It must have happened to you during the cleaning of the house whether inside or in the backyard that you find some kind of defecation and you are unable to differentiate what it is. Mostly it is a lizard or snake poop and Some people got so much concerned when they come to know that they are sharing a home with these reptiles. These reptiles are usually living around us in the small cracks and holes in the house. The snake and lizard feces have differences and it's important to identify them. Here in this blog, we will discuss the differences between snake and lizard poop and why you should know that.
Lizard And Snake Poop How To Spot The Difference?
Lizards and snake poop are similar to birds and that makes their drooping different from others. You have seen mammals that both defecate and urinate but snakes and lizards pass their excretions from the body by using one body orifice the cloaca. They poop and urine combined into one, only birds, lizards, and snakes share this unique poop. You may find different types of drooping left by these reptiles but all of those poops have a combination of both urine and poop. Their drooping appears cord-like like and it is longer than wide but it is always have some white nitrogenous material in it. The white material is the uric acid, and the drooping has different sizes depending on the species and size of the animal. So if you found such drooping on your porch how would you tell the difference between the two? Here are some key differences between the lizards and snake poop:
Color
Lizard drooping is unique it has a white tapered end that is always firm and dry and attached to the whole drooping. The white area is just a small portion of the whole poop and it makes the lizard drooping more elongated with a whitish ball. As lizards feed on small insects but some on plants as well you will find green coloring in the scat.
Other the other hand the white cap area in the snake feces is looser and longer and it is sometimes more browner and the white part appears like a streak along the whole deposit of feces. As the snakes are predators they feed on insects, amphibians, rodents, eggs, and birds so they will also have some indigestible remains like bones, fur, and feathers.
Shape
lizard drooping is more dry, and solid, and has a crumbly structure. However, it all depends on the health of the lizard sometimes you may find some liquid in it as well. For example, if your lizard has some kind of stress or any parasitic or bacterial infection they drooping may have diarrhea and their poop appear more watery.
On the contrary snake drooping has more liquid as compared to solid. This is because they get a good amount of time to digest their food and secrete a large amount of mucous. They are predators so their diet may not contain enough amount of fiber. However, if your snake scat is very watery it is an indication of diarrhea.
White portion
The white portion in the snake poop appears more on the top and one. This white portion is the urine Which has a liquid-like consistency as compared to the fecal material. Lizards have an off-white or white portion that is attached to the brown part of the feces.
Length
The size of the snake and lizard drooping is also different. The lizard drooping is on average 2 to 5 mm long but the thesis may vary and it depends on the diet of the animal. The snake poop is usually longer because the size of the animal is usually it is between 50 to 177 mm and it all depends on the size of the snake, species, and the prey item they have consumed. Some smaller snakes have drooping only 13mm in length.
Location
You can find lizard and snake poop in different parts of the house but Lizard poop is most commonly found indoors in the areas like attics, basements, and dark spaces. On the contrary snake drooping is found in cool, damp, and dark places like the basement, laundry room, and utility room.
Risks Associated With Lizard And Snake Poop
Reptiles contain different types of germs in their feces like viruses, bacteria, worms, and parasites. Most of these can affect humans and cause different health issues. The most important problems that affect the humans are:
Salmonella:
The most common problem found in the drooping of all reptiles is salmonella and it can easily transferred from animals to humans. For example, if you have small kids in the house they can contract the salmonella disease by the milk bottle that gets contaminated with the reptile feces. Salmonella infection can cause headaches, diarrhea, septicemia, and fever. If diarrhea is too severe the patient can suffer from severe dehydration.
Botulism:
Botulism is a serious and life-threatening problem that occurs by the toxin produced by Clostridium species. The clostridium is widely present in the environment including the mud and the soil and the animals that live too close to the soil are contaminated with it. Clostridium is commonly present among reptiles and it can affect humans of all ages.
Other infections:
There are other illnesses like leptospirosis, campylobacteriosis, and trichinellosis are the problem that occurs because of keeping reptiles These problems are treatable but sometimes can be very serious. If you are a person who keeps reptiles as pets the chances of these diseases are very rare as long as you follow the proper hygiene routines.
How To Deter Lizards Away From Your Home?
There are different ways either natural or by using market products to deter the lizard and snakes away from your home. Some common ways to get rid of lizards are:
Pepper spray
It is one of the great options found in the market if you don’t want to kill the lizards. If you are living in an area where there are a lot of lizards then make the pepper spray mixture by adding water and black pepper. The pepper acts as an irritant to the lizards and it can start an allergic reaction in them so they usually try to stay away from the areas where this spray is used. This spray can irritate your eyes so use it carefully.
Naphthalene balls
One of the great ways to keep the lizards away from the house is by using naphthalene balls but this should only be used if you don’t have any babies or pets in the house, otherwise it can cause harm to them. As lizards don’t like the strong aroma of naphthalene balls so they try to avoid them. You can place these balls in storage racks, cupboards, and under the sink. Always keep them at a safe distance away from the food and pantry area.
Garlic and onions
Onion and garlic have very strong aromas and they affect the lizard's senses and help in keeping them away without causing any harm to them. You can use garlic and onion by placing a few pieces of garlic cloves or raw onion slices in the places where you find lizards mostly. If you don’t want to do this put them in a plastic bag with water and use it as a repellant spray in your home.
Decrease the room temperature
lizards are unable to change their body temperature, so they live in groups and like warm places. In colder areas, there are very less chances of lizards because they struggle to survive in those places. However, in warmer areas, lizards are a big problem unfortunately just opening the window will not move the lizards away from your home. If you have the air-conditioned system installed in your home it will help in keeping the lizards away. They don’t like cool temperatures so when the temperature goes down the lizards will move away from your home.
Peacock feathers
Peacock feathers are a very famous natural lizard repellant. If you add peacock feathers in different places in your home it will deter lizards. Even if there is only the scent of the peacock feathers it will move the lizards away and you don’t have to kill them. Peacock feathers also add a beautiful touch to your home decoration.
Dispose of leftover food.
Lizards are attracted to the food and when they enter the house they are in search of open un attended food. Keeping the leftover food in the fridge or a bag will keep the lizards away from your house. If there are any crumbs or spills it should be cleaned as quickly as possible. Clean the cabinets thoroughly and regularly and look if there is any unattended food in there wash the waste bin regularly with a strong cleaner. This will keep the lizards away from your home.
How To Deter Snakes Away From Your Home?
Although most of the snakes that enter our house are harmless sometimes poisonous snakes also enter the house. Here are some natural ways to keep them away.
Remove the hiding spots
Snakes are always looking for a place where they can hide, breed, and take rest. The first thing to do is to get rid of the use of hose boxes or coiled hoses. Don’t use rock piles in your landscapes and the most important thing is to keep the firewood in the boxes because snakes love to hide in the woods. Always move your lawn grass and brush it to clear the debris. Add fences to areas where there is a shed or possible chances where snakes can go. If you want to use snake fencing make sure it is made up of plastic sheet or steel mesh.
Get rid of water sources
Snakes love the area where there is a lot of moisture. If there is any standing water in the yard eliminate it immediately. If there are any leaky hoses or leaky faucets repair them on an urgent basis. Keep your pond, pools, and water features maintained. If you use water sprinklers to water the lawn then use it in the early morning so that the water gets soaked in the soil before it gets dark.
Buy snake repellents
Invest some money into good-quality snake repellants to keep them away from your home. The snake repellants available in the market are effective and safe for snake species. They work by disturbing the sense of smell of retiles and preventing them from staying in your home. Some of the famous snake repellents used at home are onion garlic sulfur and vinegar. You can also make a hot pepper solution to keep the snakes away from your premises.
Keep Natural predators
Snakes have some natural predators and they can help you in keeping snakes away from your home. The common predators of snakes are pigs, cats, raccoons, guinea hens, turkeys, and foxes. If you keep any of these animals in the house it will help deter the snakes from coming near. There is even fox urine available in the market to spray and deter the snakes away.
Key Take away
This blog will help you in distinguishing the lizard and snake poop and when can determine the specie it will be easy to keep them away. It is important to keep the reptiles away from the house to prevent any kind of infection or disease. However, keep in mind that these reptiles are an important part of our ecosystem and they play a valuable role. The best thing you can do is to avoid killing them and use different effective methods to keep them away from your home. If you do this it will not only keep your house safe but also help in maintaining the insect population.