Your Guide: How To Keep Skinks Out Of Your Yard

What is a skink and why might I want to keep them out of my yard? Skinks are small, shiny lizards that are often harmless and beneficial to your garden, as they eat insects. However, if you prefer not to have them around, or if you’re concerned about their presence in specific areas, there are ways to manage them.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through effective strategies for skink prevention and management. We’ll cover everything from understanding skink behavior to implementing practical solutions for outdoor pest management and garden pest control. Our focus is on safe, humane, and often natural methods, including pet-friendly deterrents, to ensure your yard remains a comfortable space for you and your family, while respecting local wildlife.

Image Source: www.reptiles.org.nz

Why Skinks Visit Your Yard

To effectively keep skinks out of your yard, it’s helpful to grasp why they are attracted in the first place. Skinks, like many creatures, seek out environments that provide them with the essentials for survival: food, water, and shelter.

Food Sources

Skinks are primarily insectivores. This means their diet consists mainly of insects and other small invertebrates. Your yard can be a buffet for them if it harbors a healthy population of:

• Insects: Ants, beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders.
• Slugs and Snails: Soft-bodied invertebrates are a favorite.
• Small invertebrates: Earthworms, millipedes.

If your garden is a haven for these creatures, it naturally becomes an attractive dining spot for skinks.

Shelter and Habitat

Skinks need places to hide from predators and to regulate their body temperature. They are cold-blooded and rely on their surroundings to warm up or cool down. Ideal skink habitats in a yard include:

• Dense Vegetation: Overgrown areas with thick ground cover provide excellent hiding spots and hunting grounds.
• Rock Piles and Debris: Loose rocks, woodpiles, compost heaps, and stacks of leaves offer numerous crevices for them to retreat into.
• Mulch and Ground Cover: Thick layers of mulch or dense ground cover can retain moisture and provide a cool, shaded environment.
• Warm Surfaces: Skinks often bask on warm surfaces like rocks, pavement, or even dark-colored garden furniture.
• Burrows: Some skink species may burrow into soft soil, especially in areas with less disturbance.

Water Sources

While skinks get most of their water from their food, they may also be attracted to:

• Bird Baths: Shallow water sources can be tempting.
• Leaky Faucets or Sprinklers: Constant sources of moisture can draw them in.
• Damp Areas: Areas that stay moist due to poor drainage.

Key Strategies for Skink Prevention

Now that we know what draws skinks in, we can implement targeted strategies to make your yard less appealing to them. This involves a combination of skink prevention, wildlife exclusion, and careful yard maintenance for skinks.

1. Habitat Modification: Making Your Yard Less Inviting

The most effective way to keep skinks away is to remove the resources they need. This means altering your yard to be less hospitable.

Reducing Food Sources

• Insect Control: The best garden pest control for skinks is managing the insect population.
  • Reduce Moisture: Fix leaky pipes and sprinklers. Ensure good drainage in your garden beds.
  • Clean Up Debris: Regularly remove leaf litter, fallen fruit, and dead plant material where insects often hide and breed.
  • Proper Composting: While compost heaps can be beneficial, ensure they are managed well. Turning them regularly can reduce insect populations and make them less attractive as shelter for skinks.
  • Avoid Overwatering: Water your plants in the morning so the soil surface can dry out during the day, making it less attractive to some insects.
  • Natural Insecticides: If you must use insecticides, opt for natural or organic options that are less harmful to beneficial insects and the wider ecosystem.

Eliminating Shelter and Hiding Places

• Declutter Your Yard:

  • Remove Rock Piles and Wood Piles: If possible, move these away from your house or foundation. If you need them, try to stack them neatly and minimize gaps.
  • Clear Debris: Regularly rake leaves, remove dead branches, and clear away any accumulated yard waste.
  • Manage Mulch: While mulch is good for plants, overly thick or constantly moist mulch can create ideal skink habitats. Keep mulch layers to a reasonable depth and avoid piling it against your home’s foundation.
  • Trim Vegetation: Keep grass mowed and trim overgrown bushes and ground cover. Skinks love dense, low-lying areas.

• Secure Your Home:

  • Seal Entry Points: Inspect the foundation of your house, shed, and any other structures. Seal cracks, gaps, and openings where skinks might enter. Use caulk, weather stripping, or fine mesh screening. Pay attention to areas around pipes, vents, and utility lines. This is a key aspect of wildlife exclusion.

2. Using Lizard Deterrents and Repellents

When habitat modification isn’t enough, or you need immediate assistance, certain lizard deterrents and reptile repellent options can be effective. It’s important to choose methods that are safe for pets and the environment.

Natural Skink Repellents

Many natural substances can deter skinks without harming them or your pets. These often work by disrupting their scent or sensory perception.

• Garlic and Onion: Skinks, like many animals, dislike the strong smell of garlic and onions.

  • Garlic Spray: Mix minced garlic or garlic powder with water and a drop of dish soap. Strain and spray around the perimeter of your yard, garden beds, and entry points. Reapply after rain.
  • Onion Pieces: Scattering chopped onions around problem areas can also be a deterrent.

• Cinnamon: The strong scent of cinnamon is often disliked by small reptiles.

  • Cinnamon Powder: Sprinkle cinnamon powder generously around your garden beds, flower pots, and any areas where you’ve seen skinks. Reapply regularly, especially after watering.

• Essential Oils: Certain essential oils can act as a natural skink repellent.

  • Peppermint Oil, Clove Oil, Eucalyptus Oil: Mix a few drops of these oils with water and a carrier like a tablespoon of olive oil or rubbing alcohol. Spray around your yard. Be cautious with essential oils, as some can be harmful to pets in concentrated forms, so ensure good dilution and keep pets away from treated areas until dry.

• Coffee Grounds: Some gardeners report that used coffee grounds can deter skinks. The smell and texture might be off-putting. Sprinkle them around plants.

• Diatomaceous Earth (Food Grade): While not strictly a repellent, food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) can deter crawling insects, which are skink food. It also acts as a mild abrasive for small creatures. Sprinkle a thin layer in dry areas. Caution: Avoid inhaling DE dust. It can irritate lungs.

Commercial Repellents and Deterrents

Several commercial products are available as reptile repellent solutions.

• Scent-Based Repellents: Look for products that use predator scents (like fox or snake urine) or strong natural oils that skinks find unpleasant. Always read and follow product instructions carefully. Ensure they are labeled as safe for use around pets if you have them.
• Ultrasonic Devices: These devices emit high-frequency sounds that are supposed to be unpleasant to pests, including reptiles. Their effectiveness can be variable, and some pets might react to the sound.
• Sticky Traps: While effective for catching insects, sticky traps can inadvertently trap skinks. If used, place them in areas where skinks are likely to travel, but be aware of the risk to other small animals. Always check traps frequently.

3. Creating Physical Barriers

Physical barriers are a straightforward way to prevent skinks from accessing certain areas. This is a form of wildlife exclusion tailored for smaller creatures.

• Fine Mesh Fencing: For specific garden beds or areas you want to protect, consider installing low fencing made of fine mesh. Ensure the mesh is small enough to prevent skinks from slipping through and that the base is secured to the ground to prevent burrowing underneath.
• Sealing Foundation Gaps: As mentioned earlier, sealing any openings in your home’s foundation is crucial. Skinks can get through surprisingly small cracks.
• Elevated Garden Beds: Using raised garden beds with solid sides can make them less accessible to skinks compared to ground-level beds.

4. Smart Yard Maintenance for Skinks

Consistent and smart yard maintenance for skinks is key to long-term success. It’s about creating an environment that doesn’t invite them.

• Regular Mowing: Keep your lawn mowed. Long grass provides cover for skinks and the insects they prey on.
• Pruning: Trim back overgrown shrubs and bushes, especially those touching your house. This removes hiding spots and pathways.
• Water Management: Ensure your sprinklers are aimed correctly and not creating perpetually damp areas. Water early in the day to allow surfaces to dry.
• Cleanliness: Regularly clear fallen leaves, fruit, and debris. This eliminates food and shelter for both insects and skinks.

Humane Skink Removal and Relocation

If you find a skink inside your home or in an area where it’s causing a problem, safe skink removal is the best approach. Relocation is a good option if you can do it humanely.

How to Safely Remove a Skink

• Use a Container and Cardboard:

  1. Gently coax the skink into a container, such as a bucket or a large plastic tub, by guiding it with a broom or stick.
  2. Once inside, slide a piece of cardboard or a stiff book over the opening of the container to trap the skink.
  3. Transport the container to a suitable outdoor location away from your home.

• The “Cup and Card” Method:

  1. Place a clear cup or jar over the skink.
  2. Carefully slide a piece of stiff paper or thin cardboard underneath the cup, trapping the skink inside.
  3. Carry the trapped skink outside.

Where to Relocate Skinks

• Away from Your Property: Relocate the skink to a natural area at least a mile or two from your home.
• Suitable Habitat: Choose a location with plenty of hiding places (rocks, logs, leaf litter) and a good supply of insects, but not too close to other homes or high-traffic areas.
• Avoid Releasing in Protected Areas: Do not release them into nature preserves or protected habitats unless you are sure it’s appropriate for the species.

Important Note: Relocating wildlife can sometimes be regulated. Check local wildlife or conservation authority guidelines before relocating animals.

Pet-Friendly Deterrents

If you have pets, it’s essential to ensure that any lizard deterrents or outdoor pest management strategies you employ are pet-friendly deterrents.

• Natural Repellents First: Prioritize natural options like garlic, onion, or cinnamon, as these are generally safe when used in moderation. Be mindful of essential oils – dilute them heavily and prevent pets from ingesting or licking treated areas.
• Avoid Toxic Chemicals: Never use chemical pesticides or repellents that are toxic to pets. Always read labels carefully.
• Supervise Pets: Even with natural methods, supervise your pets when they are in the yard. Ensure they don’t ingest treated materials or become agitated by strong scents.
• Ultrasonic Devices: If considering ultrasonic devices, test them in a controlled area first to see if your pets react negatively.

Skinks and Your Garden: A Symbiotic Relationship?

While this guide focuses on keeping skinks out, it’s worth remembering that skinks can be beneficial in a garden.

• Natural Pest Control: They help keep populations of garden pests like slugs, snails, and various insects in check. This contributes to garden pest control by reducing the need for chemical interventions.
• Indicators of a Healthy Ecosystem: Their presence can indicate a healthy yard ecosystem with ample insect life.

If your goal is simply to manage their numbers or prevent them from entering specific areas, the methods outlined above will suffice. If you’re open to coexistence, simply managing their habitat (reducing excessive hiding spots, not leaving out pet food) can often strike a balance.

Specific Skink Species and Their Habits

While general strategies apply to most skink species, a brief mention of common types can be helpful.

Skink Type (Common Examples)	Typical Habitat Preferences	Food Sources	Potential Yard Issues
Garden Skink	Moist, mulched areas, leaf litter, under rocks.	Insects, spiders, small invertebrates.	Can become numerous in well-maintained, insect-rich gardens.
Ground Skink	Dry, sandy soils, leaf litter, woodland edges.	Ants, termites, beetles, spiders.	May burrow near foundations or in disturbed, dry soil areas.
Broad-Tailed Skink	Rocky outcrops, open woodlands, sometimes suburban gardens.	Insects, spiders, berries, smaller lizards.	May bask on patios, seek shelter in rock gardens or wall crevices.

(Note: Specific species vary by region. Identify local skink types for more tailored approaches.)

Maintaining a Skink-Free Zone: Long-Term Solutions

Achieving a skink-free yard isn’t a one-time fix; it requires ongoing effort. Consistent yard maintenance for skinks is crucial for long-term skink prevention.

• Seasonal Cleanup: Pay extra attention to tidying up your yard in the fall and spring. Remove fallen leaves and debris before they become prime skink real estate.
• Regular Inspections: Periodically walk around your property and inspect for new cracks in foundations, potential hiding spots, or areas that are becoming too moist or overgrown.
• Integrated Pest Management: Combine multiple strategies. For example, use natural repellents, maintain a tidy yard, and seal any entry points into your home. This holistic approach to outdoor pest management is the most effective.
• Educate Yourself: Stay informed about skink behavior and effective deterrents in your specific climate and region.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Are skinks dangerous to humans or pets?
A1: No, skinks are not dangerous. They do not have venom, and their bite is generally not harmful. While they might bite if cornered or handled, it’s usually a defensive reaction and not aggressive. For pets, a skink might be a curiosity or a potential snack for larger pets like cats and dogs, but they pose no toxic threat.

Q2: Can I use mothballs to keep skinks away?
A2: Mothballs are often suggested for deterring various pests. However, their active ingredients (naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene) can be toxic to pets and wildlife. They also have a strong odor that can be unpleasant for humans. It’s generally recommended to avoid mothballs for outdoor pest management due to these risks, especially if you have pet-friendly deterrents as a priority.

Q3: How often do I need to reapply natural skink repellents?
A3: Natural repellents like garlic spray, cinnamon, or essential oil mixtures tend to lose their potency over time and can be washed away by rain or sprinklers. Reapply them every few days, or after any significant rainfall, to maintain their effectiveness.

Q4: What if skinks are attracted to my bird feeder?
A4: Skinks can be attracted to spilled birdseed and the insects that feed on it. To prevent this:
* Clean up spilled seed regularly.
* Place feeders on poles with baffles to prevent rodents and other critters from accessing them, which indirectly reduces insect populations around the feeder.
* Ensure water sources like bird baths are not constantly overflowing or creating damp areas nearby.

Q5: Is it legal to remove or relocate skinks in my area?
A5: In most places, it is legal to remove or relocate common skink species from your private property. However, regulations can vary. It’s always a good idea to check with your local wildlife or conservation authority if you have any doubts, especially if you plan to relocate them over a significant distance.

By following these detailed strategies, you can effectively manage skink populations in your yard, creating a more comfortable environment while prioritizing safety for your family and pets. Remember that consistent effort and a focus on habitat modification are your most powerful tools in skink prevention and successful outdoor pest management.