Frequency of seeing Gila Monsters

Suz · Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 3186

I'm not as old as Stan........ Laughing

but I have seen 3 in the time that I have lived here. Been in Arizona since I was 4 so that's gotta be at least 12 years. A rare treat indeed...nothing that can be planned! (YES, Superstitions.)

Hikngrl · Posted: 3/8/2007, 5:43 am Post subject:

I have seen one since I have lived here. He was the sweetest experience as he just stopped.... looked at us... allowed himself to be photographed then slowly meandered back under the bush he came out of...It was awesome. He was in the Supes.
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GTG · Posted: 3/8/2007, 6:03 am Post subject:

The one I saw was in the Superstitiions as well. It was late afternoon in April or May on the side of the road on the way out f Rogers Trough.

Another interesting and not so threatening lizard to view here is the chuckwalla. You can see them in force right here in town on Piestewa Peak in the early morning or late afternoon on the sides of the trail. They can be mistaken sometimes for GMs.

Another good one to see in action is the collared lizard. They'll be active soon and are very cool to watch. Who can resist a big blue lizard that runs around like Godzilla?

GTG
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fritzski · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 50 Location: Gilbert, AZ

Hey Heat,

In my manic world I can never seem to focus on any one thing for too long. I'm still doing some climbing and also a hike here and there, but really into snow kiing this winter! (finally found something the wife and kids are into too) I am hoping to get in some good hiking and climbing up in the Durango, CO area this summer.

Still love to log on to the site and see what everybody is up too Smile

Are you still tearing up the rails at the torrid pace you were a year or two ago?

fritzski · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 50 Location: Gilbert, AZ

GTG,

Those are some awesome pics. How did you get them to pose for you like that?

cakewalk · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 512

Ive actually seen quite a few of them in Thunderbird park, Glendale.

Usually late in the day 4-5pm and mostly in the hottest months.

GTG · Posted: 3/8/2007, 10:03 am Post subject:

Arizonaheat · Posted: 3/8/2007, 11:40 am Post subject:

fat_frog · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 2 Location: 19355

I've seen one...over a foot long when I lived in Thatcher and went to school there. Very Happy

That's the only time I saw one in the wild for 2.5 years I spent there...

Sixgunz · Joined: 04 Jan 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Cave Creek

I've lived here all my life & spent quite a bit outdoors...I've seen one in Cave Creek Regional Park. I thought it tasted like chicken.....

Smile

j/k

kurthzone · Posted: 3/16/2007, 7:02 am Post subject: Re: Gila Monster

TalusMonkey · Joined: 20 Feb 2007 Posts: 20 Location: Lakewood, CO

Well, I had a fantastic visit to AZ last weekend. Hiked Camelsack and Squaw on Friday and then backpacked to Reavis Ranch Friday night and Saturday morning, climbing Castle Dome along the way.

I didn't see any Gila Monsters or Collard Lizards, but, as promised by some of you, I DID see several large Chuckwallas on Squaw Peak.

However, one of the girls on the backpacking trip is a biology major and knows a professor who is conducting research on Gila Monsters. She said that he has radio collars on quite a few and often takes volunteers to locate the Gilas. She suggested that with advanced notice she could probably arrange for me to accompany the professor on one of his trips.

So perhaps in the future I can see my Gila Monster by cheating a little - with the radio collars! Thanks for all the input!
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