Go ahead take a step closer

bgarland

This guy was sneaking around in my front yard today. He wasn't very happy when I stuck my camera into the bushes where he thought he was hiding.:D

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Ric Grupe

Cool!

What is it? How big is it?

bgarland

Ric Grupe wrote: »

Cool!

What is it? How big is it?

Good point I forget folks outside Arizona would not have seen these. They are called a Gila Monster. They are about 12-16 inches long. This was a small one about 12". They have a venomous bite and clamp on like a pit bull so you don't want to mess with them.

There are lots of them around Southern Arizona but they like to keep to themselves so you don't see them very often.

Thanks for looking.

kdog

Oh man, splendid captures! I've yet to see one in the wild. Great job getting down low and in his face. Just don't get bit!

Ric Grupe

bgarland wrote: »

They are called a Gila Monster. This was a small one about 12".

A twelve inch "monster" !

Thanks for the info.

bgarland

kdog wrote: »

Oh man, splendid captures! I've yet to see one in the wild. Great job getting down low and in his face. Just don't get bit!

Thanks. We seem to have few locals living around my house. I usually see them in the front yard about once a year sometime during the summer months. I was using my 70-200mm so I was able to get these from a safe distance.

bgarland

Ric Grupe wrote: »

A twelve inch "monster" !

Thanks for the info.

It does sound funny but if that little guy latches onto you you will understand why it got it's name.:wow

Lindiwe

I particularly like the second picture. Very nice set!

kdog

bgarland wrote: »

It does sound funny but if that little guy latches onto you you will understand why it got it's name.:wow

I have to tell this story. My 7 y/o comes home from school and tells me they learned about gila monsters. If you can bit by one, walk calmly home, fill the sink with water, and put your arm in it so the gila monster is submerged. The gila monster will let go and swim away. I'm thinking yeah, right. Here's this little skinny-arm kid with a gila monster hanging off of it, and you're asking her to calmly walk home?

But seriously, these are bad-ass dudes. They latch on and keep gnawing into your flesh while secreting poisons to help them digest you.

bgarland

kdog wrote: »

I have to tell this story. My 7 y/o comes home from school and tells me they learned about gila monsters. If you can bit by one, walk calmly home, fill the sink with water, and put your arm in it so the gila monster is submerged. The gila monster will let go and swim away. I'm thinking yeah, right. Here's this little skinny-arm kid with a gila monster hanging off of it, and you're asking her to calmly walk home?

But seriously, these are bad-ass dudes. They latch on and keep gnawing into your flesh while secreting poisons to help them digest you.

Yep, that's a humorous hallucination. More like a kid sprinting down the street, eyes bugging out and screaming at the top of her lungs for someone to get this thing off me!

NorthernFocus

I'm not surprised that they are poinsonous. It matches their looks. That is one ugly critter

chuckinsocal

Kinda reminds me of my ex wife ...

IraRunyan

Great captures. I won't see on of those here in Florida, unless I go to a zoo.........

ilbcnu

kdog wrote: »

I have to tell this story. My 7 y/o comes home from school and tells me they learned about gila monsters. If you can bit by one, walk calmly home, fill the sink with water, and put your arm in it so the gila monster is submerged. The gila monster will let go and swim away. I'm thinking yeah, right. Here's this little skinny-arm kid with a gila monster hanging off of it, and you're asking her to calmly walk home?

But seriously, these are bad-ass dudes. They latch on and keep gnawing into your flesh while secreting poisons to help them digest you.

As a tried and true Arizonian -Oh yes, I can see that happening Not only is the kid going to be freaking out so would the parent...if you even remembered the sink thing you would then have a gila monster on kitchen/bathroom counter - mad and wet- crying screaming child and adult flipping out! -

Great captures!! I have only seen a couple in the wild and they were hiding hard from us

jachang

Okay, so how DO you get him to let go???

Very nice shot of a scary looking critter.

Jean

bgarland

Thanks for looking and all the fun comments.

As far as getting him off, my plan is to not ever have to find out.

bgarland

jachang wrote: »

Okay, so how DO you get him to let go???

Very nice shot of a scary looking critter.

Jean

OK your question motivated me to go do some research.

I did find references to submerge in water as one option. One article gave a quicker recommendation if bitten.

"Pry the animal off as soon as possible" to stop the delivery of venom, Poulin says. "Use a sturdy stick or something else to pry open the jaws and remove the animal. Then get to a hospital as soon as possible."

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/article_2bd8f05c-ef96-576d-8f33-4ef46c6f7965.html

I loved this quote from a doctor in 1899.

http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_gila.php

"Dr. Ward’s Prescription

Dr. Ward, of Phoenix, an old practitioner in the valley, says: “I have never been called to attend a case of Gila monster bite, and I don’t want to be. I think a man who is fool enough to get bitten by a Gila monster ought to die. The creature is so sluggish and slow of movement that the victim of its bite is compelled to help largely in order to get bitten.”
—Arizona Graphic
September 23, 1899"