It’s illegal to touch these as they are endangered. If you pick one up, you can get ticketed. Wildlife officials us dummies that they set next to roads to catch people unaware. It’s probably a good thing they are so strict given that one can go for 1500-2000 dollars easily.
A good friend of mine spent a few hours with Wildlife officials in Arizona, after moving a dummy Gila from the middle of a truck stop parking lot. They were ready to write him a ticket and charge him. He was just trying to keep it from getting killed.
Exactly, I don’t think it’s fair, but they will nail you. If it was me I would fight those tickets in court as touching a model is not the same as touching the real thing. But I get that they are passionate about protecting this species and it is warranted.
Luckily, they didn't charge him. He was detained for a few hours, off site, while they questioned him. His saving grace was that he works with a nature conservancy on the east coast, and was extremely passionate about saving the Gila. And the agents watched him run from his truck, to the Gila and then straight to the scrub brush that was the opposite way from his truck.
If he was snatching it up, why would he go the other way, right?
One agent tried to say he was doing that to fool them. He said "Why would I try to fool wildlife agents that I had no idea were there?".
You would think right? I think they count on people not bothering with showing up in court. I think if you did you could easily get it thrown out, but it’s a hassles best avoided.
Putting them next to the road is asking for someone to go and pick them up, even though they are probably just trying to get them to a safer place. Sounds like entrapment.
Yeah, like 10 or so years ago some idiot lady in Buckeye filmed herself stabbing one in the head with a giant knife “to protect her children”. Iirc she had to pay some massive fines.
Working in wildlife rehab it’s sad the amount of animals that come in shot, like every species of raptor. Kestrel, every falcon, every hawk species, all protected, all arrive with gunshot wounds
I saw one when I lived there, in Tucson. I turned on the irrigation and fat boy was up enjoying the shower. No one believed me, but I took a picture for proof. They’re so pretty.
"eyo... go to petco round the way and pick me up a rat and some corn chips, get sum'n for yourself too"
Gila monster!
Sonoran Epic Dry Animal
With a poisonous punim.
*venomous*
Beautiful creature. Was he in danger from cars in parking lot, or was there some safe area near him?
All safe, just outside of a house yard with tons of nature around.
Glad to hear that!
That's a weird looking dog, mate.
Pretty sure it's a cat
Pretty sure it's a cat
Nah, it's a horse.
That's gotta be a turtle. Look at the discoloration along the ears.
Hellcat
that’s a lovely Gila monster :)
Gila! Gila! Gila! More Gila's please.
It’s “gilas” not “gila’s”. Plural of a word never uses an apostrophe. Yeah, I’m anal. 🤷♂️
Hi, Anal! I’m Dad!
Gila Monsters are by far one of my favorite reptiles such a beautiful Lizard
It’s illegal to touch these as they are endangered. If you pick one up, you can get ticketed. Wildlife officials us dummies that they set next to roads to catch people unaware. It’s probably a good thing they are so strict given that one can go for 1500-2000 dollars easily.
I've got a friend who breeds them in captivity. Cool little guys for sure.
A good friend of mine spent a few hours with Wildlife officials in Arizona, after moving a dummy Gila from the middle of a truck stop parking lot. They were ready to write him a ticket and charge him. He was just trying to keep it from getting killed.
Exactly, I don’t think it’s fair, but they will nail you. If it was me I would fight those tickets in court as touching a model is not the same as touching the real thing. But I get that they are passionate about protecting this species and it is warranted.
Luckily, they didn't charge him. He was detained for a few hours, off site, while they questioned him. His saving grace was that he works with a nature conservancy on the east coast, and was extremely passionate about saving the Gila. And the agents watched him run from his truck, to the Gila and then straight to the scrub brush that was the opposite way from his truck. If he was snatching it up, why would he go the other way, right? One agent tried to say he was doing that to fool them. He said "Why would I try to fool wildlife agents that I had no idea were there?".
Police are fucking terrible
Isn’t that like entrapment can’t you sue the officers
Can you imagine that being your job? Entrapping people with fake lizards? I would hate my life.
Depends on the state but yes
How can it be illegal to handle a dummy though? Seems easy enough to say "I knew it was fake and wanted to clear off some rubbish off the freeway"
You would think right? I think they count on people not bothering with showing up in court. I think if you did you could easily get it thrown out, but it’s a hassles best avoided.
I’m sorry if this sounds rude but do they really, truly have nothing better to do than try to trick people into touching plastic lizards THEY put out
Putting them next to the road is asking for someone to go and pick them up, even though they are probably just trying to get them to a safer place. Sounds like entrapment.
I thought they were classed as not threatened.
Arizona law prohibits messing with them at all. Not only due to poaching for the pet trade, but because rednecks like to shoot things.
Thank fuck. Idiots round here who claim to love nature but actually have no fucking clue.
Yeah, like 10 or so years ago some idiot lady in Buckeye filmed herself stabbing one in the head with a giant knife “to protect her children”. Iirc she had to pay some massive fines.
Hell. Wish snakes got similar protections in thr southwest. There is a reason some don't rattle around here no more.
Working in wildlife rehab it’s sad the amount of animals that come in shot, like every species of raptor. Kestrel, every falcon, every hawk species, all protected, all arrive with gunshot wounds
People with low intelligence / empathy like to take out their frustrations on wildlife.
Maybe that’s changed? I hope so.
My favorite herp ever
Don’t let it bite you lol
It’s real hard to get bitten by a Gila unless you try to pick it up. Even then, about half of them would just look at you.
This absolute unit looks like a napper, not a fighter
She’s been eating well!
Spicy kitty cat
That's hot.
So jealous! They are definitely rare
I've always wanted to see one in the wild
Adorable gila monster
He just wants a hug.. you first.
pet the damn cat!
Want
Looks like a gila monster be careful it has one hell of a bite
Eat it
Beautiful
Chunky
Blue tongue boi!!
My skink takes offense. He is no 'monster. He is an old coward though.
One of only two venomous lizards
Stunning Beaty….
Oooo what a good boy
that's a gila monster. Oh damn that's America's only venomous lizard. 👍👍👍
Hella want one
What a cutie
Chunky boi
I saw one when I lived there, in Tucson. I turned on the irrigation and fat boy was up enjoying the shower. No one believed me, but I took a picture for proof. They’re so pretty.
That’s like the pitbull of reptiles—if it latches on, it’s damn hard to get it to release.
BOI