Colorado man dies after being bitten by pet Gila monster
By Morgan Whitley - FOX 31 Denver
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DENVER (KDVR) — A Lakewood man died after he was bitten by his pet Gila monster, according to police.
On Feb. 12 at 11:45 p.m., Jeffcom received a 911 call about an animal bite. The Lakewood Police Department said medical crews responded to the home and found a 34-year-old man had been bitten by one of his pet Gila monsters. He was immediately taken to a local hospital.
The man did not survive his injuries and was pronounced dead over the weekend.
A day after the man was bitten, Lakewood Animal Control officers went to the home and removed two Gila monsters with the assistance of Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Lakewood police said the reptiles have been taken to a wildlife rehabilitation facility.
What is a Gila monster, and is it dangerous?
According to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Gila monsters are venomous. Its venom is made by a row of glands in the lizard’s lower jaw.
“When the lizard bites, small grooves in the teeth help the venom flow into its prey. The bite of a Gila monster is very strong, and the lizard may not loosen its grip for several seconds,” said the San Diego Zoo.
A Gila monster bite is painful to humans, however, it rarely causes death, according to the zoo.
Are Gila monsters common pets?
FOX31’s Courtney Fromm confirmed it is illegal to own Gila monsters in Lakewood. She spoke with Dr. Stephen Mackessy, a professor of biology at the University of Northern Colorado.
“When they bite, they have strong closing muscles so they can hold on like a bulldog,” Mackessy said.
Mackessy noted that Gila monsters produce venom when agitated and that the venom has been used in important drugs. However, Mackessy said, “They aren’t a chihuahua or cat you can cuddle with — the consequences can be severe.”
Richard Kensinger, owner of Scales & Tails in Lakewood, said the city has its own rules that the business follows.
“They are unpredictable, you can get careless with them cause they seem slow and they can wing around and bite and clamp down,” Kensinger said. “They are neat animals but to be respected for sure.”
Kensinger said that the pet’s owner was likely cleaning the cage, feeding or maintaining the animal, when he was bitten and had a negative response.
“No one has really explained what happened,” Kensinger said. “I imagine it was just an accident.”
