Came home one night to find this fellow outside the garage. Gila monster (baby variety). We watched to be sure he didn't scamper in as we parked ... and the next morning he was gone. Although they are common in the desert, it is rare to see one.
Came home one night to find this fellow outside the garage. Gila monster (baby variety). We watched to be sure he didn't scamper in as we parked ... and the next morning he was gone. Although they are common in the desert, it is rare to see one.
Comments
Aren't these poisonous? Cool you got to see one. I never have.
— John Hovell
Too bad there's nothing in the picture for scale...
— Catherine Hovell
They are venomous, but rarely (ever?) fatal to humans. Worse problem is that their jaws are very strong, and once they get hold, it's hard to get them off an arm or a leg. Suggested remedies: flame under their throat (anybody got a Bic?), submerge limb in bucket of water (who's got the buckets?), and lastly, pull like heck and take a chunk of flesh with it. Good news is they are very shy, will not attack, and append themselves to you only if you do something stupid like stick an arm under a rock. As for scale, adults can go 21". We felt this was a baby, maybe 12"-14". Grow full size in 2 years.
— Margaret Hovell
I seem to remember that list of "remedies". Good luck with that.
— Catherine Hovell