Third, Gilas have low resting metabolic rates. Their low metabolic rates, and the ability to eat large meals, combined with their large capacity to store fat, make frequent searching for food unnecessary. Therefore, they are rarely seen above ground. It has been suggested that Gilas can consume their entire yearly energy budget in three or four large meals. Most of their above ground activity occurs in 3 months in the spring.
Gila monsters have a home range of about one square mile.
They are usually solitary animals, but do gather in communal areas in the spring for mating. All rights reserved.