Living in South Florida you get to see tons of different types of animals, from iguanas and lizards to manatees and even black bears. While most of these animals stay in their habitats, some might try and come onto your property. One of the most common animals to slither their way into South Florida homes are snakes.
While snakes can be cool to look at from a distance, you never want to see one in your backyard, pool, or inside of your home. Unfortunately, snakes do not understand this and might try to move onto your property. Even though your first instinct might be to try and remove them on your own, this puts you at risk of being bitten.
While some snakes are harmless, there is a wide variety of venomous snakes in South Florida. In fact, there are six types of venomous snakes in South Florida, including southern copperheads, cottonmouths, eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, timber rattlesnakes, dusky pygmy rattlesnakes, and eastern coral snakes.
The 6 Types of Venomous Snakes Found in South Florida
While there are plenty of harmless snakes in South Florida, there are also venomous ones you should be aware of. Unfortunately, even venomous snakes are on the lookout for shelter, which could cause them to come onto your property.
If you find one of these six venomous snakes on your property, you should contact a professional wildlife removal service:
1. Southern Copperhead
Southern copperheads are one of the venomous snakes you can find in South Florida. These snakes can grow to 24 to 26 inches in length and have yellow cat-like eyes. Their bodies are covered in rough scales that have dark and hourglass-shaped crossbands.
Southern copperheads are often referred to as pit vipers because they have heat-sensing pits between their eyes and nostrils. Additionally, these snakes are active during the day, which means you will most likely encounter them on your property when it is still light out.
2. Cottonmouth
Cottonmouth snakes are commonly found in South Florida and can grow up to 30 to 48 inches in length. These snakes are highly venomous and should never be approached without the assistance of a professional.
Florida cottonmouths have a pattern of light and dark crossbands that contain many spots or specks. As they age, they may appear to be fully black, as their pattern darkens over time.
Even though cottonmouths are venomous, they are not aggressive. Most bites occur when a pet or human accidentally steps on them. However, they might attack if they feel threatened, so you should never attempt to remove them on your own.
3. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake in North America. These snakes can grow to be 3 to 6 feet long, making them incredibly intimidating. Additionally, their bites are so venomous that they can cause death in humans, which makes it even more important that you contact a wildlife removal company when you see one on your property.
Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes might be blackish-gray, olive green, or muddy gray. The easiest way to identify these snakes is to look for diamond-shaped patterns on their bodies. Additionally, their tails make a rattling sound when shaken, which is another easy way to identify them.
4. Timber Rattlesnake
Timber rattlesnakes are also found in South Florida and can grow up to 5 feet in length. Typically, these snakes are gray with a pinkish hue and a stripe down their backs. Most of the time, the stripes are orange, brown, or black.
It is common for timber rattlesnakes to have a dark chevron pattern along their bodies. This allows them to camouflage themselves in vegetation along the ground. Because they are venomous, you should never approach a timber rattlesnake yourself.
5. Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake
Most adult dusky pygmy rattlesnakes are 12 to 24 inches in length. While these snakes are small, their bodies tend to be extremely thick. They vary from light to dark gray in color with a row of black spots that disrupt a reddish-brown stripe along their backs.
As a rattlesnake, they will shake their tails and make a rattling noise when they feel threatened. While these snakes are venomous, their bites are not considered life-threatening. Still, you should never attempt to remove one from your property on your own.
6. Eastern Coral Snake
Eastern coral snakes are one of the most common venomous snakes found in South Florida. These snakes are slender and can grow to be almost 4 feet in length.
Eastern coral snakes are extremely easy to identify, as they have a pattern of black, yellow, and red rings along their bodies. The red and yellow rings will always touch each other on these snakes, distinguishing them from scarlet kingsnakes.
Coral snakes can be incredibly dangerous, as their venom acts as a neurotoxin. Because of this, you should always contact a professional wildlife removal company if you find one on your property.
What Should You Do if You Find a Venomous Snake on Your Property?
If you find any of the venomous snakes listed above, you should avoid making contact with them on your own. Attempting to remove one of these snakes from your property could result in a bite, which might be life-threatening depending on the species of snake.
Instead of trying to remove them on your own, call a professional wildlife removal company to assist you. These individuals have experience trapping and relocating snakes which allows them to do so in a manner that keeps everyone involved safe and unharmed.
Get Connected With a Professional Snake Removal Company Today
If you have noticed a venomous snake on your property in South Florida, it’s time to consider hiring a professional. At Nuisance Wildlife Rangers, we have years of experience in trapping and relocating venomous snakes. By contacting us, you can ensure your personal safety while resting assured that the snake will be removed ethically.
To learn more about how we can help you with venomous snake removal in Florida, contact us today.