Do Backyard Lizards Lay Eggs? Most Do, Some Give Birth
Where garden lizards nest, what the eggs look like, which species bear live young, and what to do if you dig a clutch up.
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Most backyard lizards lay eggs, and most of them lay in exactly the places a gardener disturbs: compost, mulch, pot soil and under slabs. A few bear live young instead.
Egg-layers and live-bearers
| species group | reproduction |
|---|---|
| Anoles | eggs, often one at a time |
| Skinks | eggs (some species live-bearing) |
| Geckos | hard-shelled eggs, usually in pairs |
| Fence and wall lizards | eggs |
| Common lizard (Zootoca) | live young |
| Slow worm | live young |
Telling what you have found
| feature | lizard | bird | snail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shell | leathery, dents | hard, cracks | brittle, translucent |
| Colour | matte white/cream | often marked | pearly, clear |
| Size | 8–15 mm | 15 mm+ | 2–4 mm |
| Location | buried, warm substrate | nest, above ground | soil clusters |
Do not turn the egg over
Within a day or two of laying, the embryo attaches to the upper inner surface of the shell. Rotating the egg puts the embryo underneath the yolk and it suffocates. If a clutch has to be moved, mark the top with a pencil first.
If you find a clutch
- Rebury at the same depth, same orientation, in the same material
- Same spot if possible — incubation temperature often determines the sex of hatchlings
- Out of direct sun while you work; a few minutes of hot sun can cook an uncovered egg
- Leave the heap alone for a few weeks rather than turning it
- Check local law — native reptiles and their eggs are protected in many countries
Give them somewhere better than your compost
A low pile of sand and leaf mould in a sunny sheltered corner, or a few stacked slabs over loose soil, gives lizards a nest site you will not accidentally dig into — and tends to pull them out of the compost heap you actually use.
Common questions
Do backyard lizards lay eggs?
What do lizard eggs look like?
Where do they lay them in a garden?
What should I do if I dig up lizard eggs?
How long do they take to hatch?
Are lizard eggs in my garden a problem?
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