I'm extremely afraid!!!! (Orlando, Apopka, Naples: foreclosure, maintenance, travel)

[Magnulus]

Is that all you are worried about? You should be worried less about the lizards and snakes and more about the Mara Salvatruchas and the psychos that will rob you in a Wal-Mart parking lot for gas money.

Lizards eat bugs and they CAN be cute, and snakes pretty much leave you alone unless you go near them (stay away from water, wear boots in tall grass and brush, etc.), and most of them aren't poisonous anyways.

[AliceT]

Well, it's like this, go looking for them. I'm serious. You won't see one if you are looking for it. I'm convinced of it.

When I first moved to Florida, I wanted to see an alligator. Not at a zoo - one in the wild. I wanted to know first hand if they really looked like floating logs. And you know what I found? Not a single one.

Now as for snakes, I no fear of them. I respect them and once upon a time, I could tell the difference between them whether they were poisonous or not. But I found out that there were a whole lot of people encountering snakes that didn't want to. So I signed up & registered myself with the Department of Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission and the local animal shelters and became a volunteer of the state to catch snakes and relocate them for folks who found them in their attics, garages, yards, sheds or swimming pools. I took care of sick and injured wildlife, too. I digress... There still exist such people and all you need to do is make a phone call to an animal shelter - animal control officer and ask if they have a list of people who will come out to catch and remove a snake from your property. You might also check with the maintenance men and see if they know of anyone who does that. Some people make it into a business and charge a fee for it. I never charged anyone for it as I considered it my hobby. The Department of game and fresh Water Fish Commission is an excellent resource, too. Just look in the phone book and you'll find a wealth of info there.

As for the lizards, yeah, there are a wide assortment of those running around, but trust me, they are worth their weight in platinum as they eat bugs. Flies mostly, but mosquitoes, too. And the tree frogs. Are afraid of tree frogs? I personally think they are cute. They hang out near porch lights by your front or back doors and eat the flying bugs attracted by the light. Good to keep them around.

[steffali]

Originally Posted by TrishP7

LMAO!!! Thats hilarious!! I knew I wasnt feeling this dam anxiety by myself!! In Buffalo? Thats horrible. I lived in Jersey for over 20 years and never ever saw one! I like Florida..its just the dame snake thing. I have stocked up on the Snake a Way..and my home is moth ball city!! The lizards dont bother me as long as I see them from a distance. Well..let me tell you..i was out on my porch and there was the little critter..he ended up going underneath my building!! Well..i decided to go to Home Depot and buy bricks..decorate them and place them at every centimeter of my porch. I'm sorry..if the critters are there ..they will just have to die. once you enter..you will not come out! My hope is that they dont figure out a way to get in my home! Every secretion in my house will be sprayed with some repellent or covered with another brick..lol..i dont know. Lol...seriously..i crack myself up sometimes of this dam paranoia.

As far as frogs and spiders..the pest control seems to be working. sigh..this is soooo awkward for me. I hope I get use to this!! Real soon. Luckily, I'm a stay home mom, just until my little one gets acclimated to her school. But after that, I'll be on the grind looking for employment. I dont know what the hell I'm gonna do. I'll have to wake up in the wee early of the morning..i understand they are quite awake at that time. My fiance will simply have to walk me to my car... i just dont know..

This is my little trick to get me through the day. I rattle my keys and stomp my feet as I walk to my car in the garage. I am hoping that I look like "King Kong" to them and if anything is there they will run scared.

[TrishP7]

Originally Posted by Magnulus

Is that all you are worried about? You should be worried less about the lizards and snakes and more about the Mara Salvatruchas and the psychos that will rob you in a Wal-Mart parking lot for gas money.

Lizards eat bugs and they CAN be cute, and snakes pretty much leave you alone unless you go near them (stay away from water, wear boots in tall grass and brush, etc.), and most of them aren't poisonous anyways.

Magnulus,

Thanks for the advice. This is about a phobia..its just a fear that I have. i understand your point. But most people have something in this life that they are deathly afraid of for whatever reason. Just looking at a snake freaks me out. I know people that are afraid of birds, spiders, the dark..and get this one..pennies!! I cannot make light of ones fears because it is what it is. I've learned to sympathize and not judge..but try to encourage the person.

[TrishP7]

Originally Posted by steffali

This is my little trick to get me through the day. I rattle my keys and stomp my feet as I walk to my car in the garage. I am hoping that I look like "King Kong" to them and if anything is there they will run scared.

Lmao!! Note taken, that will be my next tactic!!

[crissyq]

All of yall need to find the number for the nearest snake wrangler. I mean the one who can get there quick. Get his number, and hold it for me till I get there in May cuz I'm gonna need it.

[TrishP7]

Originally Posted by crissyq

All of yall need to find the number for the nearest snake wrangler. I mean the one who can get there quick. Get his number, and hold it for me till I get there in May cuz I'm gonna need it.

Lmao!! You know thats right...

[TrishP7]

Well...my daughter was at school yesterday and as the children played in the yard, they saw a frigin black racer!! Good Lawd!! My 7 year old was afraid but she's not as paranoid as I am. When she was about 5, her friend brought in a pet snake for show and tell and my daughter actually held the dam thing and let it crawl on her!! I use to be like that too..I really don't want to inclict my fears on her. But yeah..thats my latest snake story!!

[KrisCole]

Trish,
I teach Environmental Science at Seminole High School and have extensive experience catching and tagging rattlesnakes for a research project at Stetson University. First of all, there are no venomous lizards in Florida (except those in aquariums at the zoo ). Second there are only 4 types of venemous snakes in your area of Florida. Most importantly, they will leave you alone as long as you don't mess with them. Most snake bites occur in males ages 18-35 with a high blood alcohol level. I am not making this up. It was on Jeff Corwin's show & I have heard from other reputable sources.

[TrishP7]

Originally Posted by KrisCole

Trish,
I teach Environmental Science at Seminole High School and have extensive experience catching and tagging rattlesnakes for a research project at Stetson University. First of all, there are no venomous lizards in Florida (except those in aquariums at the zoo ). Second there are only 4 types of venemous snakes in your area of Florida. Most importantly, they will leave you alone as long as you don't mess with them. Most snake bites occur in males ages 18-35 with a high blood alcohol level. I am not making this up. It was on Jeff Corwin's show & I have heard from other reputable sources.

Kris,

Thanks for the information!