advertisement
19 December 2022
When first learning about the Gila monster, one’s first reaction is likely that of fear and concern. First of all, the name Gila monster sounds quite intimidating. Secondly, it is alarming to learn that the Gila monster is the only venomous lizard native to the United States. During the Old West, early settlers believed many myths about the Gila monster, including that it had foul breath and was lethal to humans.
advertisement
While it’s true a Gila Monster’s bite can be fearsome — when a human is bit, the Gila monster can sometimes clamp down and won’t let go unless fully submerged in water, its jaws are prayed open with a knife or stick, or it is physically yanked free. The venom of a Gila monster is not normally fatal to healthy adults, contrary to what early settlers believed. The few fatalities reported before 1930 occurred in adults intoxicated by alcohol or mishandled the bite treatment.
YouTuber Coyote Peterson explained what it felt like to get bit by a Gila monster on his YouTube channel. He described it “like hot lava coursing through your veins” and “the worst pain [he] had ever experienced.” However, Gila monsters are heavy and typically slow-moving reptiles, so unless intentionally provoked, very rarely pose a real threat to humans. In this case, the YouTuber was attempting to capture close footage of the reptile with a GoPro, and, feeling threatened, the Gila monster struck his thumb.
There’s more to the Gila Monster than their venom; these reptiles have colorful, beadlike skin that helps camouflage into their orange and red desert environments. Using its claws, it digs burrows and digs out eggs from other animals, and it uses its tongue to pick up scents in the air to hunt and receive information about its surroundings. Their tails can also store fat which Gila monsters rely heavily on this during times of food shortage, hibernation, and pregnancy.
In the wild, Gila monsters eat lizards, frogs, insects, small mammals, carrion, birds, and birds’ eggs. Taste and smell are the primary senses they use to hunt, and when they catch their prey, their bite wounds are filled with venom, and the venom attacks their prey’s nervous system. In general, Gila Monsters hide from the heat of the day in abandoned burrows, under rocks or bushes, or in burrows they dig. If you come across one, keep your distance and don’t feel threatened. Contrary to myths, they can’t spit venom at you like a spitting cobra, and they would much rather hide from you than attack you.
advertisement
advertisement
If it seems like pickleball courts are suddenly everywhere in Arizona, you’re not imagining things. Parks are adding courts. Resorts are advertising pickleball vacations. Retirement communities have thriving leagues. Indoor pickleball clubs are popping up across the Valley, and major professional and amateur tournaments are bringing thousands of players to the state. Pickleball has become one of America’s biggest recreational sports, and Arizona has emerged as one of the country’s major pickleball destinations. But Arizona’s connection to the sport actually goes back decades. advertisement What Is Pickleball? Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table
Arizona is an amazing and remarkably diverse state. It is best known worldwide for the Grand Canyon, the spectacular mile-deep gorge carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. But those of us who call Arizona home know there is much more to the Grand Canyon State than its most famous landmark. Arizona is a place where you can find one of America’s largest cities, one of its snowiest communities, enormous pine forests, incredibly remote villages, vast tribal lands, and some of the sunniest weather anywhere on Earth. Here are seven fascinating facts that show just how surprising Arizona
Deep in the rugged mountains of southern Arizona, a motion-activated camera captured something extraordinary: a large spotted cat silently moving through the wilderness. It was not a mountain lion or a bobcat. It was a jaguar. The animal would eventually become known as El Jefe, Spanish for “The Boss.” For several years, he was the only known wild jaguar living in the United States, making him both a local celebrity and a powerful symbol of a species that once roamed across a much larger portion of the American Southwest. El Jefe’s story is also surprisingly hopeful. After disappearing from Arizona
Living in Arizona comes with plenty of perks, including beautiful scenery, relatively mild winters, and countless opportunities for road trips. But Arizona can also be tough on your car. Extreme summer temperatures, blazing-hot pavement, intense sunlight, dust, monsoon storms, and long stretches of remote highway can all take their toll on a vehicle. Whether you are buying a new car or trying to keep your current one running smoothly, there are a few things every Arizona driver should consider. advertisement Air Conditioning Is Not Optional In many parts of the country, a weak air conditioner is uncomfortable. In Arizona, it
