[TANaples]

We saw a panther off the edge of woods in south collier county. He was just lying in the sun washing himself. People were stopping their cars to look at him. Nobody got out of their cars though. My husband said we were very lucky to have seen a panther.

Last year they reported on the news that woman living in a local condo development spotted a black bear by the dumpster when she took out her garbage.

I have seen gators in the lake by my lanai on the golf course, lots of possum, big turtles, once had a iguana crawling up the screen of my lanai. and countless tropical birds of all species. Even the ducks have now migrated here from back up north. Sorry, I don't know what kind but I used to see them all the time in the summer on LI.

I do enjoy all the wildlife here.

[Magnolia Bloom]

When I lived in Tally, a family of foxes would go through the natural area behind the house. And we had an owl that was really neat. It did't sound like what I expected.

Last month a black bear ran across the road when I was driving throught the Ocala Nat'l. Forest. It was too quick for me to get a pix, though. And the week before I saw a 12 foot gator on a golf course.

We have two armadillos that I see early in the morning when I am walking my dog. They are the strangest looking creatures! Last year I found the shed skin of a snake across in a wooded area across the street from my hme and it measured 44" long.

I love the wildlife here.

[jojajn]

Rattlesnake watching is good too this season.

Warm weather has rattlesnakes crawling out to sun themselves : Treasure Coast : TCPalm

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by jojajn

Rattlesnake watching is good too this season.

Warm weather has rattlesnakes crawling out to sun themselves : Treasure Coast : TCPalm

Wow, you're posts are like frickin rays of sunshine. What's the matter, can't go outside?

[jojajn]

Originally Posted by TriMT7

Wow, you're posts are like frickin rays of sunshine. What's the matter, can't go outside?

No, I was injecting humor. I can go outside because there are no rattlesnakes to worry about here.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by jojajn

No, I was injecting humor. I can go outside because there are no rattlesnakes to worry about here.

Where, exactly, are you in the "mid west"? Because the range for rattlesnakes encompasses all but the most Northern midwest states.

May I suggest running around barefoot through the corn or barley or whatever else passes as diverse flora and fauna where you live to test it out?

[xlabel]

In all my years in FL, I only saw 3 rattlesnakes. 1 was a Pygmy rattler, he was alive, 1 was a eastern diamondback, about a foot long, dead in the road. The 3rd one was about a 5 1/2 ' eastern diamondback my neighbor shot in his backyard when I was a kid, right near the canal several of us kids would play. He skinned the snake and mounted the snakeskin on a plank, it was a solid 12" across at the belly. He put the head in a mayonnaise jar, it was as big as an adult man's fist and barely fit in the jar.

[jojajn]

Originally Posted by TriMT7

Where, exactly, are you in the "mid west"? Because the range for rattlesnakes encompasses all but the most Northern midwest states.

May I suggest running around barefoot through the corn or barley or whatever else passes as diverse flora and fauna where you live to test it out?

Thanks, I'll give it a try this summer.

I didn't mean to set you off. I had no idea that rattlesnakes were your hot button.

[yamahastar]

My sister-in-law sat on her porch and saw two large owls swoop down and carry off someone's cat! I've also heard of people having their small dogs carried off by hawks, etc.

[CoventryDude]

The good news is that only 6 of Florida's 44 snake species are poisonous!
Just 6!

My sons actively look for snakes, spiders, lizards, turtles (and watch out for gators) every time we come down....seeing a rattler sunning itself would make their trip.