Types of Venomous Snakes in Florida and What You Should Do If You Encounter One

Snakes are a part of summer more than any other season because they love the sun. They love basking in it because of their own cold nature and that is why it is so important to watch your step because they are everywhere, especially in the south.

Types of Venomous Snakes Found in Florida:

Pit Vipers
Pit Vipers got their name based on the heat-sensitive pits that are found on either side of their head. Of all the venomous snakes found in Florida,  five of them are Pit Vipers.

Pit Vipers have very distinct characteristics:

1. Thick blocky head
2. Thick body
3. Rough looking scales
4. Dark facial band

Types of Pit Vipers

Cottonmouths:

• are often confused with other non-venomous snakes
• are Florida’s most aquatic snake
• can be found in North Florida in ponds, wetlands, lake, and rivers
• can grow up to 6 feet long, but are usually 2-4 feet in length
• feed on frogs, mice, fish, and small mammals
• have a while lining in their mouth that can be seen when they are in their aggressive stance
• have reddish-brown crossbands and yellowtails
• have live births

Copperheads:

• found in Florida’s panhandle
• can grow up to 3 feet long
• found in ravines, rivers, and suburban areas
• eats small rodents, birds, frogs, rabbits, and other snakes
• are light brown to gray with large bands of dark brown shaped like hourglasses all along their body
• have thick bodies and heads
• have keeled scales which gives them a rougher look
• have live births

Pygmy Rattlesnakes:

• are the most commonly encountered venomous snakes
• are aggressive
• are the smallest venomous snake in Florida (averaging 1-2 feet)
• can be found in shrubs, open pinelands, suburban yards, and golf courses
• eat frogs and lizards
• are gray in color with dark blotches on their side and back
• have a series of reddish-brown marks can be seen within the blotches.
• have keeled scales
• give live births

Eastern Diamond Rattlesnakes:

• are Florida’s largest venomous snake (averaging 3-6 feet but have been recorded as long as 8 feet)
• can be found in shrubs, pinelands, coastal barrier islands, and urban areas
• are poisonous as newborns
• are easy to spot since they have rows of black beige diamonds with a brown center that runs along their back.
• have large chunky heads and a dark stripe running through each eye that goes to the corner of their mouth.
• have a rattler on their tale that sounds when they feel threatened
• have keeled scales that give them a rougher appearance.

Timber/Canebrake Rattlesnakes:

• Can grow up to 6 feet but are usually only 3-5 feet in length
• Can be found in can thickets, swamps, and riverbeds
• Eat small rodents, reptiles, rabbits, and birds
• Are beige or pink-like gray in color with a series of dark brown chevron-shaped bands running across the length of their body
• Have rust-colored stripes that run along the middle of their backs
• Have a dark brown/black tail that ends in a rattler.
• Have thick heads
• Are similar to Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes in the effect that they have a dark band from their eye to the rear of their head.
• They have keeled scales and give live births

Coral Snakes

The Eastern or Harlequin Coral Snake:

• has black snouts
• has yellow bands that act as a separator between red and black has a tail that is ringed with yellow and black
• has smooth scales and  a glossy appearance
• lies eggs, versus having a live birth
• is part of the Cobra family versus the Viper family
• can grow up from 2.5 feet long
• are secretive and like to spend most of their time underground in logs near a swamp edge and shrubbery
• eat snakes, lizards, and frogs
• is the only coral snake in Florida

Have you seen any of these snakes in your yard? If so, it’s important not to try to capture them on your own. Instead, callWildout Animal and Pest Removal, let them remove the snake safely so that no one (including the snake) gets harmed. Just give them a call today 844-945-3688!

from blog https://wildremoval.com/blog/types-of-venomous-snakes-in-florida-and-what-you-should-do-if-you-encounter-one/
via Wildout Animal & Pest Removal