Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

My wife just got a job on the UNLV campus as the animal caretaker for the muesum. They have a Gila on display and I was wondering if it was ok or recommended to handle him bare handed. The girl who is training her is teaching my wife to handle him bare handed. I have dealt with hot snakes but never a hot lizard and would never handle a hot snake bare handed. I do not trust the person training my wife 0.00 after hearing some of there snake husbandry techniques.

Ken

Sorry that was suppose to read 100%.

I'm sure those far more experienced than me will speak up here. I have handled a few Gilas in my time (very few under direct supervision of one person I hope to see respond). They are still venomous animals. I would never consider handling one alone with out some form of glove on. This is also my view for the future as I intend to own a Gila one day.

Protocols should be in effect at all times when dealing with venomous. Even those with what is considered a mild venom.
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Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

Remember they are venomous! I got nailed by a heloderm a few years ago (I used to free handle them too)... that was one of the most painful experiences in my life (even surpassing kidney stones). I now take alot of precautions and wear thick welding gloves. I wouldn't free handle it if I was y'all.

Although Gilas are pretty laid back animals, they have been known to cause some horrific injuries to private owners, and, zoo/museum/university personnel. We have an older adult that is very laid back and I am able to free handle this animal, HOWEVER, I have been working with venomous herps for over 20 years professionally and I understand the risks I am taking - we also have other heloderms including beadeds and for the most part, the gloves go on when I work with them. Part of our protocol requires my staff to use Gentle Giant tongs (www.tongs.com) to move our heloderms when servicing their cages. Additionally, my staff are required to wear heavy gauntlets...no exceptions. There's really no need to free handle a gila. I've seen careless handling at many facilities and these are disasters waiting to happen....not to mention lawsuits to the institution. The worst handling I've seen has occurred at the university level - just very lax procedures that could spell disaster.

Bottom line: 1) if your wife does not feel comfortable handling the gila, she shouldn't be required to do so. 2) The person training your wife needs to be talked to by the department head...she's exposing her own staff to a high level of unnecessary risk 3) heavy gauntlet style gloves should be worn.

Gilas lull their owners into a false sense of security - they look lethargic, lazy, etc but if you catch one by surprise, or, on a bad day, they can move with alarming speed.

If you want me to talk to your wife's boss, I'd be happy to shoot her an email of our policies. I would just need a name and email.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
City of Lake Forest, IL

>>Hello,
>>
>>My wife just got a job on the UNLV campus as the animal caretaker for the muesum. They have a Gila on display and I was wondering if it was ok or recommended to handle him bare handed. The girl who is training her is teaching my wife to handle him bare handed. I have dealt with hot snakes but never a hot lizard and would never handle a hot snake bare handed. I do not trust the person training my wife 0.00 after hearing some of there snake husbandry techniques.
>>
>>Ken
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

Thank you for all the great information. The person training my wife is actually leaving soon and my wife will be adopting new policies. Commen sense just seemed to tell me handeling him bare handed didn't seem rite. She will be talking to the boss also to make sure the caretaker guides also get changed.I will also get a picture of him the next time I go by.

Ken

This all depends on the perticular animal that you are dealing with. I have around fifty beaded lizards all ages sizes and color variations. Some are aggressive and some are downright tame. Caution and care should be taken when handling any venomous lizard, how ever it is not even in the same ball park as say a Rattlesnake or any other front fanged venomous snake. While the bite from Heloderma is very painful,unless you have some kind of allergic or anafalatic reaction,it is not considered to be a lethal bite.
In any case common sense and good judgement should always be used.
HorridumAngeli

HorridumAngeli's Beaded Lizard Web site