[cmack]

We have a lot of blue tongue lizards around our place at the moment as it is very hot and we also back on to a grass reserve. We have had them in the past, but due to cooler summers over the past 3 years, we haven’t seen them around. We got 2 dogs 2½ years ago (brother and sister mixed cavalier/poodle dogs) and they never noticed the lizards. It’s a different story now! This summer, they have killed two lizards, tried to get at another through the gate and took the tail off one today. The boy stalks the fence line, has dug at the fence and around the gate. I rescued one the other day and put him in my neighbour’s yard.


We have been growling at the dogs when they stalk the fence, but it’s not working and we have boarded up the side of the garage so they can’t get down get there. My boy has even pushed a fence paling off to get into next door as the vegie patch, which runs along the fence line, is a corridor which the lizards use or sunbake!


My question is, what can I do to prevent more fatalities in the yard? I don’t cope very well with the aftermath and poor DS asks if I am going to be sick or cry! A friend recommended I use Solar Powered Snake Repellent LED lights to be placed around the garden saying they should keep the lizards out. Her sister uses them to keep out the snakes and they work for that. Has anyone used these? Can anyone recommend a deterrent?


thanks

This post has been edited by cmack: 03/01/2013, 04:50 PM

[*Spikey*]

Lizards have ears, so the impact of snake repellers on them is fairly minimal. At least in our yard, anyway.

I'd be getting fairly liberal with the citronella along the fence line, and putting something along the fence line that offers protection to the lizards (its hard to dissuade a reptile from going where it pleases). For example, you could put a barrier that prevents the dogs from getting up to the fence - like a series of largish pots that are too big for the dogs to budge. Or some logs along the bottom, so there is a space for the lizards to use between the log and the fence.

You could also get crafty and use an electronic fence arrangement - one that sprays citronella or emits a noise when the dog gets too close. That should stop him doing a fence patrol and destroying the fence.