[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]

Originally Posted by 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!

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]

Originally Posted by BostonCelt

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 (*********)....

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by Posh 08

So, is a Coral snake venomous?

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

[Posh 08]

Originally Posted by zcaveman

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]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

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

Is that a rat snake?

[zcaveman]

Originally Posted by Posh 08

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

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by Dirigo

Is that a rat snake?

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

also commonly found around refrigerators.

[Posh 08]

Originally Posted by zcaveman

Buggy is correct. From the net: Home Page

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.