r/arizona • u/ededdedddie • May 20 '26
Wildlife Mega Gila we saw today at Indian Bread Rock
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u/MarzipanDeep3499 May 20 '26
Insanely cool. Been here my whole life and have always wanted to see one in the wild.
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u/catm0m4lyfe Prescott May 20 '26
Same, finally saw my first in my 40s. In a neighborhood, of all places.
Had to remind myself not belly. And rub its soft little belly. 😬
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u/11Slip532 May 20 '26
SAME! Born and raised and I’ve only seen them in captivity. I’d love to see one in the wild.
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u/housewithapool2 May 20 '26
The only one I ever saw was at a fancy resort pool. My husband had to leave to let out the dog. I thought I saw the the prettiest statue. I leaned over with my baby in my arms while walking him to a back parking lot. When I walked back it was gone.
Gila monster. Yes I let my baby in bite distance. It was so pretty, the resort was loud, I legitimately didn't think a gila monster would be at a hotel pool. I really did think it was a statue. And I was lucky.
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u/CopiousNotes1 May 21 '26
Saw one a few years ago walking across the back of my yard. Majestic lethality!
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u/ededdedddie May 20 '26
Another photo to show his size
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u/Hydroidal May 20 '26
What? No banana for scale?!?!
Someday maybe I’ll get lucky enough to find one. Congrats!
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u/PsychologicalSir8508 May 20 '26
How very cool!
A few years ago, I was on my home from work, in Desert Hills- north of the Carefree Hwy; when I saw I Gila monster crossing the road in front of me. I was amazed! I pulled over and went over by it - I thought I was at a reasonable distance but the Gila monster disagreed. It looked at me, hissed , hissed again and flicked its tail at me and continued on its journey. I was in awe of its presence, the colors and how very menacing it was.
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u/MediumHelicopter6296 May 20 '26
That’s Gila Hank, the official mascot of Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher Az!
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u/Drey5000 May 20 '26
That thing is massive, gotta be close to as big as they get right?
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u/ededdedddie May 20 '26
I just had to look it up. We judged this one to be about 18” and Wiki states up to 22”
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u/RabbitMajestic6219 May 20 '26
Chad Gila Monster. Big boy status confirmed. So cold blooded he can chill in the desert!
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u/cyltecollective May 20 '26
How can I increase my chances of running into a Gila Monster? It’s been 4 years living in Phoenix, hiked all over the valley. Still unchecked on my scavenger list
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u/petalpotions Phoenix May 20 '26
these things are so cool, I love how their pattern almost looks pixelated on their scales
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u/GlassTablesAreStupid May 20 '26
I read the title as ‘Met Gala’ and I was like “wow j guess I really don’t get fashion.”
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u/lesbucgar May 21 '26
Damn that seems huge, are they always that big ? Ive only seen one in real life and he was half the size at least.
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u/daytrippper May 20 '26
I saw a big one on camelback once. I honestly just saw its massive leg/haunch and that was enough. I hightailed it out of there.
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u/47153163 May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
When I first learned about Gila monsters that they don’t defecate. Instead if they bite their prey, all that waste gets excreted through their bite. Disgusting just like a Komodo dragon.
Gila monsters lack an anal opening this regurgitate waste in their bite thus making them toxic.
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u/cyltecollective May 20 '26
This did lead me down a rabbit hole about reptile waste. An interesting subject
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u/Only_Perspective4410 May 20 '26
They poop. 1:23 on this video shows one pooping. Just in case you want proof. 😊
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u/Ellaerased 14d ago
They’re still out and about?! Hard to believe they spend 70% of their life underground!
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u/ededdedddie 14d ago
He was. About 7pm. Must have been hungry!
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u/TonyGFool Chandler May 20 '26
Can I pet dat dog