An American man died this month after being bitten by a Gila monster that he illegally kept as a pet. Lizard species are venomous, but deaths from a bite are very rare in humans.
The 34-year-old Colorado resident had two pet Gila monsters: Winston and Potato. In Colorado, a permit is required to keep Gila monsters as pets, but the man didn't have one. He probably bought the lizards at a wildlife fair.
It was Winston who bit the man's hand. According to his girlfriend, the man soon began vomiting and had difficulty breathing. He was taken to hospital where he died four days later.
According to the biologist, the pain of the sting “feels like putting your hand in a door.” The venom then causes more pain than a bee, wasp or scorpion sting.
However, it is not common for people to die from a Gila monster bite. “It is a very unusual result of a Gila monster bite,” the biology professor said. CBS News.
The 34-year-old is the second American to die in a century after being bitten by a Gila monster. Only six deaths are known worldwide. Winston and Potato were turned over to a private reptile shelter.
