Pet Gila monster bites Colorado man, who dies in what specialists name a ‘uncommon occasion’

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LAKEWOOD, Colo. — The Jefferson County coroner has confirmed {that a} 34-year-old Colorado man died this month, days after being bitten by one among his two pet Gila monsters.

“I believe this case highlights that any venomous animals must be revered,” stated Dr. Nick Brandehoff, a medical toxicologist and skilled in reptile bites with the Asclepius Snakebite Basis, who was consulted on the Lakewood Gila monster case.

Gila monsters are venomous reptiles discovered within the southwestern United States. Whereas their bites may be painful, they’re usually not deadly to people. Specialists say that the final report of a human dying from a Gila monster chunk was in 1930.

“The overwhelming majority of bites trigger native swelling and bleeding,” stated Brandehoff, who stated the bites could cause intense localized ache and may trigger victims to move out. However deaths are exceedingly uncommon.

“The final case I’ve been capable of finding,” stated Brandehoff, “was 1930, and that was not even a medical journal case.”

In line with a number of specialists concerned within the Lakewood case, the person — who has not been recognized — owned two pet Gila monsters and was bitten by one among them on Feb. 12. It was a juvenile and about 12 inches lengthy. The proprietor was hospitalized and died the Friday main into the Presidents Day vacation weekend — 4 days after the animal bit him.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Workplace confirmed the dying, saying an post-mortem was carried out on the chunk sufferer however the exact reason behind dying will not be recognized till further toxicology testing is accomplished.

Eric Harper, a felony investigator with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, stated his group was requested to take away the Gila monsters from the house after the chunk. He informed CBS Information Colorado it’s unlawful to personal Gila monsters in Colorado and not using a license. Harper stated the sufferer additionally owned tarantulas, which aren’t unlawful to personal.

Harper stated the Lakewood incident could also be an anomaly, however it exhibits “venomous reptiles are hazardous and may solely be dealt with or possessed by folks with the correct coaching.”

Harper and Brandehoff each stated the reptile that bit its proprietor will probably be transported this week to a lab in Greeley on the College of Northern Colorado, the place its venom will probably be extracted and studied to convey a better understanding as to why its chunk led to its proprietor’s dying.

Brandehoff stated specialists will “have a look at the venom elements and see if there’s some cause this would possibly happen.” He stated whereas it is early within the investigation, he suspects the sufferer could have suffered some sort of allergic response to the Gila monster’s venom.

The Lakewood Police Division says the 2 Gila monsters have been faraway from the sufferer’s dwelling and brought to a wildlife rehab middle in one other state.

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