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Old 04-28-2020, 02:12 PM
 
Location: SW US
2,841 posts, read 3,197,335 times
Reputation: 5368

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This morning a guy was doing some work for me and the gates were open. A Gila Monster ambled in, obviously curious about the new place. It was only the second one I have seen in my yard in 17 yrs (SW of Tucson).


Unfortunately, it wandered into the smaller yard that I have fenced as a backyard for me and my herding dog. I couldn't let my dog out with the critter in there so I had to persuade it to leave. I did not relish the thought of having to stuff a dog with a Gila Monster attached to it into my car for the 1 hour trip to the ER in the midst of a pandemic. I wasn't sure how to get it out and ended up herding it out with the hose. It worked well and I don't think it got hurt. Unlike rattlesnakes, it showed no aggression at all to me.
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Old 04-28-2020, 09:26 PM
 
Location: Green Valley, AZ
1,388 posts, read 1,860,828 times
Reputation: 2582
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hal Roach View Post
I saw one in four years in the Rio Rico hills.
Glad you got to see on in person Hal!!!
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Old 04-28-2020, 09:28 PM
 
Location: Green Valley, AZ
1,388 posts, read 1,860,828 times
Reputation: 2582
Quote:
Originally Posted by Windwalker2 View Post
This morning a guy was doing some work for me and the gates were open. A Gila Monster ambled in, obviously curious about the new place. It was only the second one I have seen in my yard in 17 yrs (SW of Tucson).


Unfortunately, it wandered into the smaller yard that I have fenced as a backyard for me and my herding dog. I couldn't let my dog out with the critter in there so I had to persuade it to leave. I did not relish the thought of having to stuff a dog with a Gila Monster attached to it into my car for the 1 hour trip to the ER in the midst of a pandemic. I wasn't sure how to get it out and ended up herding it out with the hose. It worked well and I don't think it got hurt. Unlike rattlesnakes, it showed no aggression at all to me.
Good job Windwalker2! I am glad you found a way to get it out of your yard with no harm to you or the monster!!!
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Old 04-29-2020, 02:46 AM
 
3,109 posts, read 2,970,654 times
Reputation: 2959
Quote:
Originally Posted by bkolodzi View Post
Glad you got to see on in person Hal!!!
From Australia.
Attached Thumbnails
Are you kidding me??? Second Gila Monster in 3 days and this one is much bigger 042220201-18419960-jsscgck-1514447791-650-3a4a415a81-1514553536.jpg  
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Old 04-29-2020, 11:09 AM
 
Location: SW US
2,841 posts, read 3,197,335 times
Reputation: 5368
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hal Roach View Post
From Australia.

Do these things bite? The problem with Gila Monsters is that if you mess with them, try to pick them up, they will grab onto you and not let go. And they inject venom although it probably won't kill you.

I saw mine again this morning right outside my front gate. It had moved a lot since yesterday and apparently decided the backyard adventure wasn't what it wanted. I watched it move slowly off into a patch of cactus. I talk to animals and when I talked to it, it paused and listened, probably wondering if I was going to blast it with water again. I did consider reinforcing the lesson, but decided that being in the front yard was OK. There are too many small rodents right now, pack rats, so maybe it will help control them.
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Old 04-29-2020, 11:26 AM
 
5,718 posts, read 7,257,461 times
Reputation: 10798
I don't think I'm very likely to encounter a Gila Monster in Maryland, but if I do, I'll certainly think of this:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEAbZTpV47E
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Old 04-30-2020, 08:13 AM
 
Location: Green Valley, AZ
1,388 posts, read 1,860,828 times
Reputation: 2582
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hal Roach View Post
From Australia.
Holy crap Hal! That thing looks huge! What is the size? Is your dog still in the back yard????
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Old 04-30-2020, 08:16 AM
 
Location: Green Valley, AZ
1,388 posts, read 1,860,828 times
Reputation: 2582
Quote:
Originally Posted by Windwalker2 View Post
Do these things bite? The problem with Gila Monsters is that if you mess with them, try to pick them up, they will grab onto you and not let go. And they inject venom although it probably won't kill you.

I saw mine again this morning right outside my front gate. It had moved a lot since yesterday and apparently decided the backyard adventure wasn't what it wanted. I watched it move slowly off into a patch of cactus. I talk to animals and when I talked to it, it paused and listened, probably wondering if I was going to blast it with water again. I did consider reinforcing the lesson, but decided that being in the front yard was OK. There are too many small rodents right now, pack rats, so maybe it will help control them.
Good call Windwalker2! Just let him go do what he does! Hey, you are not alone, I talk to animals too. So far, none have talked back ;-) I usually whisper as the full voice seems to scare them.
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Old 04-30-2020, 08:20 AM
 
Location: Green Valley, AZ
1,388 posts, read 1,860,828 times
Reputation: 2582
Quote:
Originally Posted by P47P47 View Post
I don't think I'm very likely to encounter a Gila Monster in Maryland, but if I do, I'll certainly think of this:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEAbZTpV47E
I liked it all up to the end! These days, these guys would be going to jail! I know, it is just a movie.
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Old 04-30-2020, 10:47 AM
 
5,718 posts, read 7,257,461 times
Reputation: 10798
Quote:
Originally Posted by bkolodzi View Post
I liked it all up to the end! These days, these guys would be going to jail! I know, it is just a movie.

Yeah, too bad that it got shot rather than just sent on it's way with a little prodding from a long stick.

But the rest of the scene is really great, even better than the "We don' need no stinking badges."
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