ladynox25 | Wildlife!

Having just recently moved into an apartment of my own, I've been paranoid about seeing my first cockroach. I know that that's a risk you take in apartments and no apartment is totally immune. However, I didn't see any dead roaches after I fumigated or anything so I was figuring I got lucky and this apartment complex is fairly clean.

Then this morning, I went into my bedroom to pick up my watch on my way to work, turned on my bedside light, and saw a flicker of motion running across the patch of carpet in the corner of the bedroom. I immediately thought "Oh, shit, my first cockroach." Then it ran back across and I got a better look at it.

It was a lizard, or maybe (but not likely) a salamander, a very pale orange/peach color with some pale blue markings. About |------------------| long. Cutest little thing I've seen. Of course, he promptly ran underneath my nightstand so I couldn't get him out.

So now I have a tiny little lizard living in my bedroom. Which prompts two questions: 1) how on earth did he get in there, considering that my bedroom is the furthest room in the place from the door and 2) how on earth am I going to catch him and get him out? I don't mind him, but I don't want him to starve to death.

And here I thought I wasn't going to see any really interesting wildlife after I moved. *grin*

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Glad, glad, glad that it wasn't a cockroach.

As to how to get it out... hmm. No idea. Google for some trap ideas?

Sounds like a northern earless lizard. Were the bands near the armpits and otherwise sorts speckled all over? The females carrying a batch of eggs get a pale orangey colour. Expect to see a few more of these critters. And you (for sure) won't have a roach or a spider problem.

Given that the first Google link I clicked on northern earless lizards says that the adults are ~5" long, I don't think so.

At least, it wasn't an adult, pregnant female. Way too short for that. It wasn't really all that bright an orange, either, more pale. Also, the markings were not all that pronounced.

Got another suggestion?

Most lizard family (esp. earless types) females in these parts get orangey when preggers. Not too many other types display that marking. I think newly hatched babies look similar to gravid females.

The other likely prospects for lizards in this part of the woods -- geckos (too banded, reticulated or blah to be confused here), the absence of other spines or horns and not "snakey" or long stripes along the back (skinks, racerunners etc) fairly narrows the list.

I agree that it probably was a baby. All the more reason to catch him and put him outside where he can live to grow up.

Call the local Fish & Wildlife office (or animal control office, pet store, etc) and see if they have any suggestion.

Probably some form of small metal trap with a food substance that they like inside of it will trap them in the box & then you can release them outside.

MY first apartment wildlife at the new place is a mosquito. After 2 mosquito-free years, I now have about 4 bites. I hope the thing roasts to death today while I'm not there and the AC is off...

Hee! :-)

Michigan is much less wildlife --or even insect life-- prone. The most we ever get is bugs with way too many legs.

All the more reason for you to come visit, no? *grin*

Watch out for flora and fauna.
Flora being anything... furry and dark coloured that loves the damp... fauna being anything that moves. *grins* A mate's parents went out of town for several days... and on teh first day of their absence, my mate saw a cockroach and spent the rest of her parent free days cleaning.

I wouldn't worry about the lizard. I've got one that lived in my room for several months. It'll probably crawl out under the door when you're out.

BTW, congrats on getting an apartment :)

Thank you.

Wildlife!

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