Gila Monster in the Wild

[Automeris2]

So neat. I really like Gilas. Too many people and much folklore, has them so misunderstood. I would certainly love to have one.

[TransformerDrake]

were are you?

[waywardmuse]

on my property about 50 miles south of Phoenix, Arizona

[gabriel1978]

Lucky you! Thanks for sharing.

[waywardmuse]

You're welcome - thanks for your comment!

[BryanEddy09]

oh yes there they are . i found two about as long and wide as my forearms "fighting to the death " (they were maing ,duh,) and wasnt sure wht i was seeing.they seemed tobe oblivious and not interested in my presence ,which worked for me.Wish i had a video cm with me as i couldve shot them for 30minutes easy.

[emmalou830]

i love the way they walk!

[chadleys1]

Thanks for posting this great video of such a beautiful and elusive lizard. Although I'll keep trying, I'm doubtful I'll ever see one in the wild, so this is excellent. I think it is great that you didn't bother it too much, and just let it go about it's business. Thanks again.

[waywardmuse]

You're so welcome. Thank you for appreciating this magnificent animal so much. Check out my Gila Monster playlist if you want to see more. I always see them when I'm not looking for them, so you might see one someday -- you never know! Thanks again and good luck!

[QLMalaMala]

Thanks for the video! It helped me a lot on a project I was working on.  I did not know they were that big. Are they venomous or Poisonous? Thanks Aging.

[waywardmuse]

@QLMalaMala

You're most welcome. Thank you for watching! They are both venomous & poisonous. The word "venomous" only applies to animals and means that the animal has glands that secret venom which is a poisonous substance. So it is more correct in this case to say venomous than poisonous. I'm so glad I help you out on your project. thanks again and I hope you get a good grade on it!

[goarmy979]

is this in arizona

[waywardmuse]

yes

[Simstyle12]

wow if i was a animal i would hate my life.

[Simstyle12]

dats a big monster. Thats like the size of my dog but my dog is a miniature schnauzer anyway lol.

[PHXBasketball]

I live in AZ and I saw one on a golf course while I was playing first and only time i've seen one in the wild

[WHYMEPLeaseFTW]

Thanks for this video! Really helped with a school project.

[waywardmuse]

Glad to be of assistance. Thank you so much for watching and your comment!

[IamHelenKeller]

These scare me. They remind me of a Komodo dragon... the way they walk and the way their tongue keeps going in and out. They are beautiful....but rather frightening....

But then I'm a CHICKEN. Thanks for the fascinating Video! :-)

[waywardmuse]

You're welcome. They are very fascinating creatures. Just found one in my duck pen a few nights ago. First sighting in over a year! Will be doing a new video on it soon. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!

[haggidubious]

Wow! These lizards are beautiful! Such a strange, exaggerated walk, that big fat tail...and the relaxed behaviour on camera! Are they used to people or just laid back?

[waywardmuse]

Sightings are rare because they spend 95% of their time underground. So no, they're not used to people. The lizards I filmed seemed "laid back" because I stayed a good distance from them so they knew I was no threat. Most of what you see was done with zoom. It's against the law to handle these lizards in AZ unless you have a permit. One of the few venomous lizards in the world, they will bite if harassed. They certainly are not aggressive at all.

[StormRisingOriginal]

seen these in texas down by brownsville.

[waywardmuse]

Wow you are lucky! I'm a native Texan (moved to AZ in 87) and never saw one there! Of course I didn't spend a lot of time down in the Valley though.

[gorkhaligal]

It is the poisonous creature in the planet.

[mandmreptiles]

no defenetly not but they do have a painfull bite and there venom is pretty strong but it hasnt caused any fatalities

[namsso]

really? dude ive ate tens of those..

[HotKit]

This is cool, my first-ever time watching a gila monster in action. I've been pretty fascinated with the creature since childhood, and think that it is beautiful. Thanks for sharing this.

[waywardmuse]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[Morvex14]

is that big like 50 cm or something??? i never seen one of those -.-

[waywardmuse]

yeah -- more like 55

[Morvex14]

oooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhh­hh!!!!!! xD

[charisboof]

You have great videos! Thanks for sharing!

[waywardmuse]

Thank you! :)

[khryzalids]

so gilas store the fats in their tails right? what if u cut it off?

[konigtigertank]

This is a large and dangerous Lizard.

Moved faster than thought would, heard they can move head to strike very fast!

Leave them alone!; when they bite they don't let go easily and the bite if not lethal

very painful! Like a blow torch on your hand! So I've heard, don't want to find out.

Beautiful Lizard all the same.

[n8themilkman]

where are they most ubundant or best to find?

[huskerjeff1]

Leave that mu/fk'er alone mannn! Neat video though none the less...

[briancgaz]

Awesome vid and find. Beautiful lizard an rare find. For you dumbasses wanting to catch one for a pet or whatever...very venomous an months of pain and swelling if bit. Thanks for the vid

[waywardmuse]

you're welcome! Thanks for watching & caring!

[arequipa1]

nice video! aren't gilas dangerous in some capacity?

[waywardmuse]

They are venomous but not aggressive. You will not get bit unless you try to pick them up. My "Gila Monster's Journey" vid has education narration.

[NCherps]

nice vid my cousins mother lives in Arizona and i will be traveling there during the summer to look for some of these bad boys and film them too.

[heart4herps]

What a beautiful animal. And I love the waggle walk!

[sonorandesertman]

Great video. Nice find. Thank you for sharing.

[JacobHobbins]

Nice video on them running in the wild. Good Job!

I'm doing a report on gila monsters, and i now know why they are near endangered...

Its their reputation, a really BAD reputation.

There are some myths that a gila monster can atualy spit its posin about 20 feet, and that its breath alone could kill a person, not to mention being able to leap about 10 feet in the air to attack their enemies...

Its all fake, what were they thinking? We are still killing them when we see them... JUST STOP

[waywardmuse]

Thanks!  Good luck on your report!

[seyoumeye]

Oh! BTW, our dearest "reptile" are everywhere.

When is going to be revealed to the rest of the world that some of our ancestors have something in common with the reptile cold blooded being?

[waywardmuse]

Not just "some" ancestors. The rudimentary reptilian brain lies beneath the cerebral cortex and the reptilian genes are within all of us.

[seyoumeye]

I mean, "some blood line" (now in power) deliberately keeps feeding and activating the reptilian brain and is messing up with the mammalian warm blooded highly compassionate individuals (human beings). In my opinion such action is hearting the whole ecosystem of our planet. Don't you think so? Or is it part of the evolutionary self destructive process?

[waywardmuse]

I don't think it's quite that digital. Nothing is good or bad in itself -- it depends on how we choose to use that energy. Reptilian and mammalian energies are both vital to the survival of the planet. We find bad apples in any barrel -- reptilian, mammalian, human. There would be no tyranny if we did not bow down to to it. I write about this in my book. Thanks for your comment and for bringing up this important topic!

[hvfdssrfd]

yeah! mammals evolved from dinos aka reptiles

[seyoumeye]

Great shot!

The texture skin reminds me of some art not sure though what/where?

[waywardmuse]

thanks!

[flakyfan1]

are they poisoness to people?

[waywardmuse]

Yes, they are venomous but the bite is not fatal. To learn all about them watch my video - "Viva the Night for Gila Monster Lovers" --- thanks!

[konigtigertank]

I heard that there has been a fatality or two. Heard the bite is like a blow torch on your bitten part, followed by nausea, vomiting, blurred vision,,, fun stuff.

You could have an anaphylactic reaction as well and die. Leave them alone.

[SirLoinMcGrill]

Gila means 'Crazy' in Malay language. So, u got yourself a Crazy Monster here.

[ancanthrus]

I t is illegal to get that close

[sunnydayslc]

It is not.

[ancanthrus]

Oh I thought it was.

[inferno1163]

even zooming i thinks thats almost too close

[lavaowner]

u were zooming rite?! lol

[waywardmuse]

Yes, I was zooming. Glad to meet another desert dweller!

[braveheartwarrior]

pet him

[4u2know1]

They are so cool or cold...so cool!! *****

[memohavok]

Very good video, i love desert animals! This monster look kinda BIg...

[waywardmuse]

thanks! :)

[kclama]

Great capture of this guy at wild, thanks for sharing.

[waywardmuse]

you're so welcome :)

[spyderboyy]

I wish the video had shown a hand or foot for size reference =(

[waywardmuse]

Hi Spyderboy - I'll try to remember to do that next time if I can keep from disturbing it. This one was about a foot long. My other Gila Monster videos may have better scale reference. For instance, I film one walking behind the tire of a jeep in Gila Monster Returns. Also, I've got footage of them crossing the road in Gila Monster's Journey or Gila Monster - Help! Thanks for your comment :)

[dfish902]

Very nice observation video. Seems to not be disturbed by your being close by.

[waywardmuse]

Thank you. I had the same experience this morning with a desert iguana that let me get closer than I've ever been before. I hope to have that video up in the next few weeks!

[malicho69]

ill pay $700 for one of these

[waywardmuse]

You'll have to get one from a licensed breeder in captivity. It is unlawful to handle these lizards in the wild in Arizona, let alone capture and sell them. They are a threatened species.

[malicho69]

does this mean it's illegal to eat them?

[waywardmuse]

Yep.

[whittney890]

Great job. They are usually very illusive. Ive lived in Az for years and havent seen one yet

[waywardmuse]

thank you. I do feel fortunate & blessed.

[Love2dance9719]

They are so cute, but they move faster than I thought! I want to encounter one since we have some in Arizona where I live!

[Fishman6007]

These bad boys have a very poisonous bite!

[bripird]

man they latch on to you for like 30 hrs or something :-)

[1trueNinjaFox]

Great footage of a gila monster, thanks!

[sunnydayslc]

Best gila monster video on the web!

[Fau1tline]

WOW...God does have a sense of humor. What an interesting...but ugly ass animal.

[ilmtf]

if i could get one milked or what ever you call it to get the venom out..............I WANT ONE!!!!!!!!

[iSlappy]

Great video! I looked this up after reading about Amilyn's new diabetes drug made from the Gila monster's saliva.