The colorful, venomous and mysterious Gila monster flourishes in the scorching Desert Southwest, but climate change threatens the lizards’ food, water and shelter. Moving to more hospitable habitats won’t be easy.By Tina DeinesGila monsters are shrouded in mystery. The venomous, desert-dwelling lizards spend most of their lives underground and out of sight, only coming up to the surface occasionally to hunt for food, bask in the sun or find a mate.
Observations from the Little Bunker
Last updated: October 16, 2025 04:11 AM
Atmospheric COâ‚‚
424.4 ppm
+18.2
ppm/year
Atmospheric CHâ‚„
1933.54 ppb
+12.29
ppb/year
Global Temperature
+1.48 °C
Peak: +1.73°C
World Population
8.1 billion
+67
million/year