As you learn more about snakes and begin to understand them, you will see that all snakes—even venomous species—are beneficial and play important roles in our environment.
Negative encounters with venomous snakes are rare, and several precautions described in the next document in this series will help prevent such unwanted encounters in residential areas. The pit vipers found in Florida all share certain characteristics that can help you to learn to identify them. They all have bodies that are rather thick and heavy for their length, heat sensing pits on the side of the face, and vertical pupils, and they usually have a dark stripe through the eye to the corner of the jaw as do some non-venomous water snakes.
Pit vipers also have rough-looking, keeled scales with longitudinal ridges and wide, somewhat triangular heads with obvious thin necks. However, many non-venomous species also have keeled scales and triangular heads, and should not be mistaken for venomous snakes. If you are not sure, be safe—give the snake its space! The eastern diamondback rattlesnake Crotalus adamanteus , Figure 15 is North America's largest venomous snake, typically ranging in size from 3—6 feet record length 8 feet , and is found throughout the state of Florida.
This snake can easily be identified by the large dark diamonds with beige borders, which are repeated down the back.
These snakes have large, blocky heads with a distinctive dark band from the eye to the corner of the jaw, rough-looking keeled scales, and may have large rattles at the tip of the tail that usually make a loud buzzing sound when the snake feels threatened. Juvenile eastern diamondback rattlesnakes are similar in appearance to adults and can also be easily identified.
The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is rarely found in urban areas, preferring more natural scrub or wooded areas, where it preys on mice, rats, and rabbits. However, they occasionally wander onto golf courses and into suburban neighborhoods that are near pine forests.
Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes have declined severely in numbers due to habitat loss, road mortality, and indiscriminate killing by people. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake should be respected and admired from a safe distance. It can strike up to two-thirds its body length and possesses the largest quantity of the most toxic venom at least to mice of any species in the United States.
The pygmy rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius , Figure 16 is the smallest venomous snake in Florida averaging one foot in length, and feeds primarily on frogs and mice.
Found throughout the state, this is the most commonly encountered venomous snake in Florida, and can be found in a variety of urban settings. Although small, the pygmy rattlesnake has a stout body and blocky head. The body is gray with irregular dark blotches down the back and sides and a broken reddish-brown line down the center of the back between blotches. There is also a distinctive dark line through the eye to the corner of the jaw.
Juveniles are similar in appearance, but the tip of the tail is a bright yellowish color. Although pygmy rattlesnakes do have a rattle, it is so small it is barely audible and makes an insect-like buzzing noise.
These small rattlesnakes are quite defensive—if approached, they may hold their ground and strike at their perceived attacker. It is a good idea to wear leather gloves at all times while gardening, because these venomous snakes may be encountered in brush piles, flower beds, and gardens.
The cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus , Figure 17 , also known as the water moccasin, is the most venomous aquatic snake in Florida. It is occasionally seen in urban areas throughout Florida near the edges of ditches, ponds, lakes, and wetlands, where it feeds on fishes, frogs, mice, and rats. These heavy-bodied snakes can grow to 6 feet in length typical size ranges from 2—4 feet , and have rough-looking, keeled scales.
Young cottonmouths resemble the closely related copperhead and have bright reddish-brown, splotched crossbands, a dark stripe through the eye to the corner of the jaw, and a bright yellow-tipped tail.
The crossbands darken with age, and older snakes may be nearly uniformly dark-colored Figure As mentioned in the previous section, several species of non-venomous water snakes are often misidentified as cottonmouths. In order to avoid being bitten, it is best to never attempt to handle any aquatic snake. Cottonmouths do not have rattles, but may vigorously shake their tail when threatened like many non-venomous snakes , making a rattling sound in dry leaves.
As a defensive behavior, cottonmouths may coil their body and open their mouth widely, showing the namesake cotton-white interior. These behaviors are defensive, rather than aggressive, and, despite their infamous reputation as being aggressive, cottonmouths will generally flee from threat unless harassed.
The harlequin coral snake Micrurus fulvius , Figure 19 , is a small 1—2. This snake feeds on lizards and other snakes.
Coral snakes occur in residential areas, where they may be encountered under brush piles, firewood, or other objects under which they hide.
You may also encounter a coral snake while you are digging in your yard to plant shrubs or a garden. Coral snakes stay in hiding most of the time, and if you see one in the open it will likely be moving rapidly across your lawn to a new hiding place. Coral snakes have smooth, glossy scales and are brightly colored with red, yellow, and black rings.
Their snout is blunt and black, followed by a band of yellow, and their body is marked with wide red and black rings separated by narrow yellow rings the colored rings go all the way around the snake , and the tail is black and yellow. There are two non-venomous coral snake look-alikes scarlet kingsnake and scarlet snake that can be confused with the coral snake at first glance, but they can easily be identified as non-venomous by the order of their colored bands red touching black.
Remember the "stoplight phrase"—when you see a snake with bright red, yellow and black bands, remember "yellow, red, STOP! In the two non-venomous species the black and red bands touch—these snakes also have red, rather than black, snouts. Interestingly, all of the pit vipers give birth to live young, and the harlequin coral snake is the only venomous egg-laying species in Florida.
Therefore, when snake eggs are encountered, they almost certainly belong to a non-venomous species and can be left in place unharmed without fear for your safety. This document is the second in a series of four documents by Dr.
Even a venomous snake in the woods or crossing the road poses no threat and should be left alone. Also, most larger snakes travel in large areas, so one you see in your yard today may be far away tomorrow. The frequent sighting of snakes near dwellings or out-buildings may indicate the presence of rodents. Removal of brush, lumber or other debris accumulations will discourage both rodents and snakes. Rodent food sources like chronically spilled bird seed under feeders or pet foods scraps should also be policed regularly.
Venomous reptiles may only be possessed under license, and specific laws are in effect for handling, caging, and transporting them. Skip to main content. Report Issues Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc.
Lake Butler. Lake City. Live Oak. Orange Park. Osceola National Forest. Palatka-Lake Butler Trail. Palm Coast. Salt Springs. Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. Suwannee Springs. Talbot Islands. Timucuan Preserve. White Springs. East Coast Greenway. Everglades National Park. Canaveral National Seashore. Clearwater Beach. Coast to Coast Trail. Cocoa Beach. Cross Florida Greenway. Crystal River.
Dade City. Daytona Beach. De Leon Springs. Lake Mary. Lake Wales. Melbourne Beach. Merritt Island. Merritt Island NWR. Mount Dora. New Port Richey. New Smyrna Beach. Ocala National Forest. Ormond Beach. Palm Bay. Ridge Manor. Silver Springs. Spring Hill. Tarpon Springs. Walt Disney World. Weeki Wachee. Winter Springs. Withlacoochee State Forest. Withlacoochee State Trail. Yeehaw Junction. Should you happen to run into a snake in Florida, it is best to just remain calm.
Snakes really would rather just slither away. However, if you are bitten by a snake, it is best to be on the safe side and go to the hospital to have it checked out.
Preventing snakes in Florida is a difficult task, especially if you live near the woods or water. The best way to prevent snakes from invading your yard is to keep snake food off the property.
Snake food includes many types of insects, frogs, lizards, and rodents. So, if you know you have a rodent problem, have a wildlife removal expert take care of that before you attempt to eliminate the snakes.
And as always, if you have any nuisance pests in your yard or home, contact the professionals at World Class Wildlife Removal to remove them as soon as possible. The World Class team performs wildlife removal, decontamination, exclusion, and remediation for Florida homes and businesses.
We are eco-friendly and family and pet-safe. Call for the best wildlife removal West Florida has to offer or connect with our team right here. The Coral Snake The coral snake is often confused with the scarlet kingsnake.
The Diamondback Rattlesnake All across Florida, you can find this venomous snake. The Timber Rattlesnake This is a very well-camouflaged snake, unfortunately. The Friendly Snakes of Florida According to scientists, the most commonly found snakes in Florida that are non-venomous are as follows. Water snakes Rat snakes Black racer Ring-necked snake Garter snakes Rough green snake These snakes all play an essential role in the ecosystem of Florida.
Preventing Snakes in Florida Preventing snakes in Florida is a difficult task, especially if you live near the woods or water. And please remember, if they are not venomous, they are actually doing good to be in your yard.
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