How frequently do you see snakes in Fort Lauderdale? (Hollywood: school, live in)

[WonderfulReverend]

I love Fort Lauderdale but I've a phobia for snakes yet I might need to be there more frequently for business purposes. How frequently do you guys see snakes in residential areas in Fort Lauderdale and Florida in general?Do people ever get bitten because I can't stand snakes?

[Jinian]

I have seen two snakes in the 22 years I have lived here. Two. Both were rat snakes,
(non venomous) and I live about two miles east of the everglades, in an urban area that has been dedicated to preserving wildlife with a huge fenced in area that disallows people from disturbing the area at its core. Stop watching those tv shows- and rest your fears...

[SierraDog]

I've seen numerous tiny garden snakes. We had a black racer snake (non venomous) in our screened patio enclosure a few months ago. I once saw a dead coral snake in the street (rare).

Really, snakes are the least of your worries.

[Nolefan34]

Never. Not in the city at least. If you live in the outer burbs closer to the Everglades it is more common to see small garden snakes and rat snakes. The more developed the area, the less snakes. Also, avoid freshwater drainage canals and lakes because there are sometimes water moccasins which are poisonous.

Snakes are much more prevalent in other areas of FL that are less developed and more heavily wooded.

[vagabondsquirrel]

Reverend,

I once saw one in a tree! He called me over and offered me some fruit; told me lot's of things that would happen if I ate the fruit, but I just walked away!!!!!

[WonderfulReverend]

Originally Posted by vagabondsquirrel

Reverend,

I once saw one in a tree! He called me over and offered me some fruit; told me lot's of things that would happen if I ate the fruit, but I just walked away!!!!!

Wise decision.
So there are no pythons to worry about or some cross breeds of Cobras and Black Mambas to worry about?
My worst fear is diving into a swimming pool only to find there's a python in there.

[HarryWho?]

Originally Posted by WonderfulReverend

Wise decision.
So there are no pythons to worry about or some cross breeds of Cobras and Black Mambas to worry about?
My worst fear is diving into a swimming pool only to find there's a python in there.

While skinny dipping in the dark? I imagine they would be pretty easy to spot otherwise.......

[Dragonmam]

I live in a residential area in the middle of Coral Springs and I see snakes on a regular basis. I garden and like being outdoors a lot. My kids attend school in Weston and they see snakes in the outdoor areas at school so frequently that it's a non-event. "Toe Biter Bugs" - those are an event!

We have seen Black Racers, Ringnecks and little green garden snakes. The Racers are the largest, they bite and they are aggresive. I see them during the day a lot sunning themselves. They are not poisonous. If you startle one or corner it, it will rear up at you like a cobra. I've even seen one do this from the surface of our pool. They don't back down until you retreat.

The Ringnecks are poisonous (not deadly though) but they are very docile and usually fairly small. When we see one, my husband catches it and lets the kids handle it. Usually we only see them when we are gardening and disturb them because they are more nocturnal.

I don't know what the little green snakes are that my kids see at school but they are afraid of people and quickly seek cover if encountered.

I have never seen a snake in any of the more urban areas like Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach. The western suburbs like Sunrise, Coral Springs, Parkland ect tend to be where you'd see them.

[rainroosty]

Hi
The ringnecks aren't poisonous (venomous) and the green ones are Rough Green snakes...beautiful, graceful snakes that eat insects.
The Black Racers won't bother you at all but if you try to catch one it will bite you and you will bleed because of the natural reaction, which is to pull your hand away as fast as you can, at which point it's little teeth will scrape you open enough to bleed a little.
If there are any bushes/hedges nearby the racer will go there and climb up off of the ground and watch you, closely and nervously.
Snakes are so wonderful!

[Nolefan34]

Ringnecks aren't poisonous. They are harmless. There are only 4 types of poisonous snakes in FL. The Eastern Diamondback Rattler, the Cottonmouth a.k.a. Water Moccasin, the Copperhead, and the Coral Snake. The Coral snake is docile, but deadly. The rest are aggressive snakes and also deadly.

There is no such thing as a poisonous snake that is not deadly. Not here at least.