Such spots are often much warmer than places out in the open. I suspect some of the green anoles living in my backyard retreat under the deck at the rear of my home. In some instances, these small lizards will wait out cold weather in groups. Then, when we have an uncommonly warm winter day, they awake, magically reappear and begin basking in the sunlight and looking for food.
I am wondering if a part of an anole’s diet are the eggs of Monarch, fritillary (others) eggs and smaller caterpillars? Can you advise?
Sally,
That is a great question. I have asked the Georgia State Herpetologist, Daniel Sollenberger, as to whether he has heard of this. He indicated that he has never heard of it. In fact, he went on to say that he has never seen anoles eat any immobile objects. He said that it is always possible that it ocurr. In additiion, he stated that he has no doubt they would eat caterpillars.
Terry
Nice article, Terry!
Anonymous,
I am delighted you enjoyed the piece.
Terry
Thank you, for this information!
Thank you for taking the time to tell me you liked the article.
I live in north Florida. I found a green anole this morning inside on my window sill. I’m always trying to protect these little darlings. I didn’t know if it was dead or alive. I picked it up. It was alive and ice cold. I warmed it in my fist. I knew it would die inside the house. I tried to place it outside under pine straw in my flower bed. It wouldn’t leave my hand. It scampered up my arm. I finally got it into the flower bed. So hoping it will be ok. I loved your article.
What a great story. As you know, being a cold-blooded animal, when it gets cold it cannot move about. You did the right thing. I know you got him through a difficult time. I’m happy to know you liked the blog.
Terry
Oddly , we have had four anoles show up inside our house. I could not catch three of them( went to ceiling) but I did put water out for them; it’s near freezing outside , so the one I caught I out a damp unbleached paper towel in a jar with a screen on it; tomorrow I will let it go outside – it’s supposed to be 60 degrees.. emergency care / protocol welcome! They are such a joy.
Yesterday I rescued an anole from a bucket of water. It would have perished in the cold water without my intervention since it was very slowly but gracefully weaving itself through the surface of the water like a fish. It was dropping down in the upper teens that night so putting him outside seemed like a death sentence. Anyway, I put him up last night and it looks like several more nights ’til some milder weather makes its way to the north Atlanta suburbs for his outdoor homecoming.
My wife and I have similar problems with anole every year. Like you. she loves them too.
I found an anole in my house. It is alive but very lethargic. The temperature is in the teens with windchill near 0. How can I help it?
Joan,
Sometimes green anoles will venture into home during the winter. If you will go to the search engine in the Blog and pull up Green Anole you will find a posting on Sept. 24 dealing with green anoles spend the winter.
From what you say, the animal that you have found is one that ventured out too early. With that in mind, place the anole in a contain and make sure that can wake up gradually. It is important that it not become dehydrated. This can be prevented by lightly mist it withe water each day. And also place a wet cotton ball in the container that you are using to hold it. The bottom of the container should be lined with a damp towel.
Do not place the anole outside when the weather is freezing. If you are unable to release it for quite some time, place it in a terrarium equipped with a heat lamp and a UVA bulb. This bulb helps prevent bone disease.
Feed the anole small mealworms, and other small insects.
Then when you get a warm day, release it in a spot that received a lot of sunshine near the shrubs in your yard or under vegetation.
I hope this information helps.
Terry