How can I get rid of a critter that likes to get into my basement?

Could be a noisy lizard that hides in your basement full time. You could try a large sticky mat (or four mice mats) and see if that gets her. If you can identify the poop he leaves (look online) you may know what kind and what size trap to get. Maybe you could set up a motion activated nanny cam to try to catch sight of her. Or go straight for the rat poison. But if he dies in the basement, you sure need to find him before he rots. So there are four gender-and-species-nonspecific ideas for you to discard! Best wishes 😇

Get a cat

Set a have-a-heart trap. Once caught, don't rule out the notion that there may be more.

Soak a rag with ammonia, get the rag really wet. Put the wet rag in the critters hole that he gets into the cellar through. He will be gone the next day. It smells like another animals urin to them. Fix all the holes so he won't return.

If it's still getting into your basement, all the cracks and holes are not filled. If you can't find any cracks or holes from the inside, check the outside of your house. Even if you trap one animal, others still can get in and your problem is not resolved.

Unless you can seal up all the entry points there is little you can do to end the problem.

Good luck ♥ We've had raccoon visitors during the night in my back yard several times over the years. They would catch the koi in my pond. Now it would be different if they would eat them, but they would just play with them and leave them all over the yard. I've tried animal control in our area, they said they wouldn't help us, but to get a Havahart trap, then release them at least 100 miles away because they travel that and more. An exterminator was way too expensive. Had a trap, tried, could never catch them...tried sardines, marshmallows, tuna, canned cat food and more. I devoured the web for info on how to get them to go. Tried criss crossing fishing line throughout the back yard, raccoons didn't mind it, the dogs hated it. Lit the backyard up like a runway – didn't phase them, Human hair, human urine, could have cared less about either, Tried "The Scarecrow" motion detector that hooks to the hose and sprays when it senses motion. Raccoons loved it,Dogs were scared of it and refused to go out during the day even when it was off. Tried coyote urine, didn't phase the coons one bit. Tried little red flashing lights around the perimeter of the yard, raccoons didn't notice them. Summer came and they stopped coming. We had no birdseed out for the wild birds, no dog food out, nothing. They came back the following winter and brought friends. Tried everything again to no avail. Got up one morning and they were still here! They were usually gone by then. One of my dogs slipped....pushed by me as I was trying to shoo them away. She was a Great Dane....they took her down. Now I love all animals, but don't come to my place and mess with mine. My sons stayed up the following night, shot 2 of them. They haven't been back since. It was horrid, the screams my poor dog let out as they were biting her. Please be careful. I wouldn't attempt to even catch it, You have to pick up that wire cage after all!. They are fierce and will bite. Be careful please.