Florida is home to 46+ species of snakes. There are 46 KNOWN species and numerous Exotic species. Of the 46 known species of snakes, we only have 6 species which are poisonous.

As a child I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and my parents home backed up to a large wooded area with a small creek. The area around my parents home was loaded with snakes and I was flat out SCARED of them. I don't recall ever seeing a poisonous snake back then, but I saw A LOT of snakes. I use to go hiking on a regular basis through the woods and even went camping on the weekends, but I never left home without my trusty BB gun.

After moving to Florida I enherited a Ball Python and have since come to like snakes and have lost a lot of my fear. I'm glad to have lost my fear because we see quite a few snakes around the home here, but I'm not afraid of them. Actually, they don't bother me at all anymore. I can be standing on the edge of the lake fishing and have a 2 to 3 foot snake just a few inches from my feet, but these I see aren't poisonous .... Thank Goodness.

The poisonous snakes we have here are:

1. Cotton Mouth (Water moccasin):These snakes are anywhere from 24 to 48 inches with the record being 74 inches. They have a very stocky body and can be black to shades of brown. What gives then their name is the cotton white color of the interior of their mouth. The Cotton Mouth is located throughout the state in close proximity to water and swamps.
   
2. Southern Copper Head: These snakes can be from 24 to 36 inches long with the record being 53 inches (big snake). These snakes are primarily  located in the panhandle area (thank goodness) and is generally located in wet swampy areas.
   
3. Coral Snake: These snakes are generally 20 to 30 inches in length with the record being 47 inches. They are quite colorful with red, yellow and black bands. They are the only poisonous snake in Florida which does not have fangs, they inject the venom by grinding it into the skin when the bite.
   
4. Pygmy Rattler: These are 12 to 24 inches in length and are very aggressive. Because of their small size, they are easy to walk up on before you know it. Located around brush and in grassy areas. We regularly hear of people getting bitten while shopping for plants in nurseries because the snakes hide in the pots with the plants. They are found throughout the state of Florida.
   
5. Timber rattlesnake: These snakes are anywhere from 36 to 60 inches with the record being 74 inches ( a huge snake). They are a heavy body snake with a large head. They are usually found around brush and blend in well with the round. Their range is in 8 or 9 counties in Northern Florida.
   
6. Eastern Diamondback: These snakes are anywhere from 36 to 72 inches with the record being 96 inches ( a huge snake). They are usually found around brush and blend in well with the round. Their range is the whole state of Florida.

What nobody know for sure is...... what exotic poisonous snakes are loose in Florida. I'm sure it is safe to say that Florida DOES have numerous poisonous exotic snakes slithering around. We have numerous Boas and Pythons which were originally pets which either got lose or got too big for the owner to take care of, so they let them go free. These snakes are nor known to be breeding in the state. For many many years, Florida has been known for having numerous exotic pet owners and small private zoos. I'm sure over the years some exotic poisonous snakes have either gotten lose or have been set free.

Next time you are in Florida, don't fear, the chances of you crossing paths with a poisonous snake is slim. And if you do, just leave them along and they will leave you alone. Like our mommas use to say ..... They are more scared of you than you are of them !!!!

Here is 
"Jake the Snake" 

Sincerely,
Sean Allen
Lic. Mortgage Broker
International Financing Solutions
with The Mortgage Professionals
Skype: sean.allen5
http://www.internationalfinancingsolutions.com/

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