Blue Tongue Lizards
Episode: # 28 08/12/07
Presenter: Kim Syrus
Our gardens are filled with all sorts of weird and wonderful insects and animals. Some we want to encourage and some we could best do without. However there is one particular creature on the move at the moment that not only helps the garden but is a true blue Aussie and it’s even got the right coloured tongue to prove it!
The blue tongue lizard is the largest member of the skink family. They can grow to over 50cm and often live for up to 30 years. They are cold blooded which means they need the sun’s warmth to get their bodies up to speed. In the summer months, a short morning sunbake is all they need to get moving. Blue-tongues are extremely useful to have around, helping to rid your garden of snails, slugs and other plant-eating insects.
Be careful when using snail bait in the garden. Snails eat the bait and, in turn are eaten by the blue tongue. So to avoid poisoning these lizards, use this sparingly and try to avoid sprinkling in places where you know a blue tongue lives.
Sadly these little beauties seem to be disappearing from many backyards. If we want to encourage them into our gardens, and of course stay, we have to make sure our yards are ‘blue tongue’ friendly and it is an easy thing to do.
Putting rocks or pavers around the garden will give blue-tongues valuable places to shelter and hide. Planting thick clumps of low growing shrubs or growing gardens along fences provides safe lizard walkways. Adding thick layers of mulch helps them burrow their way around the yard without being too conspicuous.
Blue tongues like to sun themselves on the lawn so it’s a good idea to check the grass first before starting up the mower. If you find one, move it into the garden.
These guys may look tough but they really rely on bluff tactics to frighten off predators. When threatened, they'll open their mouths wide and stick out their broad blue tongue, even hissing and puffing up to look bigger and fiercer.
One of their greatest threats is from dogs and cats. If they do happen to meet, then it’s best to break up the ruckus by removing your pet and let the blue tongue go on its way.
If you come across a blue tongue in your garden, resist the temptation to pick it up, put it in a box and bring it inside, instead, leave it alone, let it go about its business and you’ll have a great garden friend living in your yard for years to come.
Presenter: Kim Syrus
Our gardens are filled with all sorts of weird and wonderful insects and animals. Some we want to encourage and some we could best do without. However there is one particular creature on the move at the moment that not only helps the garden but is a true blue Aussie and it’s even got the right coloured tongue to prove it!
The blue tongue lizard is the largest member of the skink family. They can grow to over 50cm and often live for up to 30 years. They are cold blooded which means they need the sun’s warmth to get their bodies up to speed. In the summer months, a short morning sunbake is all they need to get moving. Blue-tongues are extremely useful to have around, helping to rid your garden of snails, slugs and other plant-eating insects.
Be careful when using snail bait in the garden. Snails eat the bait and, in turn are eaten by the blue tongue. So to avoid poisoning these lizards, use this sparingly and try to avoid sprinkling in places where you know a blue tongue lives.
Sadly these little beauties seem to be disappearing from many backyards. If we want to encourage them into our gardens, and of course stay, we have to make sure our yards are ‘blue tongue’ friendly and it is an easy thing to do.
Putting rocks or pavers around the garden will give blue-tongues valuable places to shelter and hide. Planting thick clumps of low growing shrubs or growing gardens along fences provides safe lizard walkways. Adding thick layers of mulch helps them burrow their way around the yard without being too conspicuous.
Blue tongues like to sun themselves on the lawn so it’s a good idea to check the grass first before starting up the mower. If you find one, move it into the garden.
These guys may look tough but they really rely on bluff tactics to frighten off predators. When threatened, they'll open their mouths wide and stick out their broad blue tongue, even hissing and puffing up to look bigger and fiercer.
One of their greatest threats is from dogs and cats. If they do happen to meet, then it’s best to break up the ruckus by removing your pet and let the blue tongue go on its way.
If you come across a blue tongue in your garden, resist the temptation to pick it up, put it in a box and bring it inside, instead, leave it alone, let it go about its business and you’ll have a great garden friend living in your yard for years to come.
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