OLD WIVES TALE USING MOTH BALLS TO RID AREA OF SNAKES
You may assume they work, only because consider this; how often do you actually see snakes? How can you validate moth balls actually repel snakes?
Moth balls, can only legally be used inside air tight storage containers, so that the harmful toxic vapors don’t leak out. It is unlawful to use mothballs other than for their intended purpose, as stated on the package. Using them outdoors as snake repellent (or for any other reason) can get you a $10,000 fine, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services.
Many people still use mothballs around their home to try to keep snakes away.
However, studies have shown that mothballs are not effective for this purpose. Do Mothballs Keep Snakes Away? No “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet!”, says Kathy Mayo, RN and Certified Specialist in Poison Information at the Blue Ridge Poison Center.
“The use of mothballs as a snake repellent is an old wives’ tale that just won’t go away. When people sprinkle them under or around a house, it increases the likelihood that a child or a pet will find them and eat them. They look just like candy to young children.
Also, the toxic vapors can seep up into the living spaces, sickening all of the people inside.”
The Dangers of Mothballs
There are two types of mothballs on the market. They look identical, but some are made with the chemical naphthalene, while others are made with paradichlorobenzene. Both chemicals become a gas when exposed to air and cause the strong mothball smell.
Naphthalene is the more toxic of the two chemicals. The fumes from mothballs can cause headache, dizziness and irritation to the eyes and lungs. If swallowed, naphthalene can cause a condition called hemolytic anemia. This is when red blood cells break apart and can no longer carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Symptoms of this condition may include fatigue, shortness of breath and painful urination, with discolored urine
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There are 95 known species of snakes in Florida, the ones listed first are the species most likely to be encountered in the region of Tanglewood/Highlands County, farther down after the videos are all the snakes of Florida that you may encounter should you venture out into others of areas of florida hiking etc.
Deal with them the way you would any wild creatures, keep your distance,
Do not kill non-venomous snakes they are beneficial
See videos at end of section.
The chances of being bitten by a venomous snake are very low, and the chances that a bite from a venomous snake will be fatal are even lower–you are more likely to die from a dog bite! Nonetheless, the following tips and fact sheets will help you be prepared in the event that you or someone you are with is bitten by a venomous snake. Check out the fact sheets
IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF A SNAKE BITE TAKE THE ACTIONS BELOW–
DO:
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Call 9-1-1 immediately! Do not wait until symptoms develop!
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Keep the victim calm and comfortable.
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Remove rings, watches, or restrictive clothing near the bite.
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Keep the bitten extremity (Finger, hand, foot, etc.) below the heart
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Record the time of the bite and symptoms as they develop..
DO NOT:
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DO NOT wait for symptoms to develop – call 9-1-1 immediately and get medical care!
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DO NOT try to catch the snake! This is not necessary for treatment, and you will probably get bitten!
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DO NOT make an “X” incision to suck out the venom or apply ice, heat, tourniquet, or electric shock!
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DO NOT give the victim alcohol, caffeine, drugs, or other stimulants!
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EASTERN CORAL SNAKE –VENOMOUS
Remember this Rhyme: Red touch black, safe for Jack. Red touches yellow, kills a fellow. .
ABOUT THE EASTERN CORAL SNAKE
A bite from the notoriously venomous eastern coral snake at first seems anticlimactic. There is little or no pain or swelling at the site of the bite, and other symptoms can be delayed for 12 hours. However, if untreated by antivenin, the neurotoxin begins to disrupt the connections between the brain and the muscles, causing slurred speech, double vision, and muscular paralysis, eventually ending in respiratory or cardiac failure. This iconic snake, with its bulbous head and red, yellow, and black bands, is famous as much for its potent venom as for the many rhymes—”Red and yellow, kill a fellow; red and black, friend of Jack”—penned to distinguish it from similarly patterned, nonvenomous copycats, such as the scarlet king snake.
Behavior and Habitat
Coral snakes are extremely reclusive and generally bite humans only when handled or stepped on. They must literally chew on their victim to inject their venom fully, so most bites to humans don’t result in death. In fact, no deaths from coral snake bites have been reported in the U.S. since an antivenin was released in 1967.
Eastern coral snakes are relatives of the cobra, mamba, and sea snake. They live in the wooded, sandy, and marshy areas of the southeastern United States, and spend most of their lives burrowed underground or in leaf piles. They eat lizards, frogs, and smaller snakes, including other coral snakes. Baby snakes emerge from their eggs 7 inches long and fully venomous. Adults reach about 2 feet in length. Average lifespan in the wild is unknown, but they can live up to seven years in captivity.
EASTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE – VENOMOUS
The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is a large, impressive, and potentially dangerous snake. It can strike up to 2/3 its body length; a 6-foot (183 cm) individual may strike 4 feet (122 cm). These factors, as well as others, make this a snake that should be simply left alone and not bothered. Some people wrongly believe the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake must rattle before striking, but this is not true. It can lay silent and motionless, and then strike without the usual nervous buzz from its rattle. In fact, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes that rattle are more apt to be heard, seen and killed, and those that remain silent are more apt to go undiscovered.
NATURAL PREDATORS OF THE RATTLESNAKE::
Aerial predators like owls, eagles and hawks may swoop down and snatch up a rattlesnake, while animals on the ground like foxes, coyotes, feral cats and even turkeys may also take on the rattler as a possible source of food. Even other snakes, like the king snake and black snake, prey on rattlesnakes.
The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is extremely beneficial to man because it preys on rats, mice, rabbits, and other warm blooded prey, many of which are considered pests. Nevertheless, the general public in Florida feels so threatened by this and other snakes that many are killed without consideration. This indiscriminate killing, combined with the widespread loss of Rattlesnake habitat to agricultural development and urban sprawl and commercial hunting for Rattlesnake skins, has caused a severe decline in most Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake populations.
When threatened, Eastern diamondbacks retreat from the threat, maintaining a striking coil and facing the intruder. Maneuvering their body backward to shelter, they quickly disappear.
Rattlesnakes inject venom into their prey by biting them with curved fang
EASTERN COTTONMOUTH – VENOMOUS;’
Found the extreme western panhandle of Florida
Older individuals may be nearly solid black. Dark bands run from each eye to the corners of the jaw. When threatened, the Cottonmouth may coil and open its mouth wide, showing the cottony white interior. Scales have obvious lengthwise ridges (keels). This snake gives birth to live young (does not lay eggs).
JUVENILE COTTONMOUTH VENOMOUS Usually 2.5–3 ft. (max. ~6 ft.)
Identification:
Young Cottonmouths are marked with broad, splotched bands that fade with age, and have tails tipped with mustard yellow. Juveniles may be misidentified as Copperheads, which are only found in Florida in a small area of the panhandle.
Found throughout Florida in or near aquatic habitats, including ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, canals, ditches, cypress swamps, wet prairies, and brackish coastal marshes. It may be especially abundant in areas where wading birds congregate to breed. It is occasionally encountered in upland habitats away from water.
Diet: Fish, frogs, snakes, turtles, young alligators, birds (and their eggs), mice, rats, squirrels, rabbits
FLORIDA COTTONMOUTH, COTTONMOUTH MOCCASIN, WATER MOCCASIN, MOCASSIN – VENOMOUS
Range: Found throughout Florida. The species extends north to Virginia and west to Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Habitat: Any wetlands or waterway in the state. Cottonmouths can be found along streams, springs, rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes, swamps, sloughs, reservoirs, retention pools, canals, and roadside ditches. It occasionally wanders far from water, and has been found in bushes and trees.
COPPERHEAD SNAKE – VENOMOUS
In Florida, this snake occurs only in the panhandle, primarily along the Apalachicola River and its tributaries, and then in the western tip of the panhandle.
SOUTHERN RING NECK SNAKE – NON VENOMOUS
Distinct neck ring, but usually broken in the middle; peninsular Florida north through southern Alabama and the coastal plain to southeastern Virginia.
BOA CONSTRICTOR [NON-NATIVE] – NON-VENOMOUS
In Florida, although this snake has been introduced in many areas it is known to be established only in and around the Charles Deering Estate in Miami, Miami-Dade County
SCARLET SNAKE, FLORIDA SCARLET SNAKE – NON-VENOMOUS
Two different color variations
Often mistaken for a coral snake. Red touch black, safe for Jack. Red touches yellow, kills a fellow. The Florida scarlet snake, is the nominotypical subspecies of the scarlet snake. It is a non-venomous colubrid snake that is endemic to the southeastern Unit
BLACK RAT SNAKE – NON-VENOMOUS (TOP)
EVERGLADES RACER – NON-VENOMOUS (LEFT)
SOUTHERN BLACK RACER – NON-VENOMOUS (RIGHT)
Range: In Florida, it is found in the Everglades region and throughout the southern peninsula and northern Florida Keys. It is also found near Cape Canaveral in Brevard Co., FL. It is not found outside of Florida. Habitat: Commonly found in pinelands, hardwood hammocks, prairies, cypress strands, melaleuca forests, and limestone outcroppings.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SOUTHERN BLACK SNAKE & A RACER
The main difference in appearance between the black racer and black rat snake lies in the glossiness of the snake’s skin. Black racer snakes out glosses its duller cousin, the black rat snake, whose skin offers up a dull, ridged appearance. As slender and graceful snakes they both grow to around the same length — about 4 feet — though some may grow as long as 6 to 8 feet. Both snakes climb and can be found in trees and bushes.
Coluber constrictor
External Appearance
With ridged or keeled scales, members of the rat snake family may have blotches, stripes or a combination of both. Some rat snakes may be uni-colored, lack black pigment altogether or be white colored and blue-eyed. In comparison, the black racer is completely black, both above and below with smooth, glossy scales. Male racers can be distinguished from the females because their tail is longer with a wide base and even a bulge, while the female’s tail tapers from her body.
EASTERN MUD SNAKE – NON-VENOMOUS
Range: It is found throughout Florida, except the Florida Keys. In the extreme western panhandle this snake intergrades (interbreeds) with the Western Mud Snake . Outside of Florida, this species ranges from central Alabama and Georgia north along the Atlantic coastal plain to southern Virginia. Habitat: It commonly occurs in almost any freshwater habitat, including cypress swamps, drainage ditches, marshes, rivers, and lakes. It is especially fond of waters choked with aquatic vegetation and muddy bottoms and banks, where it finds its favorite prey, the Amphiuma (Amphiumaspp.).
SOUTHERN FLORIDA RAINBOW SNAKE NON-VENOMOUS
Range: In Florida, this Rainbow Snake is known only from a single population in Fish Eating Creek, Glades County, flowing into the western side of Lake Okeechobee, in the southern peninsula. Habitat: It is very rare or possibly extinct. It has only been found in creeks, but it is believed it may also inhabit areas similar to other Rainbow Snakes.
RAINBOW SNAKE,, EEL MOCCASIN – NON-VENOMOUS
Range: In Florida, it occurs throughout the panhandle and northern peninsula, south along the St. John’s River to northern central Florida. Apparently disjunct populations have been reported from the Tampa Bay region. Outside of Florida, it ranges along the Atlantic Coastal Plain from eastern Louisiana to southern Maryland. Habitat: Uncommon to rare, it mainly inhabits clear waters of springs and rivers. It is also sometimes observed near creeks, lakes, cypress swamps, marshes, and tidal mudflats.
SOUTHERN HOGNOSE SNAKE, PUFF ADDER, HISSING ADDER, SPREADING ADDER, BLOW ADDER, HISSING SAND SNAKE – NON VENOMOUS
Range: Uncommon to rare, but occasionally found throughout northern Florida south to Lake Okeechobee. Outside of Florida, it is found from southern Mississippi east to North Carolina. Habitat: Occurs in sandhills, scrub, high pine and turkey oak woodlands, hardwood hammocks, and dry river floodplains.
BURMESE PYTHON – NON VENOMOUS
One of the five largest species of snakes in the world has made its self very comfortable in the Florida Everglades. It is possible in time for this Snake to make its way further north thorough Lake Okeechobee, up to Lake Istokpoga and further north through connected tributaries.
An 18 foot one was caught August 25, 2019 in the Big Cypress National Preserve 45 miles East of Miami.
VIDEO – 6 VENOMOUS SNAKES OF FLORIDA!
CRANEBRAKE RATTLE SNAKE – VENOMOUS
Description: Timber rattlesnakes, which are called canebrake rattlesnake in the Coastal Plain of the Southeast, are large, heavy bodied snakes with the characteristic rattles on the end of the tail. Adults range from 30-60 in (76-152 cm) with the record being more than 6 feet (183 cm) long. Canebrakes are usually gray and may even have a pink hue and a pinkish, yellow, orange, or brown stripe running the length of the back. Timber rattlers are typically more brown or yellowish and may even be black. Both forms have solid black tails that appear almost velvet and black chevrons on the back and sides with the point of the (V) pointing forward. The babies are miniatures of the adults but are usually a lighter gray and have only a single button (rattle) on the tip of the tail at birth. Males get larger than females.
VIDEO – SNAKES OF FLORIDA – THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE FRIENDLY
FLORIDA SNAKES VISUAL IDENTIFICATION
Right click on the name of the Snake it will take you to a detailed description of the snake and the area it habitats.
Different species of snake can often be distinguished by their characteristic color patterns. Some are single uniform colors. Others have dark or light markings organized into stripes, spots, blotches or some other pattern. Here is a quick look at most of Florida’s snakes by pattern:
THESE ARE ALL THE SNAKES YOU MAY RUN ACROSS IF YOU ARE AN ADVENTUROUS INDIVIDUAL, AND GO HIKING IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF FLORIDA.
SCARLET SNAKE – NON-VENOMOUS
Scarlet Snake, Florida Scarlet Snake, Northern Scarlet Snake
TIMBER RATTLER -VENOMOUS
Timber Rattlesnake, Canebrake, Rattlesnake
COTTON MOUTH– VENOMOUS
COTTONMOUTH, FLORIDA COTTON MOUTH, MOCCASIN, WATER MOCCASIN
COPPER HEAD – VENOMOUS –
Southern Copperhead, Copperhead, Highland Moccasin, Chunkhead
EASTERN KINGSNAKE – NON-VENOMOUS
FLORIDA KINGSNAKE – NON-VENOMOUS
RAT SNAKE – –NON-VENOMOUS
Eastern Rat Snake, Rat Snake, Chicken Snake, Yellow Rat Snake, Everglades Rat Snake
EASTERN RACER SNAKE – NON-VENOMOUS
Eastern Racer, Black Racer, Black Snake, Brownchin Racer, Everglades Racer, Racer, Southern Black Racer\
BRAHMINY BLIND SNAKE, FLORIDA POT SNAKE [NON-NATIVE]
NON-VENOMOUS
EASTERN COACHWHIP, COACHWHIP, RACAER – NON-VENOMOUS
EASTERN HOGNOSE SNAKE- NON-VENOMOUS
Puff Adder, Hissing Adder, Spreading Adder, Blow Viper, Hissing Sand Snake
EASTERN HOGNOSE SNAKE – NON-VENOMOUS
Eastern Hognose Snake, Puff Adder, Hissing Adder, Spreading Adder, Blow Viper, Hissing Sand Snake
SOUTHERN HOGNOSE SNAKE NON-VENOMOUS
Southern Hognose Snake, Puff Adder, Hissing Adder, Spreading Adder, Blow Viper, Hissing Sand Snake
RAT SNAKE – NON-VENOMOUS
Eastern Rat Snake, Rat Snake, Chicken Snake, Yellow Rat Snake, Everglades Rat Snake
Data complied by John Nelson
Updated 10/21/2019