Preventing Unwanted Encounters with Snakes
“Snakes! Why did it have to be snakes”? This famous line from Indiana Jones sums up how a lot of us feel about serpents, but Floridians need not live in fear of our native snakes. Our state is… Read More
Tag: snakes
Brahminy Blind Snake
Perhaps while working in your yard you have come across an animal that looked very much like an earthworm… but not quite… have you considered it might be a snake? Next time, take another look. If it is… Read More
UF/IFAS scientist discovers parasite introduced by invasive pythons is threatening Florida’s native snakes
DAVIE, FL. – In Florida, native snakes play an important role in the environment that we live and enjoy. Now that role is being threatened by invasive Burmese pythons introducing a non-native lung parasite to nearly half of… Read More
Snakes In Your Backyard
Now is a good time for a reminder to all of us about knowing safe snakes from dangerous ones. No matter how well groomed we keep our lawns, from time to time we all see snakes in our… Read More
Polk County’s Venomous Snake Species
In Florida, we have 46 native species of snakes. Thankfully, only 6 of those species are venomous. In Central Florida, we have 35 of Florida’s native snake species and only 4 of the 6 venomous species found in… Read More
Another Mystery in the Marsh – The Gulf Salt Marsh Snake
I am writing about this animal because, though it is rare to see them, our terrapin volunteers saw two this past week; and maybe you will too. The Gulf salt marsh snake is one of those, like the… Read More
Commonly Confused Snakes in Central Florida
There are 46 species of snakes in Florida and only 6 of them are venomous. These creatures play an important role in our Florida ecosystems. One described even eats venomous snakes and is a federally protected threatened species. Read… Read More
Which Local Creatures Eat Venomous Snakes?
In my job, I get many calls about snakes. Most people want to know how to tell a venomous from a nonvenomous one and how to keep them out of the yard. I was recently reading a new… Read More
Southern Black Racer
Recently, I was driving down a residential street near the University of Florida, and all of a sudden something long and black slithered very quickly across the street. I stopped to watch it disappear into the shrubs in… Read More
Recognizing Florida’s Venomous Snakes
Florida provides many opportunities to enjoy nature. Those who like hiking, camping or swimming may have been acquainted with the many species of snakes native to the state—46 to be exact. While this number may scare some people, only… Read More