I’ve found an injured/ill/dead lizard, what should I do?
Quick answer
Contact a vet or wildlife hospital for information on treatment.
You can also join the Garden Wildlife Health project and report your sighting of a dead or diseased amphibian. Visit the Garden Wildlife Health website.
Further information
Like all wildlife, lizards can suffer from a variety of ailments and injuries and treating small animals is always tricky. Contact a local vet or wildlife hospital for advice if you find an injured or ill lizard.
Don’t be alarmed if you see a Common Lizard or Slow-Worm with a stump where its tail should be – the ability to drop their tail when attacked is a defence mechanism.
If your cat has brought home a lizard it’s best to try and re-release it as soon as possible, providing it’s uninjured. Choose a nearby suitable habitat that offers protection from the weather and other predators.
If you come across a dead lizard, hopefully it’s nothing to worry about. Determining causes of death can be very difficult and unless you find a large number dead all at the same time/in the same place it’s unlikely to be anything to be too concerned about. You can register dead amphibians, reptiles, birds and Hedgehogs with the Garden Wildlife Health project, and their vets may also be interested in the specimen for post-mortem. Find the Garden Wildlife Health website here.