DENVER, Colorado – The recent death of a Colorado man from a Gila monster bite has raised questions about the wisdom of keeping these venomous lizards as pets. The rare incident marks the first known fatality from a Gila monster bite in the United States in nearly a century. While these striking-looking creatures are legal to own in most states, their painful bites and venomous nature have some concerned about their suitability as pets.
Gila monsters, known for their vibrant color patterns and typically easygoing personality, can be found in homes across the country, obtained from breeders and reptile shows. However, experts warn that the agony caused by their bite is excruciating and can be long-lasting. According to Dale DeNardo, a professor at Arizona State University and a Gila monster enthusiast, the bite is comparable to having your hand painfully slammed in a car door. The initial pain persists for an hour, followed by days of soreness and throbbing that surpasses the pain from a bee, wasp, or scorpion sting.
Christopher Ward, the 34-year-old victim, died less than four days after his pet Gila monster, named Winston, bit him. Shortly after the bite, Ward began vomiting and experiencing difficulty breathing. Despite being put on life support, he did not survive. Ward’s girlfriend revealed that they had purchased Winston at a reptile exhibition and another Gila monster named Potato from a breeder in Arizona. Following the incident, both lizards were relinquished to a reptile sanctuary in South Dakota.
Colorado requires individuals to obtain a permit to own a Gila monster, but only those operating zoological-type facilities are granted such permits. Ward did not have the necessary permit for his pets. It is possible that the lizard slipped through the state’s enforcement measures when it was sold at a reptile show. The Colorado Department of Natural Resources occasionally attends these shows to ensure that illegal animals are not being sold.
Selling for $1,200 or more, Gila monsters are available online through various breeders, particularly during the fall when hatchlings emerge. However, some people may capture wild Gila monsters as pets, further threatening the reptiles already suffering from habitat loss due to road construction and urban development. Although their population in the wild is now believed to be in decline, Gila monsters are not currently protected as threatened or endangered species.
While some states, such as Maine and Kentucky, prohibit the keeping of Gila monsters as pets, others, including Montana, do not even require permits to own them. Exceptions are made for facilities such as Colorado Gators, a reptile sanctuary in southern Colorado. This sanctuary, located near Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, provides a warm, safe environment for confiscated and abandoned reptiles, including a Gila monster obtained after the death of a pet store owner.
Jay Young, the owner of Colorado Gators, appreciates and understands the appeal of Gila monsters as pets. However, he emphasizes that only responsible individuals in suitable locations should have them. Young describes these creatures as adorable and highlights their lifespan of at least 20 years. Gila monsters typically reside in small aquariums of 15-20 gallons and primarily feed on small rodents and quail eggs.
In the wild, Gila monsters spend considerable time underground to conserve water in arid conditions, emerging more frequently during wet weather. These slow-moving reptiles cover vast areas in search of prey, including bird eggs high up in cactuses. The Gila monster’s venomous bite serves as a defense mechanism due to its slowness, and they often hiss as a warning before striking. Experts emphasize that unprovoked attacks are rare and that people must be interacting with the lizards to experience a bite.
While the recent case raises questions about the possible role of an underlying condition or allergy in Ward’s death, the last known fatality from a Gila monster bite around 1930 may have been related to cirrhosis of the liver. As an autopsy report is yet to be released, experts suspect there may be similar contributing factors in this recent incident. Nonetheless, the tragedy underscores the potential dangers of keeping venomous reptiles as pets and prompts a reconsideration of the risks involved.