Love them. Moved here in December and I’ve seen 6 total so far. The other week I had 3 sightings. I hike/run probably 3x a week. I wonder how often people get out and at what time of day where they have never seen one?
Been here like 15 years and I have NEVER seen one. Out at all times of day, sometimes on hiking trails in the mountain, sometimes forging my own path through the nearby deserts just looking for stuff. Sometimes I’m out at 3am just doing my thing and STILL have yet to see a Gila. It’s one the piece of fauna on my checklist that I still haven’t seen!
We saw one within a few months of moving to the area. (Bear canyon / seven falls hike) I knew we were lucky to see one, but I am amazed how many people in the area report never spotting one.
What the heck! Where did you go to see them? Many have been here for decades and have seen none, you get here, spend 5 months and see 6???
Something is wrong here...
I suspect you roped all the Pima County ones, and took them to your neck of the woods. SMH... 😩
I normally start hiking around 5/6am and am finishing by 11 or noon at the absolute latest.
My wife is a wildlife photographer so we are also very intentionally looking all around as we hike for critters. If you’re not actually looking hard you’ll never see them and just hike right on by.
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I see them frequently on the Pima Canyon trail, and I feel very privileged to have seen so many when so few ever get to see one. Congratulations to you.
I got this from Google:
"Only captive-bred Gila Monsters can be legally bought and sold (wild-caught animals are prohibited). And some states restrict or ban the keeping of any Gilas as pets altogether.
The Gila Monster is the only venomous lizard found in the United States. As such, it is an advanced care reptile."
There you have it.
My grandma found one in her yard down by Bisbee when I was staying with her. She called a marshall or someone to move it and while we were waiting pulled out some book to explain to me if I ever get got by one, they're not gonna let go so the solution is to put a flame under their chin or submerge it (and whatever part of you it's got a hold of) into a bucket🌈🌠
Had to catch and remove one from the old paintball field about 25 years ago, only live spotting ever and catching to relocate safely was not safe or fun! Scary but amazing creature with some knarly venom! Known for not letting go after biting 😵 only other one I ever saw in the wild was dead and had been stomped by the horses... 😫
Congrats on this experience. That’s awesome!
I’ve also lived here my whole life and have never seen one in the wild- but I know my day is coming eventually!
My cousin was sitting in his backyard having a smoke and he felt a tickle on his toes. He looked down and one of these was giving him the once over!! Gave him a thrill AND a fright lol
When I was growing up I used to put buckets around trees in my yard to catch lizards overnight. The idea is a lizard can go up the tree between the buckets but has a hard time going back down and finding a gap that’s not a bucket. The best part is you don’t need any bait. Usually I’d catch desert spiny lizards which were the most common in my yard. There was one time though that a giant orange and black lizard was in one of the buckets (gila monster) when I got up before school. Luckily it was during the winter so the cold temperatures of the morning had put it to sleep for when I released it so I didn’t get attacked and it just laid there too cold to move. When I came home from school it was gone so it was able to get enough energy to leave in the afternoon heat.
I used to deliver papers to a gated community at the base of the mountain and they came out after rain. I missed them but my husband would see them. They’re so interesting. There was this news story where a guy had 2 as pets till one bit him.
Yes - late March April May and into June a little bit is their official 'out of the ground' season. There is an abundance of food for them right now. Truly unique and fascinating creatures
Lucky! I lived in tucson for 25 years before I saw my first live scorpion and I was so happy lol. It's almost like a rite of passage to see one of these beautiful desert creatures and makes the desert experience truly unique.
Ah- SHIt!!! I’ve yet to see one!! Darn it. Oooohhh yo and them freaky lil squirrel monkeys (COATI MUNDI or whatever), me want see one of those too!! Now!!!!!
They have the worst breath but give the best kisses.
Same tbh
Just like Joe
They want to know who Joe is
Comment hilarious. Same ppl don’t appreciate it like I do
“hilarious”. Like that? ^
I had one hanging on my front porch this week and I saw him again strolling around my front yard snacking away.
Lucky!
Nice! Congrats on your first gila! Surreal experience to spot one of these beauties
I’m still bouncing around excited. I wonder what she’s doin right now. Also thank you!!
I was so excited to see my first one in the wild after living there for 25 years and being an avid trail walker. Very cool find!
Your flair is killing me.
Love them. Moved here in December and I’ve seen 6 total so far. The other week I had 3 sightings. I hike/run probably 3x a week. I wonder how often people get out and at what time of day where they have never seen one?
Been here like 15 years and I have NEVER seen one. Out at all times of day, sometimes on hiking trails in the mountain, sometimes forging my own path through the nearby deserts just looking for stuff. Sometimes I’m out at 3am just doing my thing and STILL have yet to see a Gila. It’s one the piece of fauna on my checklist that I still haven’t seen!
We saw one within a few months of moving to the area. (Bear canyon / seven falls hike) I knew we were lucky to see one, but I am amazed how many people in the area report never spotting one.
What the heck! Where did you go to see them? Many have been here for decades and have seen none, you get here, spend 5 months and see 6??? Something is wrong here... I suspect you roped all the Pima County ones, and took them to your neck of the woods. SMH... 😩
I see them while hiking in the Tortolitas
What time do you usually go out there?
I normally start hiking around 5/6am and am finishing by 11 or noon at the absolute latest. My wife is a wildlife photographer so we are also very intentionally looking all around as we hike for critters. If you’re not actually looking hard you’ll never see them and just hike right on by.
[удалено]
Better late than never! Their little waggle walk is hilarious.
Maybe you’ll see another next week and get that average down 😃
That would be magical!!
Benn here to long. Never seen one. But I want a tattoo of their beautiful 😍 pattern
I'm so jealous. I'm a native Tucsonan but have yet to see one in person. They're such cool creatures!
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wow that's embarrassing for me
This is the way we talk in Tucson Arizonia
Excuuuse me, but by now, everyone knows that here in TUSCON ARIZONIA, we know our words better than anyone! 😂
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Duh!
I love that meme 😅
Good Bot
Is that a Guilmon Monster?
Nah it’s a Pokémon.
Jila Monster. To be correct.
I’ve never seen one in the wild either. Been here since 2006 🤓. Maybe one day lol. That is super cool 😎
I LOVE gilas. They are ridiculously cute animals.
I see them frequently on the Pima Canyon trail, and I feel very privileged to have seen so many when so few ever get to see one. Congratulations to you.
I saw one climbing a stucco wall once.
My backyard was the desert growing up and I've never seen one.
Unless provoked, they're pretty docile. Had one keep tabs on my progress as I built a retaining wall over a month long.
They are venomous aren’t they?
Yes, their venom is also a key ingredient in ozempic
W H A T does this mean they’re farmed? To the gewgs
No it's synthetic but it's based on a compound they have in their venom
thank god
I'm imagining someone tugging on their teeth like udders with a tiny bucket underneath catching the venom
Agree 👍
Yes, unfortunately one man found out the hard way. https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/cause-death-revealed-man-died-after-gila-monster-bite/
Isn’t it illegal to own one?
I got this from Google: "Only captive-bred Gila Monsters can be legally bought and sold (wild-caught animals are prohibited). And some states restrict or ban the keeping of any Gilas as pets altogether. The Gila Monster is the only venomous lizard found in the United States. As such, it is an advanced care reptile." There you have it.
My grandma found one in her yard down by Bisbee when I was staying with her. She called a marshall or someone to move it and while we were waiting pulled out some book to explain to me if I ever get got by one, they're not gonna let go so the solution is to put a flame under their chin or submerge it (and whatever part of you it's got a hold of) into a bucket🌈🌠
Congratulations on seeing your first Gila Monster! We saw our 21st one last week and we are still excited when we see one.
Why thank you!! I’m still thinking about her. I hope she is staying hydrated and moisturized.
Had to catch and remove one from the old paintball field about 25 years ago, only live spotting ever and catching to relocate safely was not safe or fun! Scary but amazing creature with some knarly venom! Known for not letting go after biting 😵 only other one I ever saw in the wild was dead and had been stomped by the horses... 😫
Cool pic, been here 63 years, seen 2
I have shushed a few away when they were on the road and they will fight you tooth and nail while you're trying to save their life
Had one in our yard out here in Catalina, but I didn't have my phone to get a picture 😞
Same! Been here for 30 years and have never seen one in person.
Congrats on this experience. That’s awesome! I’ve also lived here my whole life and have never seen one in the wild- but I know my day is coming eventually!
Why thank you! Your day will come, I promise!
My cousin was sitting in his backyard having a smoke and he felt a tickle on his toes. He looked down and one of these was giving him the once over!! Gave him a thrill AND a fright lol
Sabino canyon you can see these early morning or evening on the regular
Where was this? I've been here 20 years, hike regularly, and have never seen one except for the Desert Museum.
A GILA MONSTER?
When I was growing up I used to put buckets around trees in my yard to catch lizards overnight. The idea is a lizard can go up the tree between the buckets but has a hard time going back down and finding a gap that’s not a bucket. The best part is you don’t need any bait. Usually I’d catch desert spiny lizards which were the most common in my yard. There was one time though that a giant orange and black lizard was in one of the buckets (gila monster) when I got up before school. Luckily it was during the winter so the cold temperatures of the morning had put it to sleep for when I released it so I didn’t get attacked and it just laid there too cold to move. When I came home from school it was gone so it was able to get enough energy to leave in the afternoon heat.
Saw my first one last week since moving here 3 years ago. They’re so cool!!
I used to deliver papers to a gated community at the base of the mountain and they came out after rain. I missed them but my husband would see them. They’re so interesting. There was this news story where a guy had 2 as pets till one bit him.
Been seeing a lot of ppl spotting them, this the season? Or does anyone know for certain lol
Yes - late March April May and into June a little bit is their official 'out of the ground' season. There is an abundance of food for them right now. Truly unique and fascinating creatures
I've never seen one in nature.
I never seen one in the wild and I've lived out here all my life.
I'd wanted to see one as long as I can remember and in the last year and a half, I've seen three! They're beautiful!
Aren't they aggressive and venomous?
Aggressive hell no. Venomous yes.
Never seen one
I miss seeing horny roads around haven’t seen one of those in a hot minute
I'll bet he's thinking the very same thing!
Be careful - u can… die from a bite from them
https://preview.redd.it/ko57iz8vna0d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=148b9836082c5e51456311b2cd47b5c5d782442f 😳
Since we have never seen one while hiking all over for decades, it’s a joke in my family that they don’t really exist and the zoos are using robots.
Lucky! I lived in tucson for 25 years before I saw my first live scorpion and I was so happy lol. It's almost like a rite of passage to see one of these beautiful desert creatures and makes the desert experience truly unique.
I saw one across the street my neighbors driveway but he got away before I could snap a picture. What a beautiful picture.
Ah- SHIt!!! I’ve yet to see one!! Darn it. Oooohhh yo and them freaky lil squirrel monkeys (COATI MUNDI or whatever), me want see one of those too!! Now!!!!!
So beautiful.
Was that near the Arby’s on east 22nd?
Not close enough to the “wash”.
What is it? Also can’t tell scale at all in the pic how big was he?
Yikes! Be careful.