Snakes in Central Florida

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This month, I've been teaching a community workshop on "Snakes in Polk County." To my great surprise, my class has sold out or resulted in a full classroom at both locations! Why am I surprised? I didn't think so many people were interested in snakes. Clearly, I was wrong.

For that reason, I thought it might be helpful to post some of the information I discussed at my class here. Snakes are a fascinating group of critters but tend to evoke all levels of fear and trepidation in the average resident or tourist. Let me assure you... you scare them as well! Below, I've listed some of the information we cover in the class.

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Snake Facts:

• There are 36 species of native snakes in Central Florida; of those, only four are venomous. In all of Florida, there are 46 species of snakes. Of those, only six are venomous.
  
• The four venomous snakes in Central Florida are: pygmy rattle snake, diamond back rattlesnake, coral snake, and cottonmouth (aka water moccasin). 
  
• All of Florida's venomous snakes, including the two not found in Central Florida, are in the pit-viper family except the small coralsnake. The coralsnake is in the Elapidae family. Snakes in the pit-viper family produce a hematoxin while snakes in the Elapidae family produce a neurotoxin.
  
• Most water snakes people encounter in Central Florida are not actually the cottonmouth but are one of our many native non-venomous water snakes like the Florida banded water snake or the green water snake. The non-venomous snakes are thought to mimic the cottonmouth as a defensive strategy.
  
• There are no snake repellents on the market that are scientifically proved to be effective. Don't waste your money.
  
• This statement includes the use of mothballs as a snake repellant. Mothballs contain potent insecticides and are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As such, placing them in your home or yard is both illegal and illogical. Using mothballs in your yard and home as a snake repellent doesn't work, can be dangerous for children and pets, and contaminate soil and water. 
  
• The best defense for snake encounters in your yard or home is good maintenance and landscape design. Details on this strategy can be found in this University of Florida document: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw260
  
• Snakes play a critical role in pest control in agricultural, urban, and suburban communities. Without snakes, our rodent and insect populations would be much higher.
  

In addition to the great turnout for the classes, the media was interested too! I am so thrilled to say that I was contacted to do an on-air interview with Tampa's 88.5 WMNF about snakes in Central Florida. The radio station is a local National Public Radio affiliate and the show I appeared on is called "Radioactivity with Rob Lorei" The recording of the show is posted online, in their archives, if you're interested in listening. It was so exciting!

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For more information on dealing with snakes in residential areas, check out the document series from University of Florida IFAS Extension.
Or, check out Florida Fish and Wildlife's website at: 
http://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/snakes/

Scarlet Kingsnake, source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

If you're interested in some books for further study, the ones I use in my office are:

• Peterson's "A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians: Eastern and Central North America" 
  
• Ashton's "Handbook of Reptiles and Amphibians of Florida: Part 1 The Snakes"
  

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