Hi, you should go over to the stained glass and mosaic forum. There are several artists there who make the most amazing things out of diamond lath and or hardware cloth and mortor. They hold up in the weather as these folks are from all over. I haven't tried it yet, but its on my list (making a sculpture). Good luck with your lizard. I think its a wonderful idea! I suggest that you go to the bottom of the sg&m forum and search for scupture, or lath or Rianna (the woman who taught some of them her technique for making scupture) before you ask a general question. They have answered peoples questions before. Then once you've done some research, ask more particular questions. Kathy Here is a link that might be useful: Stained glass and mosaic forum

How is your lizard? I can't make a positive ID without a picture, but the great majority of lizards in that area and of that size are bug eaters.

That's an Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens). They are very common through much of their range, so long as there are large tracts of forested habitat surrounding the ponds/lakes they live in. I believe the others have echoed my sentiment about collecting, but since it has already been collected and if you cannot release it, you should know how to care for it properly. Here is a link that will tell you how to care for them properly - this is by far the most accurate caresheet available for this species Here is a link that might be useful: Eastern Newt caresheet

Well .... I went back to the lizard lasagne and ... no lizards. They must have warmed up enough to leave and find a new place. Probably in the pile of firepit wood, or the now tidily stacked old fence wood I'm reclaiming. So I'm back to trying to not accidentally squish one as I do yard work.