Florida Poisonous Snakes
Some over 80 million people that visit the "Sunshine State" in any given year, you would think that with such a large number of people involved in everything from swimming, surfing, hiking, fishing, boating or just walking along its 2,276 miles of shoreline, that the attacks from Florida poisonous snakes would be huge.
But normally only an average of 120 or so people are bitten a year and usually with only one fatality. So the chances of you and your family encountering and being bitten by Florida poisonous snakes are very slim. In actuality there are only four Florida poisonous snakes of the known 46 species that can be labeled as "hot" or venomous in the entire state!
If you have ever visited Florida or are planning an outdoor adventure to this great southern paradise, then you may want to discover how to identify the six Florida poisonous snakes.
Florida poisonous snakes countdown - Listed in no particular order
Florida poisonous snakes 1 - The Copperhead, Highland Moccasin, Southern Copperhead, or nicknamed the "Chunkhead" can vary in color from red-tans to gold-tans. Most adults are anywhere from 18-36 inches (91 cm). Their most notable characteristic is colored bands on their bodies that appear in "hourglass" shaped.
Typically non aggressive, the copperhead will freeze when scared and as such is often stepped on by accident. But the more lethal hatchlings are colored bright sulfur yellow that mellows into a sunny gold as they mature.
Florida poisonous snakes 2 - The Cottonmouth or Water Moccasin normally lives around the waters of lakes, steams or creeks. They have range in color form a dark tan, brown to a nearly black with darker bands across their bodies. The young ones have a yellow tail with much bolder banding. Cottonmouths are not aggressive as some other Florida poisonous snakes but will stand their ground go into attack mode when cornered or provoked.
Florida poisonous snakes 3 - Rattlesnakes are the largest venomous snake in the US. They can easily grow to over 6-8 feet and weigh up to 20 pounds. Known world wide for their thick triangle shaped heads and distinctive "hissing rattle" sounds they make with their tails when threatened. But what most people don't know is that this Florida poisonous snake can accurately strike from a coiled position up to one-third their body length in under a second!
There are three species of rattlers found on the Florida poisonous snakes' hot list: The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, the Timber Rattlesnake and the Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake or Ground Rattler.
Florida poisonous snakes 4 - unlike the other venomous snakes in Florida, poisonous snakes like the Coral snake do not have the large, wedge-shaped heads, nor the "cat-like" eyes or elliptical pupils. Coral snakes with their rounded heads and rounded pupils are often picked up by people who mistake them for their harmless look-alike the king snake. With similar red and yellow colored bands as a king snake, Southern people have long taught their children this little ditty, "If Red touches Yellow, don't touch that Fellow!"
Understanding how to quickly identify Florida's poisonous snakes can keep a pleasant hike in this natural and scenic wonderland from ending in a trip to the hospital.
