Q: I have a baby lizard somewhere in my apartment and was wondering: What is the safest way to remove it without harming it or myself? Are they dangerous at all? -- Kimberly

A: Thanks for looking for an alternative to death for the little guy.

The little lizards, geckos, anoles, etc. that run around in Florida won't hurt you -- but you should wash your hands after handling them because they are thought to carry salmonella, bacteria that can make you sick. Once, an anole I was trying to rescue bit me, but there was no pain at all. As it dangled from my finger by its mouth, I said, "So, you think you're ferocious? Who are you kidding?" and relocated it to a bush outside.

If you've never tried to catch a lizard before, you may be a little squeamish, and it may take you a few tries. But you can do it. We're here for you.

Tiny lizards like yours are actually harder to catch than the larger ones. With the larger ones (4 inches or so), you can cup your hand over them where they're standing on a wall or floor, then use your other hand to scoop them. See if you can keep the lizard in one hand, so you have another hand free to open the door. (Or use both hands and get someone else to open the door for you.) With small lizards (2 inches long or less), one method that has worked for me is to coax the little guy onto a piece of paper (or slide it under), then cover the lizard with a cup (or cup first, then slide paper under). Once you're outside with the lizard, open your hand or remove the cup over a bush, branch or blade of grass, and the lizard will likely spring away. If it doesn't, you may need to shake your hand or touch the lizard gently to get it to move.

Don't be afraid if the lizard's tail comes off. Some lizards drop their tails, which is their way of faking out predators so they'll go after the tails and leave them alone. The tails eventually grow back.

You can do this for other animals, too. I regularly have to remove frogs from my house.

By the way, there's nothing wrong with allowing the lizard to stay inside as long as you don't have pets -- the pets may kill the lizard -- but it probably has a greater chance to find insects to eat outside. And if it doesn't get enough to eat, it won't be long before you're sweeping up a little lizard skeleton.

Note: Please don't use the Q&A to ask how to exterminate lizards. We have a brief statement about lizards around the house on our FAQ page.

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