[looneycat]

Originally Posted by sueandskip

Most common is the little black snake that is numerous here....Harmless...but there are rattle snake here also....I have only seen one and it was a little guy...called the police they sent an animal guy out and he caught it and took it out to relocate it...nothing to worry about really ,I would be more concerned of the huge skunk ape !!!!

we have one in the back wood bark, keeps the little critters under control.

[entemedor]

While there are indeed poisonous snakes in Florida (see above) you really don't have to worry about them. About the only time you hear about someone being bitten is:

a. When, a drink having taken, they fool around with a rattlesnake, or

b. Somebody gets nailed by a pygmy rattler at the local garden center.

Item b. happens about once a year in the entire state. It hurts but a shot of antivenin and a sore hand for a day or two and you're good to go.

Personally, I've been here 6 1/2 years and have never seen a snake. There was a pygmy rattler in a driveway on the next street over, the owner called Village Watch (or whatever they're called lately), they came and took it away. (I mentioned that since the owner had a car, he could easily have solved the problem if you get my drift.)

If you play golf and hit a ball into the puckerbrush, hit a new ball. If you want to retreive a ball from the water, look for alligators first.

Summary: Don't worry about snakes, they're really not that big a deal. Now lightning? THAT'S something to worry about, especially on a golf course.

[under55]

When we moved from Illinois I told the wife there are no snakes in The Villages she said she would go along with that as long as I would go along with rule against moving any furniture from Illinois to The Villages.

[Dancing Queen]

[quote=Eve2278;551332]

Originally Posted by Dancing Queen

Ok silly guys, I am pretty sure this was a serious question.
Don't mislead them.

However I do like tender fried Gator Tail, it really does taste like chicken.

Hmm, with or without sauce and where do you get it

Eve, the only place I tried down near you was Gator Joes, I did not care for it, too small of pieces, tough and what I did eat I used cocktail sauce to make it palatable.
Up here in Cincinnati Pappadeax has wonderful, tender seasoned fried gator tail, no sauce needed. I will be in search of a good place down there my next trip.

[Geewiz]

OK - no joking...Illinois (where I currently live)...is going broke..our last 2 govenors are in prison...the teachers in Chicago are going on strike...moreover, there is a drug gang war going on that kills kids every night...the crops are failing due to drought...and I can't find a decent girl to date. Snakes are your issue? Really?

[PaPaLarry]

Originally Posted by CaptJohn

I didn't know they had put a bounty on them. It's about time if they really want to get rid of them. How much is the bounty? Where'd you see that?

Just Google "Bounty for Pythons"

just watch out for the pygmy rattler. usually found in tall grass on the golf courses so try not to go in a nd look for lost balls. they are very thin, small and colorfull. in fact, any snake that is colorfull is usually a pit viper.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Geewiz

OK - no joking...Illinois (where I currently live)...is going broke..our last 2 govenors are in prison...the teachers in Chicago are going on strike...moreover, there is a drug gang war going on that kills kids every night...the crops are failing due to drought...and I can't find a decent girl to date. Snakes are your issue? Really?

Snakes are a new issue for OP................Illinois has always been like that.

[jblum315]

We also have coral snakes, probably the deadliest. Found one in my mailbox in Miami once.

[Geewiz]

Originally Posted by jblum315

We also have coral snakes, probably the deadliest. Found one in my mailbox in Miami once.

Well, at least he was a first class snake.

[cquick]

Originally Posted by Phoneman

Thinking of moving down to TV from Illinois. While my wife was speaking to one of her friends about the move she was told there are numerous snakes in Florida. Now my wife is nervous about this, can anyone ease her concerns.

I am from Illinois, too. There are just as many snakes in Illinois as there are in Florida.....we have some different ones....but in Illinois we had garter snakes, rat snakes, water moccasins, rattle snakes....I am sure there are more.

Here in Florida I have seen black racers (compare them to garter snakes) they are not poisonous and the eat pests and bugs.
Yes, there are rattlesnakes and coral snakes.

I would suggest not swimming in the Everglades.....but that is several hundred miles from here.

We DO have alligators here that we didn't have in Illinois!

[CaptJohn]

Originally Posted by PaPaLarry

Just Google "Bounty for Pythons"

Googled and read about 30 stories on the subject. Lots of talk for years but still no bounty being paid.
Too many restrictions on hunting them. If they seriously want to get rid of them then paying cash bounties will do it.

As usual the government will study it for years and then when it's too late (maybe now) will authorize proper measures.
They're afraid the public will confuse pythons with garter snakes and kill needed species! (I kid you not)
According to the regulations outside of regular hunting season you can't use firearms or other weapons. You must pick them up live (150-200 pounds plus the deer, raccoon, rabbit, flamingo or alligator they just ate) put them in your Prius and take them to a vet to be euthanized! Really? !!! (yes, a slight distortion but close).

[SALYBOW]

I just came back from golfing at Bacall. I ran into a snake slithering along, Next whiles looking for my ball, a gator came right over to the edge of the pond near where my ball was. I am now down two 50 cent balls, but still have all my extremities, etc. I told the gator the ball was hers. When we got to the other side of the pond the gator was gone and so was the ball.

[Bruiser1]

Originally Posted by entemedor

While there are indeed poisonous snakes in Florida (see above) you really don't have to worry about them. About the only time you hear about someone being bitten is:

a. When, a drink having taken, they fool around with a rattlesnake, or

b. Somebody gets nailed by a pygmy rattler at the local garden center.

Item b. happens about once a year in the entire state. It hurts but a shot of antivenin and a sore hand for a day or two and you're good to go.

Personally, I've been here 6 1/2 years and have never seen a snake. There was a pygmy rattler in a driveway on the next street over, the owner called Village Watch (or whatever they're called lately), they came and took it away. (I mentioned that since the owner had a car, he could easily have solved the problem if you get my drift.)


Last year In Fort Myers Florida. Lightning struck the Golf of Mexico.

SEVEN MILES AWAY A golfer was hit in the tee box (and you can imagine how painful that could be!)
Not a good Idea to hold a lightning rod in an electrical storm.
Lee Trevino (who was hit by lightning and almost ended his career)
said "hold up a one iron-not even God can hit a 1 iron!:

If you play golf and hit a ball into the puckerbrush, hit a new ball. If you want to retreive a ball from the water, look for alligators first.

Summary: Don't worry about snakes, they're really not that big a deal. Now lightning? THAT'S something to worry about, especially on a golf course.

[Geewiz]

I was once on a walk with then-wife, Voldemort, and 2 other friends down in Sanibal(sp?). Walking near a creek we spied a gator. Now, understand, we were on a rise about 6 feet above the creek and that rise was fairly steep. So I picked up a wee peeble and tossed it next to the gator's nose. Guess what....gators move pretty fast when they are messed with. As the gator ran after us (and we were running at a pretty good clip) I screamed, "They are terrible at lateral movements, go zig zag." Voldemort cursed me. In the midst of her verbal assault, I remembered that old axiom, "When running from a tiger, first place is achieved by avoiding last place." It was at that point, I tripped Voldemort. Our marriage lasted another 25 years; but, the damage was done and the rot began to set in. I vowed from that moment, I will never marry someone who doesn't have a good sense of humor nor an appreciation for lateral movement.