Pet Gila monster bites Colorado man, who dies in what experts call a “rare event”

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Originally Posted by bus man

This may have been a rare event, but it's even less likely to happen if you don't take a Gila monster as a pet.

Ya, once we figured out they can kill you we as humans quit messing with them.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by 1AngryTaxPayer

Ya, once we figured out they can kill you we as humans quit messing with them.

I mean... Dogs kill people all the time.

[Vector1]

Originally Posted by Arcenal813

If it were something that is KNOWN to be deadly, I'd agree, but these things rarely ever have killed people. People have bees as pets, which are far deadlier (and unpredictable) than these things. A Gila Monster isn't a Komodo Dragon.

https://reptilerapture.net/GILA-MONSTER_ep_121.html#

Your post shoots itself in the foot, as they are known to kill people, although it is not that common.
So yes, some venomous creatures are more lethal than others, but people have died from Gila envenomation before, just as this guy now, and others will die in the future.

Word to the wise, do not keep poisonous creatures or even non domesticated creatures as pets.

[Parnassia]

Originally Posted by Arktikos

What a bizarre pet. A solitary, venomous animal with a nasty reputation. Well, I suppose some people would acquire a wolverine as a pet if they could get away with it.

Or they could graduate to Gaboon vipers, cobras, or tai pans. A gila monster pales by comparison. The world of "hots" is a bizarre place populated by bizarre people!

[phetaroi]

Originally Posted by Arcenal813

I mean... Dogs kill people all the time.

And, people that have dangerous breeds are equally qualified for the dum dum award.

[Spuggy]

Originally Posted by Mathguy

I'm a big reptile buff and allergic reaction killing him days later is not likely the case.

My money would be on something like the initial swelling, circulatory issues lead to a compounding issue of either a blood clot or sepsis where he didn't get treatment and there was dead tissue at the local area of the bite.

I am betting that too, or an underlying heart condition he wasn’t aware of. That said when I saw one on the hiking trail last year the last thing I wanted do was try and pet it or get too close and take a risk even if it’s bite isn’t as venomous as a rattle snake.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by phetaroi

And, people that have dangerous breeds are equally qualified for the dum dum award.

I can agree with this.

I got bit by my friend's pitbull last summer while it was trying to "play" with me. It was PAINFUL and punctured the skin in my abdomen. Literally left holes. I can only imagine what an angry pit trying to inflict damage would do.

[Suburban_Guy]

Originally Posted by bus man

This may have been a rare event, but it's even less likely to happen if you don't take a Gila monster as a pet.

Yup that's what I was bout to say.

99.9999% of the world would not dream of keeping venomous animals as pets. So if course it's going to be a very rare event.

[aslowdodge]

I think keeping Gil’s monsters and beaded lizards is regulated.
How many deaths occur from pet venomous reptiles a year vs dogs yet everyone says dogs are just fine.
I’ve kept pythons, boas, large monitor lizards and never been bitten but I do take precautions to not get bit.

[SerlingHitchcockJPeele]

He died “days” later. It would have taken all of a half day as an ER walk in, and probably even less time if carted in by ambulance, for him to get anti-venom.