Rewilding My Lot

I am not a nocturnal creature, unlike some of the occupants of this garden. So one morning, just after dawn, I was treated to a rare sighting of a Mediterranean House Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus), which is nocturnal. It’s also known as a Turkish Gecko, as represented in its Latin name, or a Moon Lizard, because it tends to emerge in the evening.

The gecko I saw was small — about 3 inches long — and so pale as to be almost transparent. It was probably a young one.

The Mediterranean House Gecko has successfully established itself over much of the world, especially places with a Mediterranean-like climate, including here in the Southern United States. They have adapted well to urban environments, and can often be found in the cracks of brick buildings.

This gecko, as I suspected, was not happy with me being nearby and was poised to bolt. As soon as I moved to try to get a less obscured photo, it darted into this crack in the nearby brick platform on which one of the rain barrels sits.

The rain barrel platform was intentionally made with gaps to provide habitat spaces. I already knew that there are toads living in there (I have seen and heard them), and now I know that there are geckos as well. They are welcome.