There's a lizard under my fridge

[penguinwithasuitcase]

Massive one –length of my forearm plus tail.

I found it in the shower, herded it into the kitchen to try and get it out of the kitchen door, and it squeezed under the fridge instead.

How do I get it out?

I live alone so can't lift the fridge straight up, and I'm worried if I pull or tip it that I'll squash him.

I can leave the door open and leave the house quiet so he'll hopefully leave on his own, but if I don't SEE him leave I'll constantly be wondering if he died under there and I don't want to deal with a dead lizard!

What would you do?!

Yes! Photo!!
Assuming you are on your phone.

and a diagram, please.

Is it a Monitor lizard? They can be big, scary looking buggers.

@dudsville

But, of all the creatures that could find it's way into your home, isn't this one of the more useful ones? Wouldn't they eat insects???

Yep, clearly much smaller than this but we used to love the geckos which would eat the mosquitos. Lost a bit of love the time one fell off the ceiling and landed on the dinner table, but generally never minded any sort of lizard. Bigger ones are better outside though.

Can't get a photo of this guy - too dark and dusty under there. But this is one of his cousins who came to visit the outdoor utility room a few months ago... tiles are 30cm for scale.

This one is probably twice the size.

I think he's probably decided to have a stab at stealing from the dog bowls and that's what brought him in.

If he stays he's going to need a name - any suggestions?

Gordon (Gekko) obviously 😀

We once rented a beautiful villa in the countryside of the Canaries. It came with a resident lizard that lived behind an oil painting in the lounge - lizard wasn't quite as large as yours though.

Put out a trail of meat (or yes, entice it with the dog food).

Napoleon or pedro.

That's what I was going to call my bearded dragon.

My pet lizard has free run of the house when we get him out, he loves getting under things we spend half of life on hands and knees looking for him, as can't have him out too long, not warm enough.
I would allow him to make his own way out.

I think you should adopt him and call him Diego!

I would be camped out on the kitchen floor, duvet, ipad and pillow, waiting to make friends with him... I'd talk to him and leave him food and try and make friends

@Eechuffingnuff

I would be camped out on the kitchen floor, duvet, ipad and pillow, waiting to make friends with him... I'd talk to him and leave him food and try and make friends

That's very lovely, but I'm not quite as Snow White as you

He's got 40 mates and family members outside and they get all my veg scraps and eggshells - I'm happy to coexist with local flora and fauna but this is pushing it a bit!

@sayitbackwards I started laying down a trail to the door and then looked outside to see one of this guy's cousins watching me from the garden wall - quickly picked it back up again 😂

In all seriousness though I think I am going to need to ask a neighbour to help me lift the fridge - this poor guy can't be doing well under there in the dust and the cold.

@penguinwithasuitcase

Can't get a photo of this guy - too dark and dusty under there. But this is one of his cousins who came to visit the outdoor utility room a few months ago... tiles are 30cm for scale.

This one is probably twice the size.

I think he's probably decided to have a stab at stealing from the dog bowls and that's what brought him in.

If he stays he's going to need a name - any suggestions?

Fuck that!!!!

I'd be having the screaming and abs if I saw something like that in my house.

And you say the one currently under your fridge is bigger?

Name him Larry and let him live with you! That's what I'd do.

Lennard the Lizard

There is a possibly that by leaving the door open Lennard will be whispering to his friends and more will come in.

We have a lizard that lives in our kitchen and call him Dylan. He has a special song that we sing when we see him 😂. He's just a gecko though, those monitor type ones definitely don't belong inside!

Not sure where you are but if it were me and I were home alone I'd be calling the people who come and deal with snakes and saying there was something under my fridge but I wasn't sure what. They'd catch it for you. Then I'd be installing netting on all the doors/windows to ensure no more unwanted guests.

Oh and re making sure he leaves if you have the door open I'd set up a wildlife camera trap to see what goes in/out. We have a couple of camera traps already though, wouldn't buy one specifically for this. When we had a squirrel in the house I knew it hadn't left and was still hiding behind the wardrobe because the cats wouldnt leave the wardrobe alone. With the squirrel I had to wait quietly for it to come out of its hiding place and then chase it out of the kitchen door making sure that all other hiding places/doors were blocked off.

I had a neighbouring cat come into my house once. Could not catch it to get it out. left a trail of titbits to the kitchen door and managed to lure it outside and quickly shut door. Also had a huge raven in a few weeks ago. Fortunately nephew was here. He threw his t shirt over it and carried it outside. Like your lizard it was not very bright and we think it was stunned. It walked around the patio for ages before flying off. We left it some water in case it was dehydrated. We had a really hot spell a few weeks ago and I think a lot of small wild creatures were really suffering. I hope you manage to get him out without hurting him. I even try to put spiders unharmed outside.

How's Mr Lizard?