Florida, temperate to subtropical climate, is a unique environment in the United States. With that comes a variety of different species of native wildlife. There are many different types of snakes that call Florida home, the majority of which are reassuringly non-venomous. In fact, most snake breeds are far more afraid of you than you are of them. If you encounter a snake in the wild, chances are it will flee in the opposite direction as quickly as it possibly can. But if you come across a snake in your yard or home, you may be wondering what, if anything, you can or should do to get rid of it. In this article we will talk about some of the types of snakes you may find, how to remove the, and how to keep them out.
Common Florida Snakes
As previously stated, there are many types of snakes in Florida.
Common Non-Venomous Florida Snakes
- Eastern Corn Snake
- Black Rat Snake
- Black Racer
- Common Kingsnake
- Burmese Python
- Banded Water Snake
- Eastern Coachwhip
- Florida Water Snake
- Indigo Snake
- Black Pine Snake
- Blue Stripe Garter Snake
- Florida Rough Green Snake
Common Venomous Florida Snakes
- Water Moccasin, aka Cottonmouth
- Southern Copperhead, aka Highland Moccasin
- Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
- Timber Rattlesnake
- Pigmy Rattlesnake
- Eastern Coral Snake
If You See a Snake in Your Yard or Home
The first and best thing you can do if you see a snake is to stay calm. Most of the time, any snake that you see in the yard will try to escape from the yard as quickly as it can once it sees you. If you are blocking its path of escape, it may feel threatened, at which point it may strike, so try to avoid standing between the snake and any possible exit or brush it may use for cover.
Keep your children and pets away from the snake. Also keep safe distance between you and the snake while you try to identify if it is venomous or not. If it is non-venomous, you are best to leave it be. However, if you must shoo it from the yard, you can use a water hose to spray it with water from a distance, which should send it on its way.
If the snake is in the house, you can use a wastebasket with a lid and a broom to remove the snake from the home. If it is venomous, call a pest control specialist immediately to have them remove the snake.
Keep Snakes Away
Keep Your Yard Clean
This means removing anything that a snake would find a comfortable home. Pick up any yard debris as quickly as possible. Do not leave piles of landscaping material, bricks, stones, or firewood lying on the ground. If you keep firewood, store it in a way that it is elevated off the ground.
Seal Cracks & Crevices
Any cracks or crevices in the outside of the home are an open invitation to pests, including snakes. It is important to regularly inspect the outside of your home and seal any openings where these pests could get in.
Minimize Snake Prey
If you really want to get rid of snakes, then you should minimize their prey in your yard. This means utilizing the services of a pest control company to eliminate rodents and insects from the yard. Once there is no prey in your yard, the snakes will naturally be forced to look elsewhere for their food.
