SNAKES…Caution

[RICH1]

With the Rains and Snake mating season upon us, be extremely careful…
“As the rain picks up, and some wetlands start to fill up, snakes need to get on the move to find a new place to stay high and dry, maybe to find water and maybe to find some prey animals,” said Ella Guedouar, a graduate snake biologist at Florida Gulf Coast University. If you have an uncomfortable encounter with a snake , Spray the snake with a garden hose, they dislike the water spray and will retreat!

[Byte1]

I've been told that flowering garlic plants produce a smell that snakes do not like. It seems to work at my home because the snakes seem to go around the areas that have the plants. I used to have visits from several snakes (harmless black or racers) but they scare my spouse so I planted the garlic around the borders of the back yard and have only seen an occasional snake pass by in the front. Every snake encounter I have had here, the snake speeds away before I get anywhere near it. I haven't come across any poisonous snakes yet.....here.

[Rainger99]

If you have an uncomfortable encounter with a snake , Spray the snake with a garden hose, they dislike the water spray and will retreat!

That doesn’t help much if you are on a walking path.

[tophcfa]

Spray the snake with a garden hose, they dislike the water spray and will retreat!

A good smack on the back of the head with a shovel works as well.

[RICH1]

Eastern garter snakes are polygynandrous (promiscuous) which means that both males and females mate with multiple partners. Their breeding season occurs in spring soon after emergence from hibernation and in the fall. Many males may try to mate with one female, resulting in a "breeding ball". Females give birth to a litter of 10-40 live snakelets. Gestation lasts around 2-3 months. The young are 13-23 cm (5-9 in) long at birth and are fully independent of their mother. Males usually become reproductively mature at 1.5 years of age while females reach maturity when they are two years old.…

[Pairadocs]

That doesn’t help much if you are on a walking path.

LOL! That's for sure !

[ThirdOfFive]

My better half said that one of her friends had encountered a poisonous snake in a cup on one of the golf courses here. Didn't specify which course or the type of snake. Though possible it seems a bit unlikely, unless it was a coral snake. I've never seen one though as I understand it they're pretty small, and those cups have a diameter of only 4.25".

[Hape2Bhr]

It surprises me that ophidologists have finally found poisonous snakes!

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I've been here for over eleven years and have never seen a venomous snake. The only snakes that I've seen are black racers.

[ThirdOfFive]

It surprises me that ophidologists have finally found poisonous snakes!
I doubt the victim is going to much care about terminology. Both poison and venom are toxic, with the only difference being the route of delivery.

But hey--if splitting hairs makes a difference--

[Velvet]

What difference does it make? Venemous or poisonous? You get sick!

I do understand the value of shakes - but they sure ain’t welcome anywhere near me!

[laryb]

Copperhead, on Sweetgum Executive Course

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[sdeikenberry]

Copperhead, on Sweetgum Executive Course

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That snake on Sweetgum IS NOT a copperhead. It's a common black snake, not dangerous and good to have around.

[me4vt]

Here, keep in your photos.

QUOTE=RICH1;2214418]With the Rains and Snake mating season upon us, be extremely careful…
“As the rain picks up, and some wetlands start to fill up, snakes need to get on the move to find a new place to stay high and dry, maybe to find water and maybe to find some prey animals,” said Ella Guedouar, a graduate snake biologist at Florida Gulf Coast University. If you have an uncomfortable encounter with a snake , Spray the snake with a garden hose, they dislike the water spray and will retreat![/QUOTE]

[wawriwwawriw]

Just for general information. We have venomous snakes in Florida not poisonous. There are a handful number of poisonous snakes in the world but none in Florida.

[MisterPratt]

No need to kill them.

[RICH1]

Copperhead, on Sweetgum Executive Course

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Great photos…Thank you

[carioca]

Thanks for the tip! I’ve been in TV for only 3 months and have already seen 2 snakes- a smaller one who got in my lanai, and a larger one on the lawn. Not loving them, but am equipped with a garden hose 😄

[airstreamingypsy]

If there were no snakes in TV, it would be overrun with rats....... leave them alone.

[Rodneysblue]

That doesn’t help much if you are on a walking path.

Backpack sprayer. Problem solved.

[fdpaq0580]

Backpack sprayer. Problem solved.

Or, a suit of armor.

[Michael G.]

That snake on Sweetgum IS NOT a copperhead. It's a common black snake, not dangerous and good to have around.

University in Miami breeds black racers and releases them in the forests to
control rodents and such.

[cjrjck]

It has been my general observation that if you have an abundance of alligators, you do not have an abundance of snakes. Exceptions to that include snakes that are high enough on the food chain to challenge alligators like the huge pythons in southern Florida. I once fished an area that was flooded by a beaver dam. The water coming out of that area downstream about 3/4 of a mile was a favorite spot for local fishermen to bank fish the small river. Lots of big bass and lots of snakes exiting the beaver dam area upstream. When I finally ventured into that area, I found almost no snakes but I did see an abundance of otter sign. They, like alligators, will control snake and turtle populations. South of 44 around the marshes I would assume the gators are doing their thing. Many other places in TV, the alligator populations are too thin to make a difference.

[TomSpasm]

My experience is different, had a resident gator on my property in Sarasota and there was no shortage of snakes as a result.

[Escape Artist]

It has been my general observation that if you have an abundance of alligators, you do not have an abundance of snakes. Exceptions to that include snakes that are high enough on the food chain to challenge alligators like the huge pythons in southern Florida.

Are pythons native to Florida or were they brought here from elsewhere and established themselves?

[DAVES]

Eastern garter snakes are polygynandrous (promiscuous) which means that both males and females mate with multiple partners. Their breeding season occurs in spring soon after emergence from hibernation and in the fall. Many males may try to mate with one female, resulting in a "breeding ball". Females give birth to a litter of 10-40 live snakelets. Gestation lasts around 2-3 months. The young are 13-23 cm (5-9 in) long at birth and are fully independent of their mother. Males usually become reproductively mature at 1.5 years of age while females reach maturity when they are two years old.…

You never know what you can learn on talk of the villages. I always thought reptiles breed from eggs. Ten to forty live snakelets 5-9 inches long. Teasing a little. Remember that next time you hear a villager complaining that life is tough.

[laryb]

Copperhead, on Sweetgum Executive Course

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I am by no means an expert on snakes, but I meant to have called the above snake a Cottonmouth (also known as a water moccasin), not a Copperhead. It is my understanding that the Cottonmouth, like the copperhead and other venomous snakes have a large, triangular head, with oversize jowls because of their large venom glands. Bottom line is, don't mess around with it if it's a Black Snake, Cottonmouth or any other snake. Live and let live.
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Black Snake
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[Normal]

Snakes don’t bother me either way. They are good for the environment and haven’t run rampant here as far as I know. We used to catch them all the time and never had an issue. Just leave them alone, I guarantee none of them are going to hunt you down to kill you.

[JMintzer]

Are pythons native to Florida or were they brought here from elsewhere and established themselves?

No, they are not native to FL...

[NotGolfer]

When we 1st moved here we went to that informational meeting at one of the regional rec centers. We were told about the snakes and other "creepy crawlies" that live in FL. We were told not to venture near the water edges or tall grasses, especially when golfing due to the snakes etc. I've seen folks walking through the tall grasses on the golf-courses looking for their errant balls and I cringe. I hate snakes so to even chance an encounter---well I just would be careful. I guess I wouldn't be around it long enough to find out IF it were poisonous or not, that is if I had the chance.

[buster21]

“Within a few days, the snake will rub its head on something abrasive—like a rock—to tear open the outer layer. It then works on the tear, crawling through tight quarters, sliding out of the skin, leaving the old skin inside out much like a child peeling off a sock.”
Found a five foot long snake skin shed under the outdoor patio furniture. I guess it needed the concrete surface to rub it off!