Gila Monster encounter

Two women come upon a Gila Monster during a hike in Utah. Includes video, pictures, and informational text.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Gila Monster
• gila
• monster
• utah
• herpetology
• lizard
• venemous
• monitor lizard
• desert
• endangered
• rare
• southwest
• sand
• hike
• hiking

[zaboy]

Great video, I found a small one when I was in AZ in the Superstition Mountains, it was a baby about 6 inches long, got some nice pictures of it, wish i had taken some video footage now.

[charisboof]

Cool! A baby one would probably be pretty cute, I imagine. We were lucky to get some decent video.

[mttdettloff]

I live my whole life running around in the desert surrounding Phoenix and came across a gila monster once. I had no idea how rare they were, and didn't even know what it was. It was beautiful though so I gave it room and just watched. I hope one day my boys can see one in the wild.

[charisboof]

Yeah, we were the same - no idea of its rarity. We were impressed enough (and fortunate enough to have our cameras) to take quite a bit of footage. I hope your boys can see one, too.

[kezamel]

I used to deliver pizzas in Scottsdale AZ. A family had just bought a house there and twice had to call someone to take a gila monster out of their pool. Beautiful creatures. I got to see one up close when it was stuck in the pool.

[charisboof]

Weird about being in the pool. I've read that dunking a gila monster in a pool of water is a good way to get one off of you if it has latched on. It's so rare to have one bite a human, and it seems like it would be even rarer to have one bite and then have a convenient pool nearby in which to dunk it!

[charisboof]

@FabulousSir, the last I checked Mexico is one of the countries of "North America."

[JoeShmoe463]

I'm with ya there. I think Gilas are cute too.

[jamesthedude1977]

Poor guys, they're just trying to make a living like everyone else. And they are pretty cute too!

[GilaSpiderLizard]

Awesome video! I looooooovvvvvvvveee Gila Monsters! They are sooooooooo awesome!

[MisuOfArabonaClan]

in North America, you mean, the world (to some ppl it's probably the same, no offense there!)

EVEN TOUGH I might just be in a bad mood since it's actually very true as many monitor lizards has proven to be venomous recently and there's none of them in NA

[gsmonks]

My granddad, who was born on a homestead near Denver, in 1893, hated Gila Monsters, as did everyone of his generation. Which probably explains why there were lots then and are few now . . .

[joegarza49]

Byetta is made from a protein in Gila Monster venom that is.  :O)

[joegarza49]

Hi,

I really like yr video. I'm a docent at the Albuquerque Zoo. A useful insulin drug made from a protein in Gila Monsters is Byetta.

I have taken lots of animal vid footage. How do I add comments and music to my videos?

I would appreciate the help in that direction.

[vargyna]

@blairwitchprojects thats nothing my roomate has a beaded clam and two boobies

[vargyna]

@Semperfi1221 You would have felt worse with a dead dog.

[vargyna]

@Callofduty4nub Not as much as Mexicans from East L.A.