A gecko in the house.

Since geckos are typically much slower than the garden variety lizards we typically see here in Florida, the easiest method to catch/release:

  1. Find a drinking cup - disposable would be preferred if you don’t think washing it out afterwards would be sufficient.

  2. Place inverted cup over gecko, hopefully without catching their tail.

  3. Without lifting, slide a piece of paper (larger than the cup opening) under the cup.

  4. Carefully lift the cup with the paper and gecko therein.

  5. Release outside.

We have geckos, anoles and curly tailed lizards in abundance here in FLL. Many find their way onto my screened porch. Most of those are ambushed by the cat. The cat plays rough so most don’t survive. Anyway…a gecko was evidently shading itself in the gap between the top of my front door and the frame. When I opened the door it fell directly down the back of my shirt. I did a little dance in the front yard to the great amusement of my children.

Hence your online name?

We had geckos in our homes on Saipan many times. The tails were unsettling when they were wiggling on the floor. Geckos, unfortunately, are quite adept at finding inconvenient places to die. The worst was recounted by a friend: bread in the toaster, an unpleasant burning smell, toasted gecko.

Honestly, if geckos were controlling the roach population, we would have needed shovels to navigate our apartments. And then there were the termites…

There are all kinds of lizards in South Florida, including many invasive species. Last time I was there, my son caught loads of them. The curly tailed lizards were the most elusive AND the quickest to bite.

I still have the same one.See Just bought pair o’ belly-to-belly spreadeagled dried bat lizards on a stick. What are they? [pix]

Also note: OP name/subject

I found one on the patio in fallen leaves. I brought him inside to show Mrs. Plant (v.3.0) and released him into the grass.

… where he is now telling all the other geckos about his alien abduction.

:slight_smile: