Gila monster

[Bigjay73]

Has anyone ever actually seen one in the wild? Just read a story on a fellow who died after getting bit by one he was keeping as a pet and I realized that in 35 years of living in, and hunting and fishing the deserts of Arizona, I've never seen one.

 

[Bowhuntrben]

Had to look it up. Randomly picked this article..

https://apnews.com/article/gila-mon...o-pet-lizard-6b15c382d9ac61c20dc3a28cac87a518

"Twenty-six spiders of different species also were taken from the home to a nearby animal shelter."

I never thought to bring the spiders in my basement to the animal shelter.

 

[cgasner1]

I saw one about 15+ years ago around Tucson they told me to leave it alone that they had a nasty bite

 

[Kaitum]

Saw my first one last April in NM.

 

[JCS]

Arizona

 

[JCS]

Another from Arizona

 

[BuzzH]

Have seen 3-4 gila monsters and also a beaded lizard as well.

 

[LuketheDog]

Lakewood man dies after being bitten by pet Gila monster

A Lakewood man died after he was bitten by his pet Gila monster, according to police. The animal is a venomous lizard he kept illegally.

kdvr.com

Yeah, just up the road in the metro, bites are rare and death is extremely rare it sounds like. It would be cool to see a wild one.

 

[MTGomer]

I did a land survey for some archaeologists that were working on a project to restore some hohokum dwellings. Here is one with the dwelling in the back.

 

[JustinsDad]

I have seen them in Mexico down in Baja. One was sitting on a cactus right next to the Baja 1000 race course one year. He was just sitting there apparently enjoying watching us race cars go by. As loud as we are it surprised me he he was just sitting there.

 

[Robert N]

Yes. Exactly once.

It was in SoCal, Rand Mountains area I think. I saw it, walking super slowly…maybe 5 feet away.

I turned, blinked, look back…and it was “gone”. I’m sure it was just the Camo working in full detail.

Of course, no camera’s back then. So…yeah. I could have been hallucinating in the desert sun.

 

[tkhuntsman]

I lived in Prescott And used to run around down on the Verde river east of there a lot and saw one. That was about 15 years ago and in 3 years there that was the only one.

 

[Kaitum]

Got #2 today. Little rascal made it to the brush before I could get a picture.

 

[Nick87]

I thought it was gonna be a pic of a big bull in the Gila, which yes I have witnessed. Had to look up the lizards. I'll be on the lookout in Oct, Maybe?

 

[hank4elk]

I thought it was gonna be a pic of a big bull in the Gila, which yes I have witnessed. Had to look up the lizards. I'll be on the lookout in Oct, Maybe?

Seen them where you are heading.

Near Silver City saw one.
And the Brushy Mtns.
They were around the Skull Valley,AZ ranch.

 

[Nick87]

Seen them where you are heading.

Near Silver City saw one.
And the Brushy Mtns.
They were around the Skull Valley,AZ ranch.

It'll be interesting to see one. *if

 

[hank4elk]

It'll be interesting to see one. *if

They are fairly slow and have to turn over for the venom to drip from lower jaw.
But they are tough and muscular.

Just watch is my advice.
Know a snake DR who got bit.

 

[Nick87]

They are fairly slow and have to turn over for the venom to drip from lower jaw.
But they are tough and muscular.

Just watch is my advice.
Know a snake DR who got bit.

I'll keep it mind.

 

[hank4elk]

I'll keep it mind.

Watch the rock piles glassing. They love the cracks.

 

[Nick87]

Watch the rock piles glassing. They love the cracks.

Noted, so do snakes. I'm already on high alert for those damn things.