Where Will You See A Gila Monster In Southern Utah?

May in St. George, Utah is a prime time to get a glimpse of the most (and only) venomous lizard in Utah.  

Gila Monsters are fascinating creatures and one of only two venomous lizards in the world. Utah happens to be home to them but in the warmer regions. These lizards are usually in burrows in the ground but prefer sandy terrain and warm rocks.  

However, due to housing development in areas where Gila monsters reside, it isn’t uncommon to see them stumble into residential areas.  

Read More Here: Hiking and Biking Safety With Utah Snakes

They usually can be seen in some areas of Snow Canyon State Park, the Red Cliffs Reserve, and other canyon areas in Southern Utah.  

Utah Gila Monster's Role In Treating Type 2 Diabetes

Though Gila monsters are venomous, they actually have served an incredible purpose to help people with type 2 diabetes. In the 1980s, researchers found a peptide in Gila monster venom called exendin-4 which has helped treat those with type 2 diabetes across America. Now, exendin-4 can be made in a lab but, Gila monster venom has helped millions of Americans since the peptide discovery.  

So, though Gila monsters should definitely NOT be messed with and haven’t caused a human death since the 1930s, respecting them is necessary.  

What To Do If You See A Gila Monster

Utah is one of the few places you can find Gila monsters and they are pretty hard to spot. If you are lucky enough to see one, maintain a safe distance and grab a few pictures. It is a rare occurrence to see one in the wild.  

Gila monsters are not aggressive by nature but if they feel cornered, they will bite. They latch on and have super strong jaws. Usually, bits come from being harassed and most incidents have to do with dogs, who can be treated without lasting damage.  

If you happen to find one in your yard, lock up your pets and keep your kids away. They will move on within a few hours usually. However, if you feel uncomfortable, call the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources at 435-879-8694.