Gila monster bit Colorado man who died days later

LAKEWOOD, Colo. — A 34-year-old Lakewood man died over the weekend after he was bitten by one of his two pet Gila monsters, according to the Lakewood Police Department.

Around 11:45 p.m. on Feb. 12, someone called 911 to report an animal bite. It was later determined that the victim was bitten by a pet Gila monster. The victim was taken to the hospital and died over the weekend, according to Lakewood Police. The Jefferson County Coroner’s office said the man’s cause of death is pending. 

Lakewood Animal Control Officers responded to the home the day after the man was bitten and with the assistance of the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife (CPW) removed the Gila monsters from the home. CPW said they were taken to an out-of-state Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility.  

Gila monsters are illegal to own in Colorado without a permit. It’s unclear, in this case, if the man had the proper permits. According to Lakewood Police, family members asked for assistance in removing them from the home because they did not know how to care for them.

According to the San Diego Zoo, Gila monsters are typically solitary and live in desert or semi-dessert areas. They are venomous and their bites are painful to humans but rarely cause death, the zoo’s website says.

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