Unwanted Mechanical Help
Thread Starter
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
Unwanted Mechanical Help
For the second time in about a week while working on my C6, I looked-over to see this guy moseying over near my foot. 
This kind of help I don’t need (but it’s better than a rattlesnake). I chased the Gila monster out of the garage, around the side of the house and coaxed him into an empty garbage can. I then carried him into the adjacent Saguaro National Park and released him. The last I saw he was making a beeline back towards my house. Great! Next time I 'take him for a ride' (literally not figuratively). 
This kind of help I don’t need (but it’s better than a rattlesnake). I chased the Gila monster out of the garage, around the side of the house and coaxed him into an empty garbage can. I then carried him into the adjacent Saguaro National Park and released him. The last I saw he was making a beeline back towards my house. Great! Next time I 'take him for a ride' (literally not figuratively).
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Mmmmm...Better watch that guy; he might mistake your big toe for good eats. 
Aren't Gila Monsters about the equivalent of a coral snake? I've never seen one in the wild over here in the eastern desert...I'm not wanting to have the experience either. Scorpions are as much venomous wild life as I want to find...not too fond of finding them.
Aren't Gila Monsters about the equivalent of a coral snake? I've never seen one in the wild over here in the eastern desert...I'm not wanting to have the experience either. Scorpions are as much venomous wild life as I want to find...not too fond of finding them.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 13,459
Likes: 1
From: Westport, MA. www.tbyrnemotorsports.com - 1-877-4-TBYRNE
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
I was in Sodona last month. Not much nightlife but really made me think about packing up and moving out there. Beautiful scenery!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,566
Likes: 2
From: Goleta CA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Haha, that's pretty cool.
It's been a while, but if I remember correctly, gila monsters aren't venemous. But when they bite, they don't let go.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,474
Likes: 3
From: Bradenton, FL & Chandler AZ
St. Jude Donor '09
Gila monster venon is as powerful as rattlesnake venon but they lack the the means of effectively injecting it. They have grooved fangs through which venon flows. They bite tenaciously and the little fu*$#&@ are difficult to remove from an extremity once they clamp down. For the most part bites just cause local reaction although hypotension may occur. To dislodge the animal support his body on a table and put a lighter under his chin.
There you go... Gila monster 101.
There you go... Gila monster 101.
Last edited by Oli1313; Jun 11, 2007 at 09:46 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
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But like you said, they don't let go. They're also protected under the endangered species act.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 800
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Nasty nasty bite, it wont kill you but you will be on enough antibiotics to choke a horse for a month lol.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 800
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Nahh, I'm in vegas. We have them too up here just far and between. My best friend and his kid were riding dirt bikes in the desert and tried to catch one... yeah stupid lol. The kid got bit by the thing. You would have thought he got his hand caught in a grinder as much as that thing tore him up. Made him sick as a dog for about 2 days.
Thread Starter
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
This guy was fairly docile but I give them a lot of respect. This makes the 3rd time he's been caught hanging around the house. Next time I'm taking him a few miles away and releasing him.
At least it wasn't a rattlesnake. With 3 kids and dogs rattlesnakes aren't welcome. If possible, I call Rural Metro Fire Department and they send someone out to capture and relocate them. On certain occasions, rattlesnakes have been known to lose their protected status when they're by the house. We haven't had too many but like I tell my kids....watch out...it's not a matter of if but when you come across one.
At least it wasn't a rattlesnake. With 3 kids and dogs rattlesnakes aren't welcome. If possible, I call Rural Metro Fire Department and they send someone out to capture and relocate them. On certain occasions, rattlesnakes have been known to lose their protected status when they're by the house. We haven't had too many but like I tell my kids....watch out...it's not a matter of if but when you come across one.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,474
Likes: 3
From: Bradenton, FL & Chandler AZ
St. Jude Donor '09
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,762
Likes: 4
From: Chandler Arizona
About 15 years ago, there was a young engineer where I work that got bit by a Gila Monster. He had to almost kill the darn thing to get him to release his grip. The worst thing was this young engineer was a rare animal collector and had actually caught the Gila Monster and put him in his back pack. The darn thing clamped down on him through the back pack.
He went to the emergency room and while there, the tribal police showed up and arrested him for trying to steal a protected species. There were several articles in the paper, he even sold his side of the story to one of the rags (Enquire, I think). I think the poor guy left work just to get away from the ribbing. One guy posted one of the articles on the bulletin board at work. He had blown up a photo of a Gila Monster so it was like 4 times his size. I still laugh thinking about it.
He went to the emergency room and while there, the tribal police showed up and arrested him for trying to steal a protected species. There were several articles in the paper, he even sold his side of the story to one of the rags (Enquire, I think). I think the poor guy left work just to get away from the ribbing. One guy posted one of the articles on the bulletin board at work. He had blown up a photo of a Gila Monster so it was like 4 times his size. I still laugh thinking about it.
Last edited by glennhl; Jun 13, 2007 at 11:21 AM.
