Salamanders are cold blooded amphibians that typically live around ponds, rivers and streams. They live throughout North America and depending on the species, may live in the water or on land close to a good supply of moisture.
Gardens, ponds and streams will be where they naturally want to live but since salamanders feed on insects, they will go where food is present. So if you water your lawn and don’t do pest control around the home’s exterior, salamanders could very well find your property inviting for food and shelter.
Once in the yard, they’ll nest under mulch, pine straw, rocks, bricks, patio slabs and basically anywhere its dark, moist and protected. Females will lay egg sacs on moist vegetation like ground cover, grass or perennials. These egg sacs will be “jelly fish like” in size and texture. But inside the gel you’ll notice the small eggs. And they’ll be attached to the plant, close to the ground.
The picture to the left shows the egg sac attached to a blade of grass which is commonly used for egg laying.
SALAMANDER CONTROL ^
Controlling salamanders is easy. First you should take away their food by doing a little pest control around the exterior of the house. This will usually get them to move away. Without food, there will be no reason for them to stay around.
You should also set out some Salamander repellent granules and Salamander repellent spray. Lastly, if they’re active inside the home, set out some traps.
YARD SPRAY FOR SALAMANDER FOOD ^
So the first thing to help reduce salamander food around the exterior of the home is a good broadcast spray. A good insect supply is no doubt the main reason they’re choosing your home for a nest site. So if you take away their food, they will often times leave your property.
To reduce salamander food on plants, the lawn, shrubs and the house, treat the foundation and landscape with CYONARA RTS. This product hooks to your garden hose and uses the water from the hose to mix with the concentrate inside. One quart will cover up to 1/2 acre and should be used 2-3 times a year to keep perimeter pests in check.
HOUSE SAFE SPRAY FOR INSIDE THE HOME ^
If you’re seeing salamanders inside the home, apply FS MP AEROSOL to all the cracks and crevices along the baseboard. It comes with a crack and crevice tip for getting the treatment deep into voids where insects and salamanders like to hide. The treatment will kill unwanted insects and its very irritating to salamanders so they won’t want to stay anywhere you spray it.
BEST SALAMANDER REPELLENT ^
Next, wait one day after spraying Cyonara before applying salamander repellent. PEST RID GRANULES should be sprinkled around the home, against the foundation, and along any walkways, patios, flower beds etc. where salamanders are active. One 2 lb jug will cover up to 500 sq/ft and is the “base” of the treatment needed.
Armando says
I found a salamander inside of my new car today. I don’t wanna ruin my car but I wanna get rid of it. What can I do?
Tech Support says
Salamanders will readily forage around the landscape looking for food and shelter. So if you keep your car outside in an open area, you should treat the surrounding ground with the Pest Rid Granules and Pest Rid Spray featured above in our article.
The Granules should be applied to any turf in the area like grass, mulch, etc. And over the top of the granules you should spray the liquid Pest Rid. Do this every month or so and this will keep lizards, salamanders, snakes and other nuisance pests away from your car so there will no chance of any getting inside.
Next, set out 4-6 Salamander Traps in the car. Typically the traps should be placed on the floor, under your seats, etc. The lure in the traps will attract hungry lizards or salamanders and once they enter, they’ll get stuck on the glue so you can easily remove them from your car.
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Pest Rid Granules: https://bugspray.com/exempt/granule/pest-rid-exempt-granules-2-pound
Pest Rid Spray: https://bugspray.com/exempt/liquid/pest-rid-exempt-liquid-repellent
Traps: https://bugspray.com/traps/pheromone-and-food/scorpion-insect-lizard-15-pk
Judy says
I rented a second floor condo in Fl. and like to keep the back sliding doors open. The patio is all screened in and there is a 6 inch seperation between screen and doors. The neighbors tell me that I will be getting geckos in the house. I see droppings in the tracks so they must be right. What can I put in or spray the tracks with to deter them from entering the house? There is also a lake in the back.
Tech Support says
Judy,
This is an easy one. Get the Pest Rid spray discussed in the article above. Simply spray it onto any surface where you don’t want them active. In this case, I’d spray the tracks as well as a perimeter of the deck. This way you should be able to keep them off the decking for good. Expect to spray once a month to keep them away for good.
Pest Rid Spray: https://bugspray.com/exempt/liquid/pest-rid-exempt-liquid-repellent
Cheers,
Jonathan
Customer Care
U-Spray Bugspray
http://www.bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
Pat says
I have a dog and live in an apartment. My dog loves to lay outside in the grass. Last fall, I had a few salamanders inside and want to GET RID OF THEM BEFORE THEY COME AGAIN. On our apartment property we have a nearby wetland with cat-tails and am thinking that is where they originate, but I don’t want them on my property. I do not have access to an outside garden hose. I think I can spray around the base and entry of my apartment and on the lawn portion, but don’t want my dog to get sick…of course.
Please send a message to me as to what you would recommend.
Tech Support says
Pat,
Get the Pest Rid Granules and Spray listed above. First, pour a “line” of granules along your property border where you think the salamanders are coming from. Next, pour the granules along the foundation wall (the side of the building) where they are likely entering. This “line” should be 1-2 feet wide.
Next, spray over the granules with the Pest Rid Spray. The spray will get them to leave and stay away for 3-4 weeks when used by itself. But when sprayed over the granules, treatments will last 4-6 weeks if not longer.
One jar of granules will treat up to 500 linear feet and should be plenty for 1-2 treatments. You didn’t list how big your property is so I can’t say exactly how much you’ll need but its easy to figure out. For example, if you have 150 feet of property border line and 100 feet of foundation to treat, you’d use 1/2 of the jar (1 lb) of granules per treatment. Expect to renew them once a month to keep them fresh.
As for the spray; the quart sized container will cover up to 125 feet and if you plan on treating this on a regular basis, getting the gallon size would prove most cost effective.
Technical Support
U-Spray Bugspray
http://www.bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
Trish CAPOZZA says
I live in Western ma. I have found 4 salamander dead on my basement floor in the span of one week. I have been in this house for 20 yrs and have never seen them before. Are they having a population growth. It weirds me out.
Tech Support says
Trish,
Salamanders, like many insects and animals, will move in alongside foundation walls where they will find warmth and comfort. From there, some can find their way inside via drain lines, french drains, water pipes, overflow vents, cracks around basement windows or through the foundation.
To stop them from entering, apply the Pest Rid Granules we have featured above along with the spray. This combo will keep them off the foundation which in turn will keep them from entering.
Technical Support
U-Spray Bugspray
http://www.bugspray.com
1-800-877-7290
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