This summer, Bucks County residents are encountering an unexpected guest: the Italian wall lizard, writes JD Mullane for Bucks County Courier Times.  

Originally from Italy, these reptiles are now a common sight in Lower Bucks County.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission reveals that these lizards were accidentally introduced to Levittown in the late 1970s by a teenager who released them in his yard, hoping they would control mosquitoes.  

Since then, the lizards have multiplied, spreading throughout Levittown and nearby areas like Lower Makefield and Yardley. 

These lizards are not dangerous to humans and do not carry diseases. However, they can threaten native lizard populations by competing for habitat. 

Homeowners looking to reduce lizard sightings should remove dense vegetation, firewood piles, and clutter near their homes, which provide ideal habitats for lizards.  

Sealing gaps in foundations can prevent them from entering houses, especially before cooler weather sets in.  

Sticky traps are recommended for capturing lizards that make it indoors. 

While Italian wall lizards are not harmful, their presence can be managed by making properties less hospitable. Proactive measures and consulting pest control professionals can help keep these reptiles at bay. 

Read more about the lizards invading Bucks County in the Bucks County Courier Times.  

Boy snuck a lizard into U.S. and now they’ve taken over