A Colorado man died after being bitten by his pet Gila monster, a venomous lizard.
The 34-year-old was taken to the hospital shortly after the bite and was placed on life support, but he died a few days later.
The Gila monster’s venom is known to cause intense pain and can lead to loss of consciousness, but deaths from their bites are rare.
The man’s girlfriend handed over the lizards to animal control, as it was revealed that Gila monsters are illegal to own in Lakewood.
The lizards were sent to a reptile sanctuary in South Dakota. Gila monsters are venomous reptiles native to the southwestern U.S. and neighboring areas of Mexico.
While they are legal to own in some states, they require a permit in others, and are prohibited in some states.
The man’s death has raised concerns about the wisdom of keeping Gila monsters as pets due to their venomous nature.
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