Experts warn Gila monsters ‘could bite at any time’ – 34-year-old Colorado man dies in first fatal incident in 94 years
This week, a 34-year-old Colorado man died in an extremely rare reaction to the bite of his pet Gila monster.
The man, whose identity remains unknown, was bitten by a young Gila monster and died, marking the first fatal case of a Gila monster bite in the past 94 years.
Experts have now warned that such an incident was ‘inevitable’.
Chris Lewis, captivity research officer at wildlife charity Born Free, told MailOnline that you can’t know if you’ll have a fatal reaction until it’s too late.
Mr Lewis said incidents like this ‘will always be inevitable when people keep animals in conditions that are unnatural to them.’
A 34-year-old Colorado man died days after being bitten by a venomous Gila lizard he owned as a pet
The Gila monster is unique among North American lizards because of its venom, which it secretes through its lower jaw.
The venom is known to cause swelling, burning pain, vomiting, dizziness and low blood pressure, which can lead to fainting.
However, the last recorded death from a Gila monster bite was in 1930, more than 90 years ago.
It is believed the man may have suffered an allergic reaction four days after being bitten.
Mr Lewis said: ‘It is widely believed that the poison is not fatal and that this person has had an allergic reaction.
‘But what this highlights is that no matter how poisonous an animal is, it will always pose a risk if kept as a pet.’
Mr Lewis points out that there is ‘no single precautionary test’ that owners can carry out to see if they are at risk of a fatal allergic reaction.
He explained: ‘Until someone is bitten, they won’t know if they are allergic to the animal’s venom.’
The Gila monster is unique among North American lizards for its venom, which it secretes through its lower jaw
Although their venom is rarely fatal, the Gila monster’s bite is powerful and can still be dangerous and extremely painful.
A care sheet from exotic pet store Reptile Rapture states: ‘A Gila is often docile, which can give you a false sense of security. It can bite at any time.
“Sometimes the only way to release the lizard’s grip is to submerge it in water or squirt hand sanitizer into its mouth.”
In both the US and UK, owners need a special license to own a Gila monster.
Mr Lewis says Born Free’s latest research shows there are at least 38 Gila monsters in private hands in Britain.
However, he says existing laws are not enough to protect owners of poisonous animals.
“There is very little, if anything, in the legislation that requires the safety of the owner or other people in the home,” he said.
Safely handling venomous lizards requires training and adequate bite-resistant gloves, neither of which are a requirement for owning a Gila monster.
Gila monster bites are not fatal, but their jaws are so strong that one pet store recommends holding the animal under water or squirting hand sanitizer in its mouth to release it
Gila monsters also have extremely long lifespans and require expensive specialist equipment to keep them healthy.
Mr Lewis added: ‘It is completely bizarre that members of the public can keep animals that are categorized as dangerous.’
In the wild, Gila monsters are not particularly aggressive animals.
They are extremely slow and rely on their natural camouflage to blend in and ambush small mammals and birds.
When threatened, Mr. Lewis explains, Gila monsters are more likely to hide or flee and will only bite as an absolute last resort when under a lot of stress.
However, placing these animals in captivity significantly increases the risk that they will feel the need to bite defensively.
Dr. Charlotte Regan, wildlife manager at World Animal Protection, told MailOnline: ‘In the wild, human-Gila monster interactions are quite rare; they are usually active at night and spend a lot of time underground.
“Being kept in captivity as a pet fundamentally places the Gila monster in an unnatural environment and conditions, including proximity to humans.”