snakey or what?

bluemtnrunner · 06-01-2009, 10:37 AM

Is it more snakey that usual or have I been blind? Last week a neighbor showed us a 4 ft Rattlesnake he had killed near our yard. This weekend I saw three black snakes, a huge dusty colored snake (didn't get a look at his head as he slithered off the patio), the boys saw a rattler crossing the watercolor bridge and ChefEd just now accidently ran over a snake curled up in front of Regions on 395. That seems like a lot of snakes in just a few days.

I AM NOT going mountain biking on the trails any time soon.

Lake View Too · 06-01-2009, 12:35 PM

I've been vacationing and living in Seagrove (Eastern Lake) for about fifty years. In the last three years, I have seen more snakes than in the last three decades. We use to see one every three or four years. It's now close to twice a month. My neighbor saw two in two days. The fact that our lake has been changed from brackish to fresh water I think is the major contributing factor, but I would be curious to know how widespread this snakey thing is.

lerxst · 06-01-2009, 03:27 PM

We've had a series of huge rainstorms in the past several weeks and there is a lot of standing water. Also, I've noticed a small cypress swamp that had been dried out for some time is now normal level again. I would guess that the rains are playing a huge part in the snakes moving around.

Beauty hunter · 06-01-2009, 04:01 PM

all the empty buildings that have been built for ? snakes, racoons, coyotes, hogs, bunnies, deer-seen them all in local neighborhoods...natural habitat being displaced by empty buildings with no tenants...if the rent stays as high as it is in this area you may see me wandering around!

biddieann · 06-01-2009, 04:25 PM

It's snakey in Gulf Breeze too. Can anyone identify this snake that was in my pool?

dunebug · 06-01-2009, 07:21 PM

What ever it is I would have ran for the hills! Recently I had seen a snake in the middle of the sidewalk as I was taking a bike ride near WaterSound. Not fun to have Mr/Ms. Snake blocking the path.

Lynnie · 06-01-2009, 07:52 PM

I ran over a stick Sat. in SoBuc in my neighborhood. It was a snake and I felt horrible when I realized it was too late and looked in my rear view mirror. He didn't stick around.....slithered off, so I guess ok. I think I was in the Ho....6,600 lbs.

We've had a lot of rain, too......creeks are/were rising and this snake was right next to the creek in my hood.

Giddzilla · 06-01-2009, 07:57 PM

It looks like a corn snake. You want them around, they eat rodents. If you are worried about venomous snakes around your house then stop for a minute and think about things you may be doing to attract rodents.

Garbage cans overflowing?

Compost pile too close to the house or where the kids play?

Spilled birds seed or improperly stored bird seed?

Tall grass weeds around the foundation of the house?

Yard refuse?

I totally understand people worrying about venomous snakes being too near the kids (not going to fault you for killing a 4' rattler that is on your patio by your toddlers tricycle if you don't know how to properly handle a "hot" snake) but they are beneficial in keeping rodents, which carry diseases such as Hanta virus and cause property damage, at bay. Lets try to think about constructive ways to live with snakes and other wildlife.

Rattle snakes really like to eat rabbits so if you have wild rabbits around please do not feed them and try to think of ways to discourage them from being in your yard.

Snakes also like places to hide, bask, and access to water so minimizing these kinds of things in your yard can help keep it snakeless.

seagrovegirl · 06-01-2009, 09:07 PM

Ditched a bike to avoid running over a Water Moccasin Saturday in front of the old post office on Gilmore Road in Pt. Washington. Cut my toe open on the cogs that hold the chain on the bike and the chain slipped off. Limped home with a bloody foot, but I didn't get snake bit!!!

Seeing bigger types of snakes...no Pygmy Rattlers yet this season. Look up the Creepy Crawley thread from last year..............YIKES!!!!!

jodiFL · 06-01-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biddieann

It's snakey in Gulf Breeze too. Can anyone identify this snake that was in my pool?

Kinda looks like a pygmy rattler to me. but the head isnt shaped like one. Might be some banded water snake

NoHall · 06-01-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biddieann

It's snakey in Gulf Breeze too. Can anyone identify this snake that was in my pool?

I agree with the corn snake/rat snake diagnosis. Good for keeping down rodents, which is good for keeping down poisonous snakes. Keep him around if you can.

I saw a huge (dead--squished) black snake this morning in north Georgia and was very sad. I hope the squisher has an infestation of rattlesnakes.

I also agree with the reasons that have been cited---rains, changing habitat, etc. A few years ago a subdivision went in about a half mile from my house and I started seeing snakes more than usual. They get disturbed by different things and either move around or are more visible.

When I was in landscaping I went through snakey seasons, too--some years it seemed like I was finding the little belly-crawlers everywhere I looked, and other years I wouldn't see any at all. Mother Nature just keeps us hoppin.

SWGB · 06-01-2009, 11:33 PM

I'm betting it's the rain, not a lot of construction or development has been going on lately. The water table rises and drives the snakes out of the ground and low lying areas. In fact we used to get warnings during the weather report when we had heavy/tropical rains.

mikecatadjuster · 06-02-2009, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biddieann

It's snakey in Gulf Breeze too. Can anyone identify this snake that was in my pool?

That's a juvenile black racer (non-posionous) I know it's difficult to imagine it as a black racer, but that is the juvenile stage.

bluemtnrunner · 06-02-2009, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikecatadjuster

That's a juvenile black racer (non-posionous) I know it's difficult to imagine it as a black racer, but that is the juvenile stage.

Thanks!!! I showed my husband and said if see THIS don't hurt him, he is just a baby!

I can't get over the snake he accidentally hit on 395, that seems like a busy place to be curling up. I wonder if it had been crossing earlier and got hit and curled up, though they usually hightail it out of there when they get hit.

Can we get some photos of what we might see locally with the type it is. I don't kill any snakes as a rule, treat them all the same and stay the hail away but am curious as to which one is what, like that big fat tan one I saw briefly the other day.

mikecatadjuster · 06-02-2009, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluemtnrunner

Thanks!!! I showed my husband and said if see THIS don't hurt him, he is just a baby!

I can't get over the snake he accidentally hit on 395, that seems like a busy place to be curling up. I wonder if it had been crossing earlier and got hit and curled up, though they usually hightail it out of there when they get hit.

Can we get some photos of what we might see locally with the type it is. I don't kill any snakes as a rule, treat them all the same and stay the hail away but am curious as to which one is what, like that big fat tan one I saw briefly the other day.

I'll include a picture of an adult Black Racer that I took here along 30A. These snakes, as the name implies, are lightening quick.

SWGB · 06-02-2009, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluemtnrunner

Thanks!!! I showed my husband and said if see THIS don't hurt him, he is just a baby!

I can't get over the snake he accidentally hit on 395, that seems like a busy place to be curling up. I wonder if it had been crossing earlier and got hit and curled up, though they usually hightail it out of there when they get hit.

Can we get some photos of what we might see locally with the type it is. I don't kill any snakes as a rule, treat them all the same and stay the hail away but am curious as to which one is what, like that big fat tan one I saw briefly the other day.

Well they're cold blooded and dumb, so a warm road probably looks pretty good.

Here's a great resource. You can also get a poster from the FWC similar to the fish poster. Hang that above your kids bed.

Online Guide to the Snakes of Florida

Home

believer · 06-14-2009, 08:14 PM

I am staying on Eastern Lake and saw two black snakes and one brown snake in the lake today. I will try to get pictures for all you interested folks. I spent half the day working in the yard and catching frogs, minnows, crabs etc... with my three year old. Needless to say, it was real spooky to see three snakes roaming around. Im from the Mississippi delta on the river and our snakes seam to follow food supply vs. water. Ive been on Eastern Lake for three weeks now and all I hear and see is frogs. If I was a snake, I would be eatin frogs at Eastern Lake.