Snakes in The Villages??

[Ashton]

Ok, so we saw the villages and we are ready to buy but, one thing I really need to know. Are there snakes in the Villages?? I'm not talking about lawyers or ***********, or Amway sales persons, I mean the real thing. If I walk around my yard in my bare feet any chance I'll see a snake?? Thanks!

[philnpat]

I've only seen one...********************

[Ooper]

Yep... most are small and harmless. Usua;;y they are not out in the open. They like ot hide in tight places so I don't think you'll ever step on one in your yard. And there really isn't that many. I may see a couple a year.

[Skybo]

There are a few, but they aren't nearly as dangerous as snow snakes.

[Villageshooter]

the snakes are the least of your worries,, the grass here is very coarse and difficult to push a mower thru and the one thing you will not like is walking in your bare feet thru it.. it is difficult enough to with your shoes on .. if you have the zoysia grass that is a tad bit better but not much.. what is called grass here is considered water grass weeds up north.

[Jim 9922]

The only ones I've seen are the black snakes which keep the lizards, voles, mice, and other garden creatures in check. Not aggressive at all, and if you see one it will probably be going away from you as fast as it can. Size and habits are like the common garter snake up North. Friendly and useful and not overly large.

[DaleMN]

Was warned about water moccasins over at Stone Crest golf course so have to believe there may be an occasional one in The Villages too. But I have only seen one smaller snake maybe the size of a garter snake and black in color.
I wouldn't be too concerned.

[Markam]

Been here about 6 months and just happened to see my first snake Sunday evening. It was a fair sized, harmless garter snake just outside one of the hazards with rocks and tall grass on the Bonita Pass course. I'll be a little more vigilant from now on.

[Trish Crocker]

I understand your concern. I always thought Florida was overrun with snakes and spiders. My mom moved to Zephyrhills, she lived on a half acre of property and, even though she was terrifed of snakes and spiders she never had a problem with either. I never heard of her seeing a snake and only once heard about a large spider. The Villages are so well landscaped and taken care of I am losing my fear of moving to Florida...as a matter of fact, I can't wait. (by the way, mom (and I) are always barefoot!)

[Ashton]

I hate snakes!!! Thanks for the info!!!

[graciegirl]

///

[NotGolfer]

I'm with you in HATING snakes!!! I've not personally seen one (yet) though the neighbor's have. One thing we were told by the Villages Newcomer's info meeting..."Do NOT go into the tall grass while golfing...if you think your ball is in it..leave it"!!!! They also said the taller grass by the water hazards isn't a good place to rustle in as there can be the poisonous snakes in there.

It's true that bare-foot walking in the yards isn't like 'up north'. The grass here isn't soft at all but coarse and spikey feeling.

[BostonCelt]

Ok, so we saw the villages and we are ready to buy but, one thing I really need to know. Are there snakes in the Villages?? I'm not talking about lawyers or ************, or Amway sales persons, I mean the real thing. If I walk around my yard in my bare feet any chance I'll see a snake?? Thanks!

If I were you I wouldn't worry about walking barefoot over snakes, lawyers, *********, Amway sales persons, coarse grass, etc. Enjoy!!....right up to the time you step on a colony of fire ants (aka **********)....

[ajbrown]

I honestly do not see many, but this is a classic...

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af146/ajbrown2007/totv/DSC00293.jpg

[asianthree]

Barefoot and fire ants are not a good combo. I never wear shoes at home outside but here I don't go without, grass is different and the ants scare me

[buggyone]

I have seen a few snakes in my yard and enjoy seeing them. I have seen ribbon snakes (very similar to garter snakes) about 18" long; garter snakes about 18" long; and a couple of black racer snakes (one about 3' long and one about 5' long). All are totally harmless to people.

If you walk in the high grass by the ponds, it is possible to see a brown water snake (non-venomous but nasty tempered) or maybe even a rattlesnake. Best advice - do not walk in the high grass by the ponds.

If you do see a snake in your garage - DO NOT KILL IT. Open the garage door and chase it out. They are very beneficial to the environment.

Yep, fire ants are something to avoid all the time. A fire ant bite feels exactly like a red-hot needle is sticking you. It forms a blister and the itching, burning lasts for about 5 days. Chances are it is not going to be a single bite either. It will be multiple bites at the same time. Have your bug company treat for them and you will not have to worry.

[Ashton]

If I ever see a snake in my golf cart, or my garage, you will hear a loud Homer Simson scream followed by rapid gunfire...

[tucson]

Ok, so we saw the villages and we are ready to buy but, one thing I really need to know. Are there snakes in the Villages?? I'm not talking about lawyers or *********, or Amway sales persons, I mean the real thing. If I walk around my yard in my bare feet any chance I'll see a snake?? Thanks!

Of course there's plenty of them, just DO NOT walk around barefoot. There's alot of poisonous ones crawling and hiding in grasses, under bushes, etc.

[GolfandSun]

I saw a small black snake last friday sitting on a small holly tree branch. It was so scared of me. We were face to face and he zipped down the tree into my neighbors bushes. I told them, they said they're harmless and it cuts down on pests and varmits. I tokd him he could keep his pet snake over there then.. Be my guest. LOL

[Indydealmaker]

If I were you I wouldn't worry about walking barefoot over snakes, lawyers, ********, Amway sales persons, coarse grass, etc. Enjoy!!....right up to the time you step on a colony of fire ants (*********)....

:1rotfl:

[rp001]

Florida has a wide variety of poisonous snakes..I saw a show last evening about Venom One in Dade county and they said 47 states have some poisonous snakes..Best to just leave them alone and if you are afraid,contact appropriate authorities..

[buggyone]

Did any of you know there is not such a thing as a "poisonous" snake? The term is "venomous" snake. I was a volunteer at the National Zoo in Washington DC and this was drilled into us. Just a semantic, of course, but after hearing it dozens of times it becomes part of our speech.

Venom is dangerous by injecting it into a body. Poison is dangerous by swallowing it or rubbing it on the skin.

No matter what you call it though, I advise against picking up a snake you are not 100% familiar with.

[Posh 08]

Did any of you know there is not such a thing as a "poisonous" snake? The term is "venomous" snake. I was a volunteer at the National Zoo in Washington DC and this was drilled into us. Just a semantic, of course, but after hearing it dozens of times it becomes part of our speech.

Venom is dangerous by injecting it into a body. Poison is dangerous by swallowing it or rubbing it on the skin.

No matter what you call it though, I advise against picking up a snake you are not 100% familiar with.

So, is a Coral snake venomous?

[CMANN]

I know that there are snakes in TV but I've been here 3 yrs and have yet to see one.

[zcaveman]

So, is a Coral snake venomous?

Very!!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_snake

[Posh 08]

Very!!!

I know they are deadly because my bother's Jack was killed by one in Crystal River. I was wondering about what Buggy said about poisonous vs venomous. Coral snake does not have fangs like a pit viper.

[Dirigo]

I honestly do not see many, but this is a classic...

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af146/ajbrown2007/totv/DSC00293.jpg

Is that a rat snake?

[zcaveman]

I know they are deadly because my bother's Jack was killed by one in Crystal River. I was wondering about what Buggy said about poisonous vs venomous. Coral snake does not have fangs like a pit viper.

Buggy is correct. From the net: Home Page (http://www.snakeman1982.com/Venomous%20vs.%20Poisonous.asp)

[jimbo2012]

Is that a rat snake?

the batteries generate heat, that's why he's there.

also commonly found around refrigerators.

[Posh 08]

Buggy is correct. From the net: Home Page (http://www.snakeman1982.com/Venomous%20vs.%20Poisonous.asp)

Thanks. The dog is just as dead I guess. BTW the anti venom was $800 and they had to go to Homasassa to get it. Pets beware.

[jimbo2012]

Southwest Florida is a prime spot for snakes and if you're not careful, you or your child could be bitten.

Nearly 7,000 people are bitten in the U.S. by venomous snakes each year and we found out how to protect yourself.

In our area there are four venomous snakes you need to be cautious of and they could be hiding anywhere, which is why experts have some sound advice to help you avoid a potentially deadly strike.

"We've got the eastern diamondback, cottonmouth, moccasin coral snake and then finally we have pygme rattlesnake. Usually that's about 18 to 24 inches," explained David Tetzlaff, with the Naples Zoo.

Experts say the best way to avoid an unwanted close encounter with one of the deadly four is not to stick your hands or feet in dark places snakes like to hide - a tip that applies especially to children.

"If a ball or tool rolls somewhere, you're reaching for something you don't know where your hands are going, don't stick your hand in there. Use a stick," Tetzlaff said.
http://wbbh.images.worldnow.com/images/16774478_BG1.jpg

And if you are bitten, you're racing against the clock.

Although experts say nearly half of all snake bites are venom-free or "dry bites," your first thought should be getting to a hospital.

"Forget any remedy anything you were told to do if you get bit by a snake the best thing you can do is go straight to the hospital," Tetzlaff said.

And although snakes are just afraid of us as we are of them, they are not apprehensive about protecting themselves.

"Most snake bites happen for two reasons - somebody trying to catch one or kill one. And that puts you in what we call the �stupid zone,'" Tetzlaff said.

Experts say there's no easy way to tell just by looking at a snake if it's venomous or not. The best advice is to not touch it at all.

And if you are bitten, don't waste time trying to catch it or get a picture - get help immediately.

[rubicon]

Its better to deal with snakes in TV then snakes on a plane:pepper2:

[graciegirl]

Been here four years. No personal snake sitings. Sweetie and Helene haven't seen one either.

[dok4933]

Only been in TV for two years so I guess I'm lucky to have this visitor.

[buggyone]

So, is a Coral snake venomous?


Yes, a coral snake is venomous. They really do not have fangs but the venom flows into the body when they bite, chew, and hold on. Their venom is different than a water moccasin, copperhead, or rattlesnake. The coral snake venom is a neurotoxin (attacking the nervous system) and the pit vipers are a hemotoxin (attacking the blood system),

[graciegirl]

Everyone chime in and say if they personally have or have not seen a snake.

I know they are here but the poor folks reading this are thinking it is like that movie Crocodile Dundee.

Some people like to show that they can print things big on here. Please respond only if you live here.

Many thanks.

Please don't be scared dear frightened new friends. It ISN'T like that movie, Honest Injun.

[John_W]

I play at Cane Garden Country Club quite often since it's only ten minutes away. On the Hibiscus nine layout you'll be instructed that the 'out-of-bounds' that are marked with red stakes, not white, means you don't look for your ball beyond the red stake. Hibiscus is a very lush and tropical layout, but it's also very rugged and the red stakes can come right up to the edge of some fairways and if you stay out of those areas you should be alright.

I haven't seen any snakes in our ten months here, but at Cane Garden I've seen up to five gators at one time on the Alamanda nine in the area of the two lakes near the 6th green I believe. I never understood why people pay extra to live on the water here.

http://www.golfthevillages.com/championship-golf/CANE%20GARDEN/CGclubhouse.jpg

[MSNPA]

Lived here almost five years and the only snakes I have seen are dead baby snakes on the street, most likely run over by a vehicle. We have a lot of geckos around our house. I always heard if you see a lot of geckos you probably do not have any snakes since the snakes would be eating the geckos!

[billethkid]

we had a baby garter snake get in our pool while it was under construction 6 years ago.

We had one in the pool filter basket last week. The gal who cleans our pool was surprised by it. I helped in the disposal(let it go in the back yard).

It was a southern ring neck...grey/black with a bright orange ring around it's neck and an equally bright orange stripe the full length of it body on the belly. About 8" long.

A version of garter snake.

They like water!!

Just check the multi modal path from the starter shack on Plamer's Riley Grove and to the entrance to Bridgeport at Lake Sumter...this area is along the lake there....many examples or dead snakes run over by golf carts.

Most snakes here are non poisonous. And as far as the poisonous ones go, unless you actually step on one or corner one or surprise it some how...they will usually avoid you as much as you want to avoid them.

Best advice unless you are an expert...treat all, each and every one as if it was poisonous.

And in closing, don't kill them. They are a protected species (very few are not) and they do more good than harm.

btk

[cappyjon431]

Everyone chime in and say if they personally have or have not seen a snake.

I know they are here but the poor folks reading this are thinking it is like that movie Crocodile Dundee.

Some people like to show that they can print things big on here. Please respond only if you live here.

Many thanks.

Please don't be scared dear frightened new friends. It ISN'T like that movie, Honest Injun.

I've only seen two in my yard, both were ringneck snakes (non-venemous), very small (about a foot or less), totally harmless, and much more afraid of me than I am of them. I caught one, brought it in the house to show my wife, but she was not that excited about the idea, so I let it go back in our yard.

[Sail41]

Florida Indigo snake and it's a protected snake. This is what most of the black snakes are. Very beneficial and harmless.

[Cynbod]

Everyone chime in and say if they personally have or have not seen a snake.

I know they are here but the poor folks reading this are thinking it is like that movie Crocodile Dundee.

Some people like to show that they can print things big on here. Please respond only if you live here.

Many thanks.

Please don't be scared dear frightened new friends. It ISN'T like that movie, Honest Injun.

My husband, daughter and I were dining outside at Cane Garden last year. The mulch had just been renewed and looked quite nice. Suddenly I saw the biggest snake I have ever seen come out unto the dining area. I jumped and it jumped. I saw it (or another one) again and managed to persuade my family to leave.

I have been there many time since and have never seen another snake. I have decided to just be careful when new mulch is laid.

BTW, I have never seen one near my home. :bowdown:

[zcaveman]

Over the past 10 years I have seen four or five black snakes in my yard, two while playing golf at Tierra Del Sol, one reddish snake at El Santiago, one at Amberwood, three black snake skins and one rattlesnake skin from where they moulted. This is not counting the dead ones in the road.

The next door neighbor had one on her lanai.

This is why I tend to keep my garage door closed.

[chuckinca]

We have a 3 ft long black snake that we see around our house every few weeks or so. We don't bother it and it doesn't bother us.


.

[Ashton]

Thank You everyone for all your photos and stories!

[Tweety Bird]

Only been in TV for two years so I guess I'm lucky to have this visitor.

This looks like the snake I had hiding in my garage!!!!!! About 5 - 6 feet long I'd say? Yes, I accidentally left our garage door open all night and proceeded to close the garage door. As I was retrieving something from the garage, something MOVED! I thought it was a mouse but it was a LONG snake. After I had a neighbor prod it from its hiding place, it slithered out the garage. It really didn't want to be bothered. Also, Community Watch gave me the name of a guy who removes snakes.

[buggyone]

This looks like the snake I had hiding in my garage!!!!!! About 5 - 6 feet long I'd say? Yes, I accidentally left our garage door open all night and proceeded to close the garage door. As I was retrieving something from the garage, something MOVED! I thought it was a mouse but it was a LONG snake. After I had a neighbor prod it from its hiding place, it slithered out the garage. It really didn't want to be bothered. Also, Community Watch gave me the name of a guy who removes snakes.


I would guess you had a Black Racer in your garage. Completley harmless to people. They do eat lots of rodents. Glad it was not injured.

[KathieI]

I heard the dogs barking at something in the lanai the other day and thought it was a bird or one of the ducks roaming around outside. Went out to shut them up and much to my surprise, a 3 foot long black snake was in the middle of my lanai. Have no idea how he got in, realized he was probably harmless but I wasn't thrilled about him being there. I got the dogs inside and locked up the doors, went about my business and it left the same way it got in, I guess. Now I'm scared cause I think he might be in my outdoor furniture and I'm just not seeing him, but I'm sure the schnauzers would let me know, they are ratters, you know. So glad they made me aware that he was on the lanai in the first place. Good job, Sam and Maggie Mae... :doggie:

Thanks goodness I'm not freaked out by snakes but I really don't like having them around. :22yikes:

[The Villager II]

A food source for snakes are the Gecko looking lizards. The food source for Geckos are spiders and insects.

I would rather have more geckos and less spiders than more snakes and less Geckos.

[getdul981]

Everyone chime in and say if they personally have or have not seen a snake.

I know they are here but the poor folks reading this are thinking it is like that movie Crocodile Dundee.

Some people like to show that they can print things big on here. Please respond only if you live here.

Many thanks.

Please don't be scared dear frightened new friends. It ISN'T like that movie, Honest Injun.

Me, No. My wife, yes, when she was on her very first outing playing golf with the girls in the neighborhood. It was on the second tee at Pelican. She said that she nearly stepped on it and one of the others shouted at her. She is extremely afraid of snakes

[getdul981]

I heard the dogs barking at something in the lanai the other day and thought it was a bird or one of the ducks roaming around outside. Went out to shut them up and much to my surprise, a 3 foot long black snake was in the middle of my lanai. Have no idea how he got in, realized he was probably harmless but I wasn't thrilled about him being there. I got the dogs inside and locked up the doors, went about my business and it left the same way it got in, I guess. Now I'm scared cause I think he might be in my outdoor furniture and I'm just not seeing him, but I'm sure the schnauzers would let me know, they are ratters, you know. So glad they made me aware that he was on the lanai in the first place. Good job, Sam and Maggie Mae... :doggie:

Thanks goodness I'm not freaked out by snakes but I really don't like having them around. :22yikes:


If your lanai is like all I've seen, there is a gap about 1/2 inch under the screen door. That's plenty of room for a snake to squeeze in through.