As animal lovers, many of us have pets that we cherish and care for, but some people take it a step further and collect exotic and venomous reptiles as pets. Such was the case for a 34-year-old man in Colorado, who tragically lost his life after being bitten by one of his own pets, a Gila monster.
The man, Christopher Ward, had a hobby of collecting venomous reptiles and owned a Gila monster named Winston. According to reports, on the night of February 12th, Ward’s girlfriend, Madeline Sutton, found him on the ground, severely ill after being bitten by the Gila monster. She immediately called 911, but unfortunately, Ward passed away four days later.
It’s a devastating reminder of the potential danger of owning exotic and venomous animals as pets. Ward’s case also brings up the question of whether or not it’s appropriate for individuals to own such animals in residential areas.
According to the Lakewood Police Department, owning Gila monsters is illegal in their city, and the reptiles have currently been taken to a wildlife rehabilitation facility in South Dakota.
Gila monsters, named after the Gila River Basin in the Southwestern United States, are known to be one of the two most venomous lizards in the world. Their bite, although rarely fatal, can be extremely painful and cause severe vomiting. They have been known to chew on their prey, further driving the venom deeper into the wound.
According to the San Diego Wildlife Zoo Alliance, Gila monster bites “rarely” cause death in humans, making this incident a rare and unfortunate occurrence. However, it serves as a reminder for us to be cautious and responsible when it comes to owning potentially dangerous pets.
“The Gila monster is venomous; its venom is made by a row of glands in the lizard’s lower jaw. When the lizard bites, small grooves in the teeth help the venom flow into its prey,” the zoo said on its website. “The bite of a Gila monster is very strong, and the lizard may not loosen its grip for several seconds. It may even chew so that the venom goes deeper into the wound.
“A Gila monster bite is painful to humans, but it rarely causes death,” the zoo added.
Colorado man dies after being bitten by pet Gila monster.
Christopher Ward, 34, was taken to a hospital shortly after being bitten by one of his two pet Gila monsters on Feb. 12. He was soon placed on life support and died.#Colorado #Gilamonster pic.twitter.com/8Qg3nyvYDc
— Shahbaz Latif (@messiah58507) February 21, 2024
In addition to the Gila monster, authorities also found 26 species of spiders in Ward’s home, including a pet tarantula. While spiders are not illegal to own, it raises the question of whether it is ethical to keep wild animals as pets in a residential setting.
