Lizards occasionally find their way indoors, especially in warm areas where they can find shelter, insects, water, or a comfortable place to rest. Most house-dwelling lizards are harmless and may even help by eating insects, but that doesn’t mean everyone wants one making itself comfortable indoors.
The tricky part is finding them. Lizards are small, quick, and very good at slipping into spaces where you would never think to look. One minute you see one crossing the floor, and the next, it’s completely gone.
If you’ve spotted a lizard in your home or simply want to know where they tend to hide, start with these often-overlooked spots.
Behind Furniture
The space behind a sofa, cabinet, entertainment center, or bookcase can make an appealing hiding place for a lizard. It’s usually dark, quiet, and rarely disturbed.
Dust and insects can also collect in these areas, giving lizards another reason to stick around. Moving furniture occasionally and cleaning underneath and behind it can make these spots less inviting.
If you’re looking for a lizard that disappeared from view, check behind large pieces of furniture before assuming it has left the room.
Related: 10 Backyard Plants That Can Make Your Yard More Appealing to Snakes
Under Appliances
Large appliances can create warm, sheltered spaces where lizards can hide. Refrigerators, ovens, washing machines, and other appliances may have gaps underneath or behind them that are difficult to see.
Food crumbs and insects can also collect in these areas, giving a lizard access to food.
Don’t reach blindly underneath an appliance. If you need to clean these areas, follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions and move appliances carefully.
Inside Houseplants
A large indoor plant can provide a surprisingly good hiding spot. Dense leaves and branches give lizards somewhere to stay out of sight, particularly if the plant sits near a window or another entry point.
Research on habitat selection in lizards has found that vegetation can provide useful cover and shelter. This ResearchGate study looks at how one lizard species selects habitat and uses available cover.
If you have large houseplants, check around the leaves, stems, pots, and nearby walls if you suspect a lizard is hiding indoors.
Related: 21 Dog Breeds That Often Need Experienced Owners and Careful Supervision Around Kids
Cracks in Walls
Small cracks around walls, baseboards, doors, and other openings can give lizards an easy place to disappear.
A lizard doesn’t need much room to squeeze into a sheltered gap. These spaces can also provide access to insects and other small pests.
Sealing gaps around your home can help keep lizards and other unwanted visitors from getting inside. Check around doors, windows, pipes, vents, and baseboards for openings.
Behind Wall Art
Wall art may seem like an unlikely place for a lizard to hide, but a picture frame can leave a narrow, protected space between the artwork and the wall.
If a lizard has been moving around a room, check behind larger frames and decorations that sit close to the wall. You might spot a tail or a quick movement before it disappears again.
Don’t pull heavy artwork down without taking care, especially if it’s mounted securely or hanging above furniture.
Related: 15 Sneaky Home Storage Ideas for Your Most Important Items
Under Carpets and Rugs
Lizards usually prefer exposed spaces that offer warmth and shelter, but a loose rug or floor mat can sometimes provide a temporary hiding place.
This is more likely with rugs that stay in the same position for long periods. If you’ve seen a lizard disappear beneath furniture and can’t find it, check around the edges of nearby rugs and mats.
Lift them carefully rather than reaching underneath without looking.
In Shoes or Boots
Shoes left near doors, patios, garages, or other entry points can become small shelters for lizards. They’re dark, enclosed, and protected from the weather.
This is one reason it’s worth checking or shaking out shoes that have been left outside or in a garage before putting them on. It takes only a few seconds and can save you from an unpleasant surprise.
Related: 14 Mysterious Creatures That Could Hide in Your Woodpile
Window Sills
Windows are common entry points for small creatures, especially if screens are damaged or there are gaps around the frame.
Lizards may hide along the sill, behind curtains, or in small openings around the window. Check for cracks, loose screens, and gaps that could give them access to the house.
If you regularly find lizards near a particular window, that area is a good place to look for the entry point.
Inside Storage Boxes
Cardboard boxes stored in attics, garages, closets, and basements can provide plenty of dark spaces for small reptiles. Boxes that haven’t been opened for months are especially easy for a lizard to settle into.
When sorting through stored belongings, open boxes carefully and check the surrounding area. Keeping storage areas organized and reducing piles of unused boxes can also remove some of the hiding spots lizards prefer.
Behind Curtains
Heavy curtains and layered window treatments can give lizards another place to hide. They may cling to the fabric, rest along the curtain rod, or stay tucked between the curtain and wall.
If your dog or cat suddenly becomes fascinated with a particular set of curtains, take a closer look. Pets sometimes notice a small visitor long before people do.
Lizards may be harmless visitors, but you don’t have to make your home an easy place for them to hide. Check window screens, seal gaps, clean behind furniture and appliances, and keep clutter under control. These basic changes can reduce the number of places where a lizard can disappear.
If you find one indoors, avoid grabbing it with your hands. Give it a clear path toward an exterior door or window if possible, or contact a local wildlife professional if you’re uncomfortable handling the situation.
