Florida has its share of poisonous snakes and dangerous reptiles. Of course Florida is more known for alligators but there are 6 species of poisonous snakes in Florida. I do know that the correct term should be venomous snakes in Florida. However more people will Google the term “Poisonous snakes” than “Venomous snakes in Florida” and my goal is to be picked up by search engines.
According to the Florida Museum of Natural History there are 6 different species of poisonous snakes in Florida. The Southern Copperhead, the Cottonmouth, Eastern Diamondback, Timber Rattlesnake, Dusky Pygmy and the Eastern Coral snake, are the venomous snakes that live in Florida.
Unless you are a mouse or other natural prey you probably have little to worry about from poisonous snakes in Florida. I would be more worried about all the pet pythons let loose in the Everglades to multiply due to having few if any natural enemies there.
The issue with venomous snakes attacking humans comes into play because of lack of habitat for the snakes. They naturally come into contact with humans when there is not much room for them to live.
The key to avoiding a venomous snake attack in Florida or anywhere else is to lower the attraction of your property to snakes. Don’t leave a lot of trash around that attracts rodents, because the snakes go where their prey is. Also you want to keep lumber or wood piles from accumulating around your home; this is a great hiding place for any snakes in the area.
Now for some information about the venomous snakes in Florida
The Timber Rattlesnake
The Timber Rattlesnake is often a large snake than can grow to over 5 feet in length. The Timber Rattler has dark bands on it’s back that looks like chevrons off a military uniform. The color varies but the markings and of course the rattle are present on all of them. Timber Rattlers will hibernate in animal dens during winter months.
The Southern Copperhead
The Southern Copperhead is usually a smallish brown (copper colored of course) snake that can be very aggressive and their venom is pretty harsh. As a matter of fact if ANY snake bites you, you should seek medical attention at once. And don’t cut the wound and try to suck out the venom that is Hollywood BS and just invites infection.
Cottonmouth
The Cottonmouth snakes are water loving reptiles in Florida and anywhere else you find them. They tend to be dark in coloe and have white inside their mouth giving them the name cottonmouth. The Cottonmouth is the only venomous water snake in North America.
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
The Eastern Diamondbacks found in Florida (or anywhere) of course have diamond shaped markings on their back. These are the largest venomous snakes in North America and can be very aggressive when approached. The bite of the Eastern Diamondback is very dangerous to humans and I think this is the most dangerous snake in Florida.
The Eastern Coral Snake
The venom from Coral Snakes in the United States will fool you because it can take hours to cause a person to develop symptoms. I feel they are not as dangerous as the Eastern Diamondbacks because they are not as aggressive in most cases. These Eastern Coral snakes like the swamps and woods of Florida for their habitat. Remember black rings next to yellow are the venomous snakes. Black and yellow can kill a fellow.
The Dusky Pygmy
The Dusky Pygmy is a small but thick bodied rattlesnake that can be misleading to people. It is so small that its warning rattle sounds like bugs or something and not like the rattle of a bigger snake. They are mean little critters but their bite is seldom fatal to humans. The Dusky Pygmy has black splotches on their back with the rest of the color being of a gray and it has a red streak down the back as well.
Sources
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-guide/Sistrurusmbarbouri.htm
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/eastern-coral-snake/
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/eastern-diamondback-rattlesnake/
http://www.wf.net/~snake/moccasin.htm
http://www.kingsnake.com/louisiana/species_copperhead.htm
http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/index.htm?http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/outreach/accounts/reptiles/snakes/Timber_Rattlesnake/index.htm&2
