outdoor threats

[reptileman]

ok so recently I have been keeping alot of my chameleons outdoors for long periods of time due to the great weather we have been having here, anyway I recently saw a hawk down the street from my house and I saw a racoon in the neibors yard, I know hawks can be a threat but what about racoons?

 

[Rune]

Pretty much any wild animal thats bigger than it is.

 

[suzi]

If you live in a place that has fireflies that can sqeeze the the cage, that would be a serious threat, as would bees. Hawks obv. As far as racoons, a guy on the forum who houses his chams outside all the time for many years had a problem with racoons until he put cages on a table and that solved the problem, he never had a problem since.

 

[imcurt]

ok so recently I have been keeping alot of my chameleons outdoors for long periods of time due to the great weather we have been having here, anyway I recently saw a hawk down the street from my house and I saw a racoon in the neibors yard, I know hawks can be a threat but what about racoons?

Great thread!!! racoons are nocturnal so there only a threat if chams are left out over night. Not enough shade to excape the sun is also a threat.

 

[suzi]

Great thread!!! racoons are nocturnal so there only a threat if chams are left out over night. Not enough shade to excape the sun is also a threat.

Many sad stories during summer months. They need to be misted frequently and have a shaded area available at all times, keeping in mind that the sun constantly moves. This guy who has been housing his chams outside since the ninety's has much experience. He has tarpes around the bottom for constant shaded areas and misters in the shaded areas and sunny areas always provided.

 

[fluxlizard]

I've been keeping my chams outside all summer since the mid 90s.

I use reptariums, but have also used home-made wire screen cages in the past.

I had a raccoon once tear into a wire-screen cage and eat a whole clutch of dilepis babies that were several weeks old. He left a poopie in the cage which I took to the extension service to identify what sort of animal it was. This was the only problem with a wild animal I've had, and it was near the beginning of my outdoor housing experience and it was a large screen cage that sat directly on the ground. I moved my cages onto tables with short legs maybe 20" or so off the ground and I've never had another animal related problem, in spite of living in the country and seeing all kinds of wildlife and stray cats and dogs walking along between or near my rows of cages- stray dogs and cats, oppossums, skunks- even a bobcat one time, and coyotes too.

The other problems I did have with lizards were fireflies killing my bearded dragons at first (solved with reptarium zipper doors) and a Dennis the menace type 5 year old who let my colony of corucia loose after driving his little battery powered 4WD vehicle all over my neighbor's beautiful vegetable garden and flattening it for the summer (solved by his moving away).

Not too bad for years and years of beneficial fresh air, real sunshine, lower power bills, and green-keeping of my lizards... I highly recommend thinking it through carefully and giving it a try on a weekend or something when you will be home to monitor the situation at first.

I provide constant shade and sun, and during the heat of the day when temps are up in the 80s and 90s I provide a fine mist in part of each cage (so the lizard can choose to be wet or dry, shade or sunny).

 

[tucc185]

great info fluxlizard, I've been keeping chameleons outdoors (for the summer months here in new england) for 5-6 years now and never had wildlife problems. I find reptariums are fairly sturdy and the dark screen shields chameleons from potential predators' view. However, I am moving to the tampa, florida area in august and I will have to keep a close eye on the higher temps and be extra vigilant making sure they have access to shade and mist at all times. Any chance you could post a pic of one of your cages? I'd love to see how you have them set up with tarps, mist, etc.

 

[jannb]

You might like to read these thread from Carol.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/omg-hawk-encounter-47395/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/omg-another-hawk-encounter-55195/

 

[suzi]

I've been keeping my chams outside all summer since the mid 90s.

I use reptariums, but have also used home-made wire screen cages in the past.

I had a raccoon once tear into a wire-screen cage and eat a whole clutch of dilepis babies that were several weeks old. He left a poopie in the cage which I took to the extension service to identify what sort of animal it was. This was the only problem with a wild animal I've had, and it was near the beginning of my outdoor housing experience and it was a large screen cage that sat directly on the ground. I moved my cages onto tables with short legs maybe 20" or so off the ground and I've never had another animal related problem, in spite of living in the country and seeing all kinds of wildlife and stray cats and dogs walking along between or near my rows of cages- stray dogs and cats, oppossums, skunks- even a bobcat one time, and coyotes too.

The other problems I did have with lizards were fireflies killing my bearded dragons at first (solved with reptarium zipper doors) and a Dennis the menace type 5 year old who let my colony of corucia loose after driving his little battery powered 4WD vehicle all over my neighbor's beautiful vegetable garden and flattening it for the summer (solved by his moving away).

Not too bad for years and years of beneficial fresh air, real sunshine, lower power bills, and green-keeping of my lizards... I highly recommend thinking it through carefully and giving it a try on a weekend or something when you will be home to monitor the situation at first.

I provide constant shade and sun, and during the heat of the day when temps are up in the 80s and 90s I provide a fine mist in part of each cage (so the lizard can choose to be wet or dry, shade or sunny).

Hence, the guy I have been taking bout lol