A man in the United States tragically passed away after being bitten by his pet Gila monster, a carnivorous lizard native to the south-western United States. The 34-year-old individual from Colorado owned two of these reptiles, one of which, a juvenile measuring around 12 inches in length, bit him on Monday, February 12. Despite Gila monster bites typically not being fatal to humans, the man was taken to the hospital and succumbed to the bite last Friday.
The local coroner’s office conducted an autopsy, and additional toxicology tests are underway to pinpoint the exact cause of death. Gila monsters, known for their venomous nature, can grow up to 54 centimeters and are characterized by their slow movements. The lizard gets its name from the Gila River in the United States.
According to BBC, it is illegal to keep a Gila monster as a pet in Colorado without a license. The man also owned tarantulas, which are similarly prohibited. Colorado Parks and Wildlife authorities, including criminal investigators, have been tasked with removing the two Gila monsters from the home.
The reptiles will be relocated to a wildlife rehabilitation center in another state. Notably, the Gila monster responsible for the bite will be transported to a laboratory for venom extraction and analysis, aiming to understand why its bite resulted in the owner’s demise.
This incident marks a rare occurrence, as the last recorded human death from a Gila monster bite dates back to 1930. Dr. Nick Brandehoff, a medical toxicologist and reptile expert, emphasized that the majority of Gila monster bites typically cause local swelling and bleeding, with fatalities being extremely uncommon.
