Posted on 02/21/2024 5:56:10 AM PST by Red Badger
The Jefferson County coroner has confirmed that a 34-year-old Colorado man died this month, days after being bitten by one of his two pet Gila monsters.
"I think this case highlights that any venomous animals should be respected," said Dr. Nick Brandehoff, a medical toxicologist and expert in reptile bites with the Asclepius Snakebite Foundation, who was consulted on the Lakewood Gila monster case.
Gila monsters are venomous reptiles found in the southwestern United States. While their bites can be painful, they are normally not fatal to humans. Experts say that the last report of a human dying from a Gila monster bite was in 1930.
"The vast majority of bites cause local swelling and bleeding," said Brandehoff, who said the bites can cause intense localized pain and can cause victims to pass out. But deaths are exceedingly rare.
"The last case I have been able to find," said Brandehoff, "was 1930 and that was not even a medical journal case."
According to several experts involved in the Lakewood case, the man -- who has not been identified -- owned two pet Gila monsters and was bitten by one of them on Feb. 12. It was a juvenile and about 12 inches long. The owner was hospitalized and died the Friday leading into the Presidents Day holiday weekend -- four days after the animal bit him.
The Jefferson County Coroner's Office confirmed the death, saying an autopsy was performed on the bite victim but the precise cause of death won't be known until additional toxicology testing is completed.
Eric Harper, a criminal investigator with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said CPW was asked to remove the Gila monsters from the home after the bite. He told CBS News Colorado it is illegal to own Gila monsters in Colorado without a license. Harper said the victim also owned tarantulas which are not illegal to own.
Harper said the Lakewood incident may be an anomaly, but it shows "venomous reptiles are hazardous and should only be handled or possessed by people with the proper training."
Harper and Brandehoff both said the reptile that bit its owner will be transported this week to a lab in Greeley at the University of Northern Colorado, where its venom will be extracted and studied to bring a greater understanding as to why its bite led to its owner's death.
Brandehoff said experts will "look at the venom components and see if there is some reason this might occur." He said while it's early in the investigation, he suspects the victim may have suffered some kind of allergic reaction to the Gila monster's venom.
The Lakewood Police Department says the two Gila monsters were removed from the victim's home and taken to a wildlife rehab center in another state.
Two oddities of Gila Monsters. The first is that their teeth are solid, so they have to chew to inject their venom. The second thing is that they tend to shed their teeth, so if one bites you, just grab it with your free hand, tear it off and throw it away. And then of course, as needed, remove any of its detached teeth from your wound.
You still need to see a venomous reptile specialist doctor, because you might have gotten not just venom, but tetanus and who knows what all else in the wound.
They are very uncommon in the wild and are regarded as a “near threatened” species.
Colorado Ping ( Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)
Yes, you pretty much have to know where they are and actively seek them out to see one. I've lived in Arizona for 30 years and spend a good deal of time out in the undeveloped desert and have never seen one in the wild (my son once spotted one up on Camelback Mountain, a small popular hiking mountain in Phoenix). Rattlers and other snakes and lizards, yes, but not Gilas. Just like Greta Garbo, they just want to be let alone.
If it’s venomous, it’s not a pet.
“But, but...I don’t understand. He’s never bitten anybody before! He’s such a pussycat.”
“Going on 50 years ...”
The best thing a young man or woman can do at around the age of 20-25, is to find a good spouse, commit for a life-time, and work together to build a happy and loving relationship.
🤣👌
Well, if it hits you in the windpipe...
where does one go to get gila monster handling training?! It seems rather clear the man in question had a screw loose.
I think it highlights that no one should own an animal with venom so potent that it can kill them.
I had a pet rattler that I was mighty fond of. But I never turned my back to him.
I was thinking of this hokey movie:
And...I had a ‘possum for a pet, way back when.
“ A young, healthy Labrador Retriever is perfectly capable of killing people.”
Yep, they can lick you to death.
My sister heard some strange noises under her bed, once When she looked, she found a ‘possum making slurping sounds, and foaming a great deal around the mouth. It was my pet, Pogo. She’d gotten ahold of a fragrant guest soap, and was enjoying it mightily.
34 years in Arizona, about half in southern AZ and the rest in west-central AZ, and I hunt birds out in the desert whenever I can. I have seen just one Gila monster in the wild, about 20 years ago, but then I don’t go looking for them. Still haven’t seen a mountain lion out there, though I’m very certain they’ve seen me.
My pet Black Widow died................
If my chihuahua ever goes berserk I’m pretty sure I can take him.
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