THIS is what happens when a GILA MONSTER BITES you...

Few animals inspire as much fear and fascination as the Gila monster, but is that fear warranted? Today I get up close and personal with this venomous lizard to see if their fearsome reputation is warranted.

Insta @Wildfilesofficial

[nycrsny]

Anyone else here cause the YT algorithm recommended this after watching the news about the Colorado man who succumbed to his Gila pet bite? Seems his body either had low tolerance to the proteins in the Gila's venom or it took him too long to pry open the Gila's jaw and by that time it had delivered too much venom.

[mglover]

I will never forget my first encounter with a Gila monster. Here just outside Phoenix. I was careful around it as I, too, had heard a lot of horror stories about them. It was very beautiful. I had a 3 foot long stick and was only trying to get it to turn around for me. All of a sudden it spun around faster than I could have ever imagined it could and then barked at me, yes…almost like a dog. I must’ve looked like a cat jumping up and backwards at the same time. I decided that a good forward looking photo of my first gila monster was no longer all that much of a priority. He went his way and I went mine. In 41 years of playing in the Sonoran desert and in abandoned mines I’ve come across only 3 more of these beautiful and amazing creatures.

[THX--nnbu]

When he said when a creature that is marked with way too much vibrant colors and says Im venomous stay away from me, I apply that with some younger women these days.

[cq]

A channel that doesn’t tell you to like and subscribe before you have watched the video. What a beauty. Love this Lizard. 🇦🇺Have subscribed. 😀

[esmepoms]

“If you see one in the wild you should embrace it.” Maybe not the best wording 😂

[Purpleboi]

Gila monster: I don't want to kill you I just want to hurt you alot.

[michigandogman]

A Colorado man just died a short time back and they determined it was due to complications from a Gila monster bite.

[NBK]

Haven't even finished the video yet and I can already see you're very knowledgeable about the subject of the video, take my sub, you earned it!

[TheWildlifeBrothers]

Gila Monsters are some of the coolest lizards out there, you did a great job presenting about them Donny! I didn’t realize that their venom is specifically utilized for defense, it makes sense considering their prey but I had never considered that before. That guy seemed like a cool one to handle, I’m sure it was fun to be up close. Great work!
- Harrison and Evan

[charleslanphier]

Update: a man in Colorado died from the venom when bitten by his "pet" gila monster.

[robvegart]

being bit by a Gila monster sends you back to Gila-gans Island.

[Igorfun]

A good informative video without unnecessary drama. 👍

[doug]

I’ve only ever seen one in the wild when I was a kid growing up in Paradise Valley, Arizona. It was one morning when we were headed to church, driving slowly down the dirt road from our house to the main road. I looked out the window and there on a large rock was a Gila Monster warming itself in the sun. I once came across a desert tortoise also- our dog discovered it under our car in the carport.

[Reason]

I roam the deserts of the U.S., found nearly all of it's amazing inhabitants... but I have never seen a Gila and I've looked for them. All I want is to get a photo (from a far). Enjoyed the video by the way.

[nbk]

Back in the 70's you would see these Gila Monsters often when out in Patagonia, but the housing development in the valley nearly wipe them out. They were put on the endangered species list, and as far as I know they still were. The one's out Gila Bend & Yuma area are bright colored red, and further south you'll see more yellow Gila Monsters. They are beautiful critters that demands respect, leave them be, and they will leave you alone.

[Metanaut]

i ran across one of these guys near Clossal caverns in AZ, we got out of the car to observe it, it promptly ran under our car, took a while to shoo it away, that same night i had a bark scorpion crawl across my hand, and had to not freak out, and wait for it to crawl off.

[StephenDoty]

A girl in Nevada found one of these in the desert and brought it home as a pet.
That night she awoke in bed screaming; she saw its mouth clamped onto her tricep.
She was taken to the hospital and treated with anti-venom.

[WolfShadowhill]

They’re also common in southern Utah, they’re so cute to see while hiking

[stevied]

Hi Donny,
The thing that surprised me with your video is that they are much smaller than i thought. I always thought that they were much bigger like a comodo dragon. Just shows that often people hype up things and misinform people about wildlife, especially sharks, my absolute favourite on earth. Education is key to everything in life. Great video Donny.
Stevie in Scotland.

[marseanharper]

If you keep venomous creatures in your home, for work or pleasure, getting bitten is just a waiting game. I have no sympathy for deaths caused by unnecessary stupidity.