Water Skinks

Water skinks are now one of the most common lizard species found across the Greater Sydney region. Despite their name, they are not restricted to water and are frequently encountered around homes, gardens, brickwork, retaining walls and outdoor structures.

They are confident, intelligent and highly alert animals that are very aware of their surroundings. Adults typically reach around 25–30 centimetres in total length and feed exclusively on insects and spiders. Like all native lizards in New South Wales, water skinks are protected wildlife, and it is an offence to harm or kill them.

Water skinks are completely harmless. They have no venom, no poison and pose no risk to people or pets. In many cases, they can be encouraged safely out of a building using a broom, or gently guided into a container such as a plastic tub and released back into suitable habitat.

If assistance is required, we are happy to help. The most important thing is to monitor the lizard’s movements until we arrive. Water skinks are quick and can hide in very small gaps, so knowing exactly where the animal has gone is essential to ensure it can be located and safely removed.

Bar-sided Skinks

Bar-sided skinks are medium-sized, semi-arboreal lizards commonly found around buildings. They are often seen on brick walls, fences and retaining walls, where they use cavities left by missing or eroded mortar, gaps in masonry and other vertical structures for shelter.

They grow to around 20-25 centimetres in total length and, like water skinks, feed exclusively on insects and spiders. Bar-sided skinks are confident and agile, but also very alert and wary of capture. All lizards in New South Wales are protected native wildlife, and harming or killing them can result in prosecution.

Bar-sided skinks are harmless animals. They are not venomous, not poisonous and do not pose a danger to people or pets. Where they enter buildings or enclosed areas, they can often be guided back outside using a broom or dustpan and broom, without the need for handling.

If professional assistance is needed, we can attend to safely manage the situation. As with all skinks, we ask that their movements are carefully observed until we arrive. These lizards are excellent at disappearing into narrow gaps, and tracking their last known location is critical for a successful removal.

Shade Skinks

Shade skinks are much smaller and more slow-moving than water skinks and bar-sided skinks. They are commonly found in garden beds, mulch, leaf litter and low vegetation, and typically reach around 10 centimetres in total length.

They feed on small insects and spiders and are an important part of the local ecosystem. Shade skinks are completely harmless and, like all lizards in New South Wales, are protected wildlife, meaning they must not be harmed or killed.

Shade skinks sometimes find their way indoors, usually at ground level through open doors or small gaps. In many cases, they can be easily and safely swept outside using a broom or dustpan and broom, without direct handling.

If you are unsure or uncomfortable doing this, we are here to help. As with all lizard call outs, monitoring the animal’s movements is important. Shade skinks can tuck themselves into surprisingly small spaces, and knowing exactly where they are makes safe removal much easier.