How to Get Rid of Geckos

You may find geckos of different colors and shapes in your yard. Some are native to the U.S. and some are introduced. Native species include the Texas banded gecko (Coleonyx brevis), and reticulated gecko (Coleonyx reticulatus), both found in Texas, and the banded gecko (Coleonyx variegatus) found in the Southwest. All have beneficial uses in the garden as they do eat insects and spiders. It’s when their population becomes seemingly more numerous than the insects that the geckos become pests. Making your home and garden less hospitable to geckos will help get rid of them.

Geckos will hide during the day in small crevices, such as in rock outcroppings, log piles or in thick bushes that are low to the ground or up against fences. Remove the rocks and log piles. Keep bushes trimmed and away from fences and buildings. This will remove the geckos’ hiding places in your yard and force them to seek shelter elsewhere.

Cats, dogs and chickens are good deterrents for geckos. These pets are all predators of geckos. Their presence will make your yard and home less attractive and safe to a gecko. Even if your pet doesn’t hunt and eat geckos, it may chase the gecko enough that it leaves your yard.

Geckos can flatten their bodies to fit through small cracks to get into the house. Repair and replace weather stripping around doors where there are gaps. Look for any holes or small cracks in the walls of the house and repair those or fill them with caulking. Another place to look for gaps is around piping that leads into the house.