Lizards in collection

Thatayaone Segaetsho <segaetshot [at] mopipi__ub__bw> writes

>I have just discovered habitation  of small lizards within  my
>collection. ...

The recommended approach is Integrated Pest Management, or IPM,
which is based on using chemicals as a last resort.  You have
identified the problem, so the first step in prevention is to
actually identify the pest. You might be seeing what is termed a
"secondary infestation", i.e. the lizards are there because you have
insects or other invertebrate pests that they like to eat.  You'll
have to deal with that as well. Since you're at a university, there
should be a Biology department, and possibly a herpetology
department or unit as well.  Enlist their help in identifying which
lizard or lizards are infesting the building and collections.  They
can probably assist you in live-trapping them to obtain a specimen.
Once you know that, you'll know their food preferences and
life-habits.  You can then start designing ways to reduce their
numbers in the building and the risks to the collections. This will
involve: monitoring/trapping (sticky traps, live traps, etc.-
depending on how they move around a space); eliminating their food
sources (e.g. reducing the insect load); making physical repairs to
the building to patch access holes, cracks, etc. to exclude them
from the building; changing staff and visitor habits if those are
contributing to food sources and ingress of the lizards.  You should
also include the immediate exterior of the building in this process-
is there vegetation right around the building that is harborage for
the lizards, or other nesting sites? The herpetologists might also
be able to give you advice on non-toxic substances to use to repel
the lizards (as long as there are no adverse side effects to the
collections).  If you do call a pest control company, try to find
one that follows the IPM approach.

Paul S. Storch
Project Specialist II/Collections Liaison
Historic Sites and Museums
B-124.2
Minnesota Historical Society
345 Kellogg Blvd. West
St. Paul MN 55116
651-259-3257


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 23:39
                   Distributed: Friday, April 9, 2010
                       Message Id: cdl-23-39-005
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