🐸Creatures That Find Their Way into Homes in the Jungles of Belize🐍

Living in the jungles of Belize is a dream for many. The lush greenery, the sound of howler monkeys at dawn, and the incredible biodiversity all around make it an unforgettable experience. But with that biodiversity comes something every jungle resident quickly learns: now and then, jungle creatures find themselves in Belize homes, appearing as unexpected visitors.

These “house guests” are usually harmless, though some can be startling if you’re not used to them. Whether you’re considering a move to Belize, planning an extended stay, or already living here, it helps to know what to expect. Here’s a list of the most common jungle visitors you might encounter indoors.

Every day in the jungle promises at least one surprise

House Geckos

One of the most frequent visitors to Belizean homes, house geckos are small, harmless lizards that actually help control insect populations. You’ll often hear their distinctive chirping at night. While some people are startled by their sudden movements, most locals welcome geckos since they eat mosquitoes, moths, and cockroaches.

House geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) are evasive, likely originated in Southeast Asia, but are now found across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including Central America and the Caribbean. They spread easily through trade and travel, adapting well to human homes. In Belize, they’re common in both jungle houses, hotels, and city buildings.

The downside to house geckos is that they tend to leave their droppings everywhere and are quite prolific. I tend to tolerate them because they are great at catching mosquitoes. Admittedly, they are also entertaining to watch them defend their small territories from other house geckos.

House geckos – everywhere

Sometimes, Shiny skinks come under my doorways.

Red Rump Tarantulas

Tarantulas are iconic jungle creatures, and they occasionally wander into homes. Despite their intimidating size, tarantulas in Belize are not dangerous to humans. They’re shy, slow-moving, and more interested in hunting insects than bothering people. A calm relocation outside is usually the best response.

My experience is that they generally end up in homes that are built directly on the ground and not raised houses for some reason. When my house was on the ground, and if I made a habit of keeping my door open, they would sometimes wander in. Now that my house is raised and my door is never left open, I think I have only had one ever enter my house. Though I find them regularly hiding amongst my stuff stored under the house.

Red Rump tarantulas – I love seeing these guys

Scorpions

Scorpions do live in Belize, and while their sting can be painful, the species here are not life-threatening. They usually hide in dark corners, shoes, or under objects. Shaking out shoes and checking bedding before sleep are good habits when living in the jungle.

Scorpions are probably the animal that creates the most fear of all the jungle guests that could show up through your door. The more sealed your house is, the less chance of this guest showing up. I still seem to have at least one a month show up. Scorpions are so common in the jungle, I would be surprised if I didn’t see at least one outside on a daily basis.

So much could be said about scorpions that I wrote its own blog post called – How to Scorpion-Proof Your House & Other Arachnids Found in Belize

Tailless Whip Scorpions

Despite the name, tailless whip scorpions are not true scorpions and have no venom. With their long, spindly legs and alien-like appearance, they look scarier than they are. These nocturnal hunters feed on insects and are completely harmless to humans.

While I have never found one of these guys in my house, I do find them regularly under my house. I so enjoy finding these guys as I think they are one of the scariest-looking, yet totally harmless creatures you can find in the jungle.

Tailless Whip scorpion – such a cool-looking creature

Snakes

It’s not unusual for snakes to slip into homes, especially during the rainy season when they’re looking for dry ground or hunting prey. Most are non-venomous species, but Belize is also home to venomous snakes like the fer-de-lance.

While I have found fer-de-lance snakes underneath my house, I find there are two main snakes that sometimes slip through the cracks of my door(s). The Green-headed tree snake (Leptophis mexicanus) and the Cat-eyed snake (Leptodeira septentrionalis ssp. polysticta).

The Green-headed tree snake & Cat-eyed snake.
Likely the two most common snakes to make it into your house.

If your house is raised, these are your two likely culprits. If your house is on the ground or if you have storage underneath your house, any species found in your area will eventually show up.

Bats

Bats sometimes enter homes; interestingly enough, few people seem to know how they got in the first place. While surprising, they are usually harmless and just want to find their way back out. Bats play an important role in Belize’s ecosystem by controlling insect populations and pollinating plants.

While bats are beneficial for controlling insects, they can cause problems if they take up long-term residence inside a house. Bat droppings (guano) build up quickly and can stain walls, damage wood, and create a strong odour. Although a single bat that accidentally flies in is harmless, a colony nesting indoors can lead to costly repairs if not addressed. This is not a visitor you want as a permanent guest.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches thrive in the tropics, and Belize is no exception. While not everyone’s favourite house guest, they’re a reality of jungle living. Good food storage, regular cleaning, and sealing cracks can help keep their numbers down.

This is one of the visiting creatures I hate the most, and it doesn’t matter how clean and organized I am; they still show up. I can’t overemphasize the importance of good food storage and regular cleaning of drawers and bins, especially, especially drawers and bins that are not regularly accessed. Cockroaches seem to know the drawers and bins you don’t visit often, and within a few months, they are filled with their droppings and chewed holes.

The American cockroach – these I hate

Pepper cockroach – I sometimes find these outside.
I kind of think these guys are cool.

Mice

Mice sometimes find their way indoors, especially in rural areas where food storage is less secure. Traps and proper food handling are the best ways to manage them. I have never had a mouse inside my house, but I do find them underneath my house. Remove or seal up any rags or materials they can shred for nesting material. Mice are very common around my chicken coops and corn storage.

A quick mention about two possible mouse traps – cats and sticky traps. Cats allowed outdoors are responsible for killing millions of native birds and snakes just for sport. Sticky traps also catch a lot of other native creatures unintentionally.

Sticky traps kill a lot more animals than just mice

Mud Daubers

Mud dauber wasps build small mud nests in sheltered corners, electrical boxes, and even hidden spots inside furniture. Unlike other wasps, they’re not aggressive and rarely sting, feeding mostly on spiders. Their nests cause no real damage, though if left unnoticed, they can grow surprisingly large.

Mud dauber

Termites

Belize’s warm, humid climate is perfect for termites. Unfortunately, they’re not just visitors—they can cause real structural damage if left unchecked. Regular inspections and treatment are essential for anyone living in wooden houses in the jungle.

Inspect all wooden structures for the long trails they make as they go. Only use pressure-treated lumber when building your house. These guys can do a lot of damage quickly!

Regularly inspect for these

Tree Frogs

Tree frogs sometimes hop into homes, especially during the rainy season. Their calls are part of the jungle soundtrack, and while they might startle you if you find one in your sink, they’re harmless little creatures.

There are generally three species that make it into homes. The small ones are usually Stauffer’s tree frog, the most common one is the Mexican Masked tree frog, and sometimes Pepper tree frogs get in because they are also common around homes. The problem with tree frogs getting in the house is that they get “stuck” in the window and fairly quickly desiccate.

It’s these tree frogs around the house that attract the Cat-eyed and Green-headed vine snakes.

A Stauffer’s tree frog & a Pepper tree frog (being eaten by a cat-eyed snake)

The Mexican Masked tree frog – also common inside your rainboots.

What happens to any tree frog in a house if it’s not relocated outside quickly

I have never had a toad in the house, but I am amused by the fact that I often find them climbing my steps to get on my deck to eat insects. Gulf Coast toads routinely climb ten steps to hunt bugs on my deck at night.

A Gulf Coast toad climbing my stairs

Ants

Ants are among the most persistent house visitors in Belize. They form long trails into kitchens, pantries, and anywhere food is left out, sometimes appearing within minutes. Different species can show up, from tiny sugar ants to fire ants. While most are more nuisance than danger, their sheer numbers can be overwhelming. Good food storage, sealing cracks, and regular cleaning are the best ways to keep them under control indoors.

I have found that if you are disciplined with cleanliness, garbage, and compost removal, you can eliminate ants in the kitchen. Funny enough, I had a bit of an ant problem two weeks before writing this post for about a week. This was the first problem in about three years.

Army Ants

A small note on army ants. Army ants in Belize are famous for their massive, moving swarms that sweep through the jungle floor in search of prey. Unlike other ants, they don’t build permanent nests but form temporary living bivouacs made of their own bodies. As they travel, they consume insects, spiders, and even small vertebrates, leaving almost nothing behind. When a column passes through a house, it can be unnerving, but they usually move on quickly once their hunt is over.

Since my house was raised, I have never had army ants inside my house, only underneath and on my deck. Because army ants are great at removing cockroaches and other creatures, I would prefer not living underneath my house. I’m overjoyed when they happen to come by.

🦂 Fun Fact 🦂
Living in the jungle will guarantee you unexpected visitors

Wasps

In Belize, wasps often build their papery nests under roof eaves, in rafters, or tucked into other sheltered corners of a house. They’re a common sight in the jungle and play an important role in keeping insect populations in check.

Most of the species that utilize your eaves are not the aggressive species, but I have had some of the larger species make nests, which can have a very painful sting. The concern is if you are doing maintenance or cleaning and forget about them.

Wasp nests

Living With Belize’s Jungle House Guests

Sharing your home with these creatures is simply part of the Belize jungle lifestyle. While some are tolerated (like house geckos), others require more caution (like scorpions and snakes). Over time, most people living here grow used to the occasional unexpected visitor and even learn to appreciate the role they play in the ecosystem.

If you’re planning to move to Belize or spend time in the jungle, knowing which creatures may come inside helps you prepare. Most are harmless, and with a little patience and respect for nature, you’ll adjust quickly to this unique way of life.

If you’re planning to move to Belize or spend time in the jungle, it helps to know about the jungle creatures that sometimes find themselves in Belize homes. Most are harmless, and with a little patience and respect for nature, you’ll adjust quickly to this unique way of life.