matter how much you hate lizards, it’s still sad to see dogs and cats harm them. Prune your groundcover plants to keep them clean so they’re less likely to attract lizards. 

6. Fruit-Bearing Plants

Some lizards love fruit almost as much as they love insects. Many lizards like berries, apples, strawberries, and prunes, among other fruits. You may not see lizards but still suspect their presence when you find your fruit-bearing plants have been nibbled on.

Luckily, you can keep lizards away from your fruit-bearing plants with simple solutions, like hot sauce and essential oils. Sprinkle some citronella oil around your fruit-bearing plants to keep lizards and other pests away from them. Eucalyptus oil is also quite effective as the strong odor can naturally deter lizards.

You can get the best of both worlds if you plant eucalyptus trees near your fruit-bearing plants. That way, you can look at a beautiful tree and reduce the amount of lizards in your garden. 

Do Garden Lizards Bite?

Garden lizards bite people in some cases, but most common lizard species in the United States have harmless bites. You can avoid getting bitten if you refrain from handling lizards. Not only can they bite you, but you can also harm lizards if you pick them up.

Aggravating a lizard can cause them great distress, and it’s a form of animal cruelty. Most common garden lizards in the U.S. are harmless, and their bites only cause small puncture wounds. They won’t go out of their way to bite you, as lizards don’t act predatory toward humans. 

Lizards often telegraph their bites before it’s too late. For example, they may open their mouth wide and even hiss before they bite. Be careful when gardening to ensure you don’t accidentally grab and startle a lizard. 

Summing It Up

You will most likely see lizards in your yard if there are lots of insects and dense groundcover plants. Standing water, bird baths, and water dishes can also explain why you see so many lizards. Lizards most commonly appear during the spring and summer when the weather gets hotter and more humid. 

Related Guides:

• Common Reptiles That Can Pose A Threat To Pets
• What Is The Best Time Of Year To Hire An Exterminator?