Colorado Man Dies from Gila Monster Bite, First Such Death in Nearly a Century

The incident, involving illegal ownership of the venomous pet, prompts a reevaluation of exotic pet laws and safety.

Christopher Ward, a 34-year-old Colorado man, died after being bitten by his pet Gila monster, marking the first death from such a bite in the U.S. since 1930.
Ward owned two Gila monsters illegally in Colorado, where a permit is required to keep them, and they are typically only issued to zoological parks.
The incident occurred on February 12, and Ward was declared brain dead at the hospital after suffering severe symptoms including vomiting and loss of consciousness.
Experts note that while Gila monster bites are known to be excruciatingly painful, they rarely result in death, making this case exceptionally rare.
Following the incident, Ward's Gila monsters were removed from his home and are planned to be relocated to a South Dakotan animal park.