Famous Snorkeling Island in Florida | Colorful Shore Birds in Florida | Crocodiles in Florida
30 – Second Summary
🔎 Florida Snake – where to find?: Mostly in coastal mangroves, freshwater wetlands, dry uplands, and in some residential area
🐉 Most common snake in Florida? Black Pine Snake. Black Racer. Black Rat Snake.
🐍 What to do if you see a snake in Florida?: Simple! Leave it alone and slowly run away. Haha!
🏃🏽 Will they chase you down?: No, they aren’t aggressive and won’t chase.
😣 Are Florida snakes a problem?: No!, they are actually helpful in controlling the rodent population. #NaturalPestControl
☠️ Are They Poisonous?: Some of them are. It is important to know which ones are.
Florida is a popular holiday destination for domestic and international tourists alike, famed for its world-leading theme parks, great weather and the picturesque beaches in the Key West.
Florida is only one two States in the United States to have a tropical climate and it is even home to a stunning coral reef, the only barrier reef in the country and the third largest in the world. This state’s shoreline is distinctively flat, with its coastal plains and sandbars, attracting sun seekers far and wide, while its warm waters provide a perfect setting for a range of water sports.
Florida is also called home to the Everglades National Park, a tropical wilderness made up of wetlands, swamps, forests, and mangroves, attracting a wide range of native wildlife. Animals in Florida include the; American Alligator & Crocodile, aquatic birds such as Flamingos, Panthers, Dolphins, and snakes of different shape like coral snake.
Florida snakes
In this article, we will focus on the 6 most venomous snakes in Florida which pose a real threat to humans and should be avoided at all costs throughout your stay in this destination.
Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake
This short snake rarely grows beyond 2 feet long and weighs around 150 grams, on average. The Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake’s markings consist of a dark stripe through each eye, spots along its back, a white underbelly, and a red/ orange stripe running along the side of its body.
Despite its size, this species has a similar diet to much larger snakes in the region, feeding on small mammals (E.G. Mice and small rats), birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Once it has injected the venom via its fangs, the Pygmy Rattlesnake releases its victim and waits for the hemotoxins to take effect. This dangerous snake tracks the injected prey by scent – a small mammal can be completely immobilized within 30-45 seconds but cold-blooded creatures like frogs and lizards can continue to move freely for up to 15-20 minutes.
The Dusky Pygmy can usually be found inhabiting freshwater floodplains, marshland and woodland area and this species is one of the longest living of our featured six, with a lifespan of up to 20 years.
The Western Pygmy Rattlesnake holds the title of the smallest venomous snake in the US but the Dusky Pygmy is not far behind.
The venom of a Pygmy Rattlesnake is typically not enough to kill a human being, however, this snake can deliver multiple bites in a matter of seconds and anyone who has been bitten should seek medical attention as soon as possible. A bite from this viper can cause excruciating pain, swelling and tissue damage – in some cases, people have been known to lose fingers and toes if the wound is not properly treated. Dogs and pets should be treated immediately if you suspect they have been bitten by these water snakes.
Watch Kamp Kenan’s 17th Episode on Venomous Florida Snakes!
Southern Copperhead
The Southern Copperhead has an light brown/ tan colouring with a pinkish tint, with distinctive yellow eyes similar to those seen in scarlet king snake and brown cross bands shaped like hourglasses. Like all pit vipers, in its head, the Southern Copperhead has heat sensors between the yellow eyes and nose to help it detect prey.
This dangerous snake has been known to feed on baby Cottonmouth snakes in addition to mice, rats, swamp rabbits, lizards, baby turtles, frogs, toads, grasshoppers, cicadas and other insects, showing that it certainly isn’t a fussy eater.
Like other snake species of Pit Viper, the Southern Copperhead does not lay its eggs and instead the female incubates them until they are ready to hatch, protecting them from predators. The average lifespan for this snake species is between 6-8 years.
It is active during daylight hours in the cooler months and nocturnal during the hot summer months. Copperheads generally have one meal every three weeks and hibernate in winter, often in nests with other snake species.
A bite from this florida snake is not particularly harmless and only deadly in very rare cases, with children, the elderly, and people with issues in regard to their immune system the most at risk. Its hemolytic venom breaks down blood cells, causing tissue damage and pain. In order to kill its prey, the Southern Copperhead clamps down on the victim and holds it until the venom has taken effect.
Florida Cottonmouth
Also called, Water Moccasin, Florida’s cottonmouth can grow up to 1.2m in length, with a thick body and scales that follow a particular pattern which is usually a mixture of dark and light brown, with cross bands, spots, and speckles. Its markings get darker as it gets older and a long-living Cottonmouth snake can turn almost black. Its eyes are also camouflaged, improving its ability to hide in close proximity to its prey.
The Water Moccasin are pit vipers, and as you can guess by its name is predominantly a water snake, feeding on aquatic animals, helped by its excellent swimming abilities. Its main diet is made up of fish, amphibians, birds, eggs, rodents, smaller snakes, small turtles, and baby alligators.
They can be found in every county within Florida and can also be found on the islands off the Florida Keys and the Gulf of Mexico. It rarely ventures far from water but in the Everglades, this species has been found a quarter of a mile inland. Drying water holes and woods are also a popular habitat for these snakes where prey have less freedom to move and are therefore, easier to catch.
The Cottonmouth is one of Florida’s most venomous snakes and its bite can be very dangerous to animals and pets – anyone bitten should seek immediate medical attention. As ever, these Florida snakes will not seek to attack a human and if possible, will avoid all contact. Bites from the Cottonmouth usually occur when it is accidentally stepped on or spooked.
Timber Rattlesnake
These widespread pit vipers can be found in the north and south of the eastern states, making it one of the most populous species in the country – it is also known as the Canebrake Rattlesnake and the Banded Rattlesnake.
An adult canebrake Rattlesnake can grow between 1 to 5 feet and their body shape generally has black/ dark brown cross bands against a gray/ light brown background, these bands often display a zig-zag, ‘M’ or ‘V’ shaped pattern.
At home in rugged terrain, the Timber Rattlesnake can be found in deciduous forests and rocky areas. Females can often be seen basking on open, rocky ledges when temperatures are high, while males prefer cooler climates found below the forest canopy.
Even though the Timber Rattlesnake is not often seen by humans due to its long hibernation period and cautious nature, these highly venomous snakes are not to be taken lightly – it has long fangs, a powerful strike and can expel a large quantity of venom.
The snake’s rattle is made of keratin and a new segment is added each time it sheds its skin, however, it is difficult to judge a specimen’s age by its rattle as these segments often break after a couple of years. When the snake shakes its tail, these segments vibrate and create a distinguishable rattle.
Eastern Coral Snake
The Eastern Coral Snake is a highly venomous species found in the southeastern United States, recognizable by the red, black, and yellow rings covering its body. This Florida coral snake is often confused with the non-venomous Scarlet Snake.
#SnakeSunday 🐍 Scarletsnake
*Non-venomous* Cemophora coccinea are found throughout Florida and in every county except the FL Keys. These secretive snakes are primarily burrowers and are usually found under rocks, logs, and other debris.
FL Snake ID Guide: https://t.co/xDoWcOBNTz pic.twitter.com/2uZk0STq1G— Florida Museum (@FloridaMuseum) December 19, 2021
These Florida snakes are considered as one of the deadliest snakes of pit vipers species in the US, the Eastern Coral Snake has a fearsome reputation and poses a serious threat to humans. Its bite contains a neurotoxic venom and can affect the way the brain communicates with muscles, resulting in symptoms such as; impaired movement and speech and eventually paralysis of respiratory and cardiac functions.
Other effects from the bite of these coral snakes include; vomiting, nausea, double vision, weakness, and mild paralysis of the limbs. Once bitten it is possible for a person to go up to 13 hours without showing any symptoms but once developed, the venom’s effect can accelerate and leave lasting damage unless the person is treated before the end of those 13 hours.
Anyone bitten should call for medical attention immediately, clean and cover the injury and then position their body so the wound is below the heart. It is not advised to try to cut away or remove the venom, or apply pressure to isolate the wound as cutting off blood flow can result in further tissue damage.
The Eastern Coral Snake contains the most deadly venom in the US (the second strongest in the world, after the Black Mamba) but attacks are rare and this species will avoid humans at all costs, if possible. Its normal habitat is sandy, marshy, and wooded areas, spending most of its time burrowed underground or resting beneath leaf piles or vegetation.
An adult will often eat fellow younger Eastern Coral snakes as well as other smaller Florida’s snakes, in addition to creatures such as lizards and frogs.
These coral snakes skin pattern mimics that of scarlet kingsnake, but the difference is that in scarlet kingsnake pattern red touches black not yellow compared to coral snakes where red touches yellow and not black.
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
The Eastern Diamondback is the largest species of Rattlesnake and the heaviest venomous snake found in the Americas, on average. The Biggest on record was shot in 1946, measuring 7.8 feet in length and weighing over 15kg.
The average length of this species is between 3.5-5.5 feet and can be identified by their colour pattern which is a combination of brown, olive, grey, and yellow. Its name derives from the row of diamond-shaped patches along the snake’s body.
These venomous snakes are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s ‘Least Concern List’ due to their wide distribution and estimated large population. Although research shows that their numbers have decreased over the last few decades, their overall numbers are still high across many of the southern states including Florida.
The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake can be found along coastal plains in Florida’s Keys and the Gulf Coast, although it is not uncommon to find them further inland.
The Diamondback’s typical habitats are sand dunes, in palmetto thickets and tall grass, woods, dry pine forests, swamps,’ and coastal salt marshes in the dry season. It has also been known to occupy burrows made by Gophers and Tortoises.
Although not considered an adept climber, this rattlesnake has been spotted as high as 10 metres in an attempt to search for prey. It is also a strong swimmer and has been seen crossing the barrier islands, miles off the coast.
It’s rattle serves as a warning when threatened but this snake is capable of moving in complete silence when stalking prey.
It feeds mainly rodents and some small birds, such as Quails and Towhees, it has also been reported that even an animal as large as a young Turkey has fallen victim to this predator.
Hawks and Eagles provide a threat to young and adolescent Diamondbacks but are unlikely to tackle an adult.
The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is considered the most dangerous snake in North America and if untreated, the mortality rate of people bitten is between 10-20% according to studies.
With a powerful strike, the largest fangs of any rattlesnake, and a very high venom yield, the Diamondback Rattlesnake deserves the title of the deadliest Florida snake.
For a deeper understanding of Florida snakes, a trip to the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville is highly recommended.
What Is The Most Venomous Snake In Florida?
The Eastern Coral Snake is the most venomous snake in Florida and is amongst the most venomous snakes in the world, the most venomous being the Black Mamba. The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake’s venom is not as potent but can deliver much more poison in a single bite.
Non-venomous snakes in Florida include; Hognoses, hognose, Black Racers eastern indigo snake, Coachwhips, Red Bellies, Garter, Crowned, and Green Snakes.
Are Florida Water Snakes Venomous?
Yes, the Florida Cottonmouth, otherwise known as the Water Moccasin is a venomous water snake which can be found near bodies of freshwater in the southeastern states of America.
