A Colorado man who died after getting bitten by a Gila monster was hardly alone in having the gnarly looking lizard for a pet. They’re legal to own in most states, easily found through breeders and at reptile shows, and widely regarded for their striking color patterns and typically easygoing personality. But while 34-year-old Christopher […]
But while 34-year-old Lakewood resident Christopher Ward’s death Friday may have been the first from a Gila monster in the U.S. in almost a century, the creature’s bite is well-known to be excruciating and venomous. For that reason, some question the wisdom of keeping the species as pets.
Christopher Ward's death from a Gila monster bite is thought to be the first in the U.S. in about a century. Laws on keeping Gila monsters as pets vary from state to state.