Colorado Man Dies After Being Bit By Pet Gila Monster

A Colorado man has died after being bitten by one of his pet Gila Monsters. The Lakewood man, who has not been identified, died days after the bite from the venomous lizard according to CBS News.

The man kept two Gila monsters as a pet, which are illegal to own in the state of Colorado without a license. The Gila Monster that bit the man was a juvenile and approximately 12 inches long. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office confirmed the death of the man and will perform an autopsy and a toxicology report to reveal the exact cause of death.

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What is a Gila Monster?

A Gila Monster is a venomous lizard that can be found in the southwestern parts of the United States and the northwestern areas of Mexico. The Gila Monster can live up to 40 years in captivity, however, this is a rare occasion. The venom of the Gila Monster can cause localized pain, swelling, and bleeding. Deaths from the bite of a Gila Monster are very rare. In fact, the last reported death from a bite of a Gila Monster was in 1930.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife will be taking the Gila Monster that bit the man to a lab at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. When the Gila Monster arrives at the lab, the venom will be extracted and studied to shed light as to why the bite killed the man.

Both of the Gila Monsters will be removed from the victim's home and relocated to a wildlife rehab center in another state.

Source: CBS News