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Pet Gila monster's bite sends local man to hospital

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By Lauren Pack, Staff Report Updated 11:51 PM Friday, July 31, 2009

WAYNE TWP., Butler County — A bite from a venomous lizard hospitalized a 45-year-old Jacksonburg Road man Friday, July 31.

Clifford Lindberg was transported by medical helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital after being bitten by a Gila monster at his Jacksonburg Road home, according to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office. He was in fair condition late Friday, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Sheriff’s officials said the lizard belonged to a woman present at the the time of the bite. They did not know whether the woman also lived at the house or was visiting.

The Gila monster was caged after Lindberg was bitten, according to the sheriff’s office.

Gila monsters are native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Despite being venomous, many experts agree that Gila monsters pose little threat to humans because of their slow-moving, sluggish nature.

The lizard’s bite is normally not fatal to adult humans, according to experts.

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