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Gila monsters may struggle to survive climate change

A future Mojave Desert may have new pockets of habitat, but the reptiles may be stranded

A Gila monster scurries over rocks in the Mojave Desert.

Despite living in hot deserts, Gila monsters prefer cooler microhabitats, like shady burrows. As the Mojave heats up, these cool zones may vanish.

eliselipinski/inaturalist (CC BY-NC 4.0)

By Jake Buehler

For Gila monsters that live in the warming Mojave Desert, relocating to beat the heat may not be so simple.