How to catch a lizard?
 

We have a wild lizard (the kind that looks like a snake with legs) loose in our showroom. It's about a foot long I'm told.

Any ideas on how to catch him (humanely) and get him back outside?

Bait a trap with it's favorite food. That always works. Although I wonder what a snake with leg's favorite food would be.....

Offer to buy its car insurance?

Yes, I know a gecko is not the same thing as a lizard.

My mother used a broom and a pickle jar to trap a lizard in her house, and that was over six months ago. It has been my son's pet even since then. Not sure how humane the broom method is, but the little guy seems to have suffered no ill effects from the incident.

We thought it was a skink, but have since been told it is an alligator lizard. His name is Crush.

He's been spotted a few times - but he's fast and there's a tons of furniture to hide behind. I think we'll have better luck if we can trap him but - What kind of trap can be used to trap him? Any ideas? Kevy where are you?

The trap we have is used for various furry creatures that end up on our warehouse and set off the alarm at night. (a wire trap that does not hurt them). I'm pretty sure a lizard would just crawl right out of there.

I would imagine the guy will need water sooner or later... am I going to come in some morning to find him in one of our toilets?

Paging Kevy Baby?

Very carefully.

Seriously, I have to admit that I have very little experience in catching lizards. On the rare occasion that one got loose, I have been able to just walk up to it and catch it by hand. Dragons aren't that fast.

However, if you can easily hunt him down but can't capture him due to speed, I suggest just using several people and various soft implements (brooms are good) to shoo him towards an exit. If you are unable to easily locate him and need to trap him like a rat/mouse, I suggest seeing if you can secure a small animal cage from the Humane Society (I believe they loan them out) and lure him with some greens (collard, mustard, etc.) and/or large meal worms (if you can find a reptile store close to you. If you let me know where you live, I'll see if I can locate one near you.

That is correct

Get a cat.

Have you just tried asking to the lizard to leave? You'd be surprised how far a little politeness can get you.

No, then you'd just end up with a lizard with no tail. I've had several tail-less alligator lizard pets that I saved from being cat toys.