It is a fascinating fact that capybaras are very social and thrive best in captivity if kept together. 2023 PetPress. The Gila monster can be found all across the southwestern states and in the Mexican state of Sonora. K-12 lesson plans, tools, and other help for history teachers. In the historic old west, people were fairly terrified of Gila monsters. was provided by the El Paso Public Library "Possibly the greatest threat to the continued existence of helodermatids is the man-made destruction of their habitat as the land is developed for construction or to create more cultivable land. "Gila monsters are the largest lizards native to the United States," according to LiveScience.. You can obtain a license to own a serval in Texas . There are no restrictions on owning this species as a pet. Yes, it is legal to own a Gila monster in California. In fact, they spend about 90% of their time tucked away underground. Any venomous reptile, even if it is typically not considered lethal, should always be handled with extreme care. Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Arkansas, Mississippi (although at the time of this writing, lawmakers are working to change this), Nebraska, North Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois (unless it is for educational purposes with a permit), Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington. In 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug exenatide (marketed as Byetta) for the management of type 2 diabetes. Although the Gila monster appears closely related to the monitor lizards (varanids) of Africa, Asia, and Australia, their wide geographical separation and distinct features indicate that Heloderma is better placed in a separate family.[11].