Lizard Stuck to a Glue Trap
Another glue trap casualty, this Western Fence Lizard was in a sticky situation!
While WildCare’s Medical Staff worked quickly to free the stressed lizard from the goo, they noticed she looked and felt strangely bloated. Worried that this may be a complication related to her being stuck on the glue trap, like dehydration or even internal injuries, Medical Staff gave her a guarded prognosis though she seemed otherwise healthy.
But then, after a few days in care, the mystery of the bloated lizard was solved! She had laid six tiny eggs, each one about the size of a Tic-Tac mint!
Watch the video below of Medical Staff gently extricating the lizard from the horribly sticky glue. Placing pieces of paper over the glue after the lizard has been lifted off prevents her from getting stuck again.
WildCare can't usually hatch eggs, especially eggs that really need to be incubated and hatched by parents, like those of birds. Because this lizard mom laid them while in care, we knew they would be viable, and we also knew they wouldn't actually need her care to hatch and survive. Baby lizards are independent and ready to be self-sufficient as soon as they hatch.
This lizard mom was safely released back to her home habitat, but her eggs will stay with us at WildCare until they—hopefully—hatch, which could take up to two months, depending on temperature, humidity, and other factors. Hopefully by mid-September we'll be able to make a baby lizard hatch announcement!
Lizards (and other small animals) are important members of the ecosystem. Did you know that Western Fence Lizards carry enzymes in their blood that neutralize the bacteria that cause Lyme Disease? This single sticky trap was almost responsible for ending the lives of up to seven lizards - this mom and all her babies. PLEASE NEVER USE GLUE TRAPS, and please share the message of the risks and cruelty of glue traps with everyone you know.
Click to watch a recorded presentation before the San Francisco Animal Commission, starring WildCare’s own Alison Hermance, regarding a proposed ban on glue traps to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
And click here to learn more about humane solutions for rodent control that do not use glue traps, and ways you can help.
Help WildCare always be ready to care for a glue-trapped patient! Donate today!
Story, photos and video by Dion Campbell, Wildlife Services Manager and Social Media Coordinator