I made a late May foray into a southern Arizona climbing area once, and saw half a dozen Gila monsters that day. What nature was thinking in giving them day-glo orange coloring, I have no idea. Afterwards I learned they're worth at least $2,000 each on the black market. Temptation sucks.
I grew up in Phoenix with the desert as my backyard. Many a time have I come across rattle snakes.
And my intelligent brother brought home a gila monster that stayed the the backyard for awhile. They are VERY illegal to have in the state. But worth big bucks...