Gila Monster Kills Lakewood Man

[Hummer]

Gila monsters are very dangerous... in addition to the venom, there is a ton of bacteria in their mouths. All they eat is raw meat, like a monitor lizard, which unlike a gila monster can be purchased from a reptile shop.

Lizards are very difficult pets to keep. They do best in a special biohabitat terrarium and temperature and humidity need to be kept within very narrow parameters. They also require an UV light and mineral supplements and very few vets can treat exotic reptiles. Many die prematurely because ignorant people buy them as a "pet" without doing any research or investing hundreds of dollars in basic necessities, they just think they can let them run loose in their apartment all the time.

There is no antivenin for Gila monster bite. It's similar to rattlesnake venom, but there's a lot less of it and is is not injected but oozes from glands onto the teeth. These teeth do often break off in the wound and frequently cause infection which is usually treated with antibiotics. Seems like this person likely had some sort of hypersensitivity or had other medical issues. Fatalities are rare, but complications and infection is common. Possibly he was immunocompromised.

Thanks for the comments. I'm curious what herps you raise, or have raised?

I encountered a few Gila monsters around Patagonia, AZ, when I lived and hiked the desert forests there. I was careful not to get close. A lady south of town regularly had a couple that fed on mice and some birds around her bird feeder area. Roadrunners would also feed there. I've read accounts about Gila monsters and Roadrunners preying upon one another.

I remember old westerns that featured Gila's killing unaware cowboys, usually the bad guys.

Recently, I met the herp specialist for CPW. I'm sure she's smart enough to not raise Gila monsters in her home with kids.