Gilas are such iconic lizards of the southwest. I will never forget the first one I saw
crossing a dirt road in southeastern Arizona. I almost drove off the road with how hard I slammed my breaks.
It was October and I made one last blast out to look for snakes in SE Arizona. On my way back to New Mexico, I saw this big lizard crossing the road in the morning. My first Gila in the wild. It was amazing to see. Such a stunningly beautiful animal, too. So much black. Cochise County, AZ. October 2006.
York and I saw this little guy in SW New Mexico. It was so nice to see one in New Mexico. June 2008.
On this part of our AZ trip, we weren't really expecting a Gila. I still remember how speechless Derek was upon seeing his first wild Gila with his own eyes. August 2008.
This one looked very old. August 2010.
From the Rincons. August 2010.
Another individual from Geronimo Trail showing the forked tongue. August 2013.
A juvenile seen crossing the road on the way to a friend's place. May 2017.
A dark individual seen with friends on a steep hillside in Saguaro National Park East. May 2017.
