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Snakes
There
are far too many species of snakes
in the Tampa Bay area to cover
here. We specialize in Tampa snake removal.
Non-native
exotic snake such as the Burmese
python were introduced through
the pet trade. These snakes can
reach 20 feet in length.
There
are only a few that are poisonous
such as the Cottonmouth,
Coral snake and Eastern Diamondback
Rattlesnake
in our area.
Identification
of snakes should be left up to
professionals.
I
will identify the snake for you
and then safely remove it. We specialize in Tampa snake removal and control.
Please don't kill snakes! Even
the poisonous ones are beneficial
in that they keep down the rodent
populations.
Call
today!
727-710-0373
Excerpt from great
article:
Recognizing
Florida's Venomous Snakes
Steve A. Johnson and Martin B.
Main
Florida is home to 45 species
of native snakes, six of which
are venomous (poisonous). The
venomous species include five
pit vipers (Eastern Diamond-backed
Rattlesnake, Timber Rattlesnake,
Pygmy Rattlesnake, Copperhead,
and Cottonmouth) and the Coral
Snake. Copperheads and Timber
Rattlesnakes have a limited range
in Florida. Copperheads only occur
in a small area of Florida's Panhandle
just west of Tallahassee, and
Timber Rattlesnakes are only found
in northern Florida as far south
as Gainesville and in limited
portions of the Panhandle. The
other four venomous species are
found throughout the state. Florida's
venomous snakes occur in a variety
of natural habitats, ranging from
swamps to dry woods.The five species
of pit vipers all share several
characteristics. The pupils of
their eyes are vertical (cat-like)
and they have a deep facial pit
between each eye and nostril.
These characteristics can be difficult
to see unless a snake is examined
closely, so do not rely on them
to differentiate venomous from
non-venomous species. Florida's
pit vipers have blocky, triangular-shaped
heads that are distinctly broader
than their necks. Relative to
their length, these species are
heavy-bodied snakes.Although each
of the six venomous species in
Florida have unique characteristics
that allow them to be readily
identified by experts, there are
many non-venomous species with
which the venomous species may
be confused. Therefore it is best
not to attempt to capture, harass,
or harm any snake. To do so may
put you at risk of being bitten
by a venomous species.Cottonmouth/Water
MoccasinThe Cottonmouth
is the most aquatic of Florida's
venomous snakes and occurs throughout
the state . Although they may
exceed five feet in length, most
adult Cottonmouths observed in
Florida are about three feet long.
This species prefers the margins
of lakes, rivers, and wetlands.
Adults are dark-colored and may
have a faint crossband pattern
or be a uniform black. The eye
is camouflaged by a broad, dark
facial stripe that runs from the
eye to the back of the head. As
a defensive response when threatened,
Cottonmouths often will open their
mouths wide, revealing the cotton-white
interior . Young Cottonmouths
are brightly colored with reddish-brown
crossbands and a yellow-colored
tail. When young they look very
similar to the Copperhead.Several
species of harmless water snakes
are often mistaken as Cottonmouths.
Water snakes are not venomous
but they tend to be aggressive
and quick to bite. To avoid confusion
and the potential for being bitten,
it is best to leave all water
snakes alone.CopperheadIn
Florida, Copperheads only occur
in a small area of Florida's Panhandle
just west of Tallahassee, primarily
along the Apalachicola River and
its tributaries . Copperheads
prefer to remain near streams
and wet areas. A full grown Copperhead
is usually less than three feet
long. Copperheads are relatively
thick-bodied with bold markings
. The general body color of these
snakes is light brown to gray,
and there are large bands of darker
brown along their backs. Because
of constrictions in the darker
bands along the center of the
back of this species, the darker
bands have an hourglass shape.
The alternating pattern of lighter
and darker bands provides Copperheads
with exceptional camouflage in
the forested areas where they
live. Young Copperheads look very
similar to adults except the tips
of their tails are yellowish in
color.Eastern Diamond-backed
RattlesnakeThis is a
very dangerous snake and should
not be approached. The Eastern
Diamond-backed Rattlesnake is
Florida's largest venomous snake
and may exceed six feet in length.
It occurs throughout Florida in
a variety of dry habitats, such
as pinelands, scrub, and golf
courses .Eastern Diamond-backed
Rattlesnakes have bold markings
down their backs that include
a row of large, dark diamonds
with brown centers and cream-colored
borders . The tail ends in a rattle
that is used to make a loud buzzing
sound when the snake feels threatened.
Some individuals may not rattle,
even when they are poised to strike.
The large, thick head has a light-bordered,
dark stripe running diagonally
through the eye to the rear of
the jaw. The scales of this species
are strongly keeled (i.e., there
is a ridge along the center of
each scale), giving these snakes
a rough appearance. The young
are similar to adults in color
pattern.Timber RattlesnakeThe
Timber Rattlesnake (a.k.a. Canebrake
Rattlesnake) has a relatively
small range in the state; it is
only found in northern Florida
as far south as Gainesville and
in limited portions of the Panhandle.
This species prefers moist pinelands,
river bottomlands, and hammocks.
Timber Rattlesnakes can grow to
five feet or longer. These snakes
have a pinkish-gray to tan body
color with prominent, irregularly-shaped,
dark marks and bands . A reddish-brown
stripe runs along the middle of
the back of Timber Rattlesnakes.
The tail of the species is dark
brown or black and ends with a
large rattle. Timber Rattlesnakes
have large, thick heads and there
may be a band running from each
eye to the rear of the head. The
scales of this species are strongly
keeled, giving these snakes a
rough appearance. The young are
similar to adults in color pattern.Pygmy
RattlesnakePygmy Rattlesnakes
are the smallest of Florida's
venomous snake species. Adults
rarely exceed 20 inches in length.
Pygmy Rattlesnakes range throughout
the state and occur in many different
habitats that include pine flatwoods,
oak scrub, open pinelands, and
palm hammocks.This is one of the
most commonly encountered venomous
snakes that occasionally is found
in residential neighborhoods.
Pygmy Rattlesnakes have a dark
band that runs from each eye to
the rear of the jaw ( Figure 11
). Their bodies are covered with
numerous dark blotches with a
row of darker blotches running
down the middle of the snake's
back. Usually a series of reddish-brown
marks can be seen between the
blotches on the back. The rattle
on the tip of the tail of this
species is so small that it cannot
be heard even when shaken vigorously
by the snake. Pygmy Rattlesnakes
are bold and will often hold their
ground if approached. They will
bob their head and strike into
the air if they feel threatened.Coral
SnakeCoral Snakes occur
in many types of habitats throughout
the state but are seldom encountered
because they are quite secretive
and spend much of their lives
underground. They are rarely longer
than 30 inches and are usually
no bigger around than a quarter.
Coral Snakes are identified by
the alternating bands of black,
yellow, and red that give this
species its bold appearance .Two
non-venomous species look very
similar to Coral Snakes because
they also have bands of red, black,
and yellow (or orange or white).
However, the arrangement of the
bands differs between the non-venomous
species (Scarlet Kingsnake and
Scarlet Snake) and the Coral Snake.
In the two non-venomous species
the red bands touch only black
bands, but in Coral Snakes the
red bands only touch yellow bands.
Remember the stoplight phrase
"yellow, red, STOP!"
If the red and yellow bands are
next to each other, like the colors
of a stoplight, it is a Coral
Snake. Another feature of the
Coral Snake is its blunt, black
snout, which is followed by a
band of yellow on the head. Neither
the Scarlet Kingsnake nor the
Scarlet Snake have black snouts.
Footnotes
1. This document is WEC 202, one
portion of a 4-part package of
the Department of Wildlife Ecology
and Conservation entitled "Dealing
with Venomous Snakes in Florida
School Yards." Institute
of Food and Agricultural Sciences
(IFAS), University of Florida.
First published: September 2005.
Please visit the EDIS Web site
at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. Accompanying
documents are available by contacting
Steve A. Johnson (johnsons@wec.ufl.edu)
or Martin B. Main (mbma@mail.ifas.ufl.edu).
A free PowerPoint presentation
(with speaking notes) about venomous
snakes in Florida is available
upon request from Steve A. Johnson.
2. Steve A. Johnson, Assistant
Professor and Extension Specialist,
Department of Wildlife Ecology
and Conservation, Mid-Florida
Research and Education Center,
University of Florida's Plant
City Campus, 33563; Martin B.
Main, Associate Professor and
Extension Wildlife Specialist,
Department of Wildlife Ecology
and Conservation, Southwest Florida
Research and Education Center,
Institute of Food and Agricultural
Sciences, University of Florida,
Immokalee, FL 34142.
Snake control tips
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Copyright
Information
This document is copyrighted by
the University of Florida, Institute
of Food and Agricultural Sciences
(UF/IFAS) for the people of the
State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains
all rights under all conventions,
but permits free reproduction
by all agents and offices of the
Cooperative Extension Service
and the people of the State of
Florida. Permission is granted
to others to use these materials
in part or in full for educational
purposes, provided that full credit
is given to the UF/IFAS, citing
the publication, its source, and
date of publication.
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