Young moccasins can be banded reddish brown, but they get darker the older they get, sometimes to black. When it senses danger, a cottonmouth will open its mouth revealing a cotton-white inside. The brown banding pattern on its back has a reddish tint.Ĥ. Their range is mostly in Northeast Florida. It is one of the most commonly seen venomous snakes and most likely to defend itself when threatened.ģ.
#ARE THERE LOTS OF SNAKES IN FLORIDA SERIES#
The pigmy rattler is a grayish snake with a series of dark blotches on its back.
This little guy has a painful bite that is usually not life-threatening, but still calls for medical treatment. Because of its size and vivid colors, it's the easiest venomous snake to identify.Ģ. This rattler has a series of brown diamonds with yellowish-borders down its back. If you come across a 6-foot rattler, keep in mind that it can strike from a distance of 4 feet, about as long as a typical shovel. They're not endangered, but dwindling habitat is a threat to them. Average adult size: 36 to 72 inchesĭiamondbacks are the largest, most dangerous and most feared venomous Florida snake. Here's a rundown of the six venomous snakes to watch for in Florida.ġ. “Always wear boots and long pants in areas where snakes are known to frequent.” “When walking in the woods or in a field, always be aware of your surroundings and watch where you are stepping,” Nelson said. Experts advise anyone bitten by a venomous snake to get medical attention immediately, regardless of the type of snake. If it's a rattlesnake or other venomous snake, the most dangerous thing you can do is try to kill it or pick it up and move it. They'd much rather avoid encounters and usually will flee.” “Snakes don't purposefully position themselves to frighten people.
“When you see a snake, you should stand back and observe it or walk around it, leaving at least 6 feet of space between it and yourself,” Nelson said. So, rather than grabbing a shovel next time you see a rattlesnake, the best advice is the simplest: Leave it alone. And even venomous snakes do plenty of good, most importantly eating rats and mice, helping to prevent the spread of rodent-borne diseases. Florida has 44 native varieties, and only six of them are venomous, so the great majority of snakes you might see are non-venomous, even if capable of inflicting a painful bite.
They're so well camouflaged that you can step over a snake in a little pile of leaves and never know it was there.Īnd, of course, all venomous snakes can be deadly if you don't get medical attention.įear of snakes even has a name: ophidiophobia.īut snakes aren't all bad. Snakes are so fast that their fangs can strike before your brain can tell your mouth to scream. Since the day a serpent persuaded Adam and Eve to eat an apple in the Garden of Eden, snakes have had a bad reputation.Īnd why not? The thought of 6 feet of muscle driving two sharp fangs into your leg at blinding speed is enough to create fear. It also means greater odds of coming face-to-face with a snake.
#ARE THERE LOTS OF SNAKES IN FLORIDA FREE#
PANAMA CITY - Summer is approaching, which means more free time for kids to explore parks, trails and woods.