Poisonous Florida Snakes
Florida snakes, along with the turtles, lizards, alligators and other reptiles are part of a complicated wildlife structure that plays a marvelous role in the maintenance of Florida’s ecosystem. There are numerous species of Florida snakes. There are actually forty-four species living in unbelievably different habitats, ranging from salt marshes and fresh water marshes to dry uplands and coastal mangrove swamps to domestic areas.
Only six Florida snakes are poisonous, and they happily coexist with their non-poisonous cousins, even venturing into towns and cities too. The best way to stay out of trouble with snakes is to care enough to learn about their morphology and therefore become able to distinguish between the Florida snakes. A relaxed attitude of avoidance is the wisest thing a human being could show in relation to snakes.
The Coral snake and pit vipers are by far the most dangerous of Florida snakes. They can be identified by quite a wide range of characteristics. Pit vipers include the Rattlesnake, the Cottonmouth and the Copperhead. They all have in common: vertical eye pupils, a v-shaped head and facial pit sensors: one between the eyes and nostrils and the others along each side of the head.
The poison of these Florida snakes is haemotoxic, which means that their venom attacks the red blood cells, destroying the wall of the blood vessel and causing uncontrolled hemorrhage. Coral snakes on the other hand use neurotoxic venom, with the toxins in the venom acting on the body nerves and inducing paralysis.
Most of the snake bites reported every year in the United States are attacks by Florida snakes or by rattlesnakes to be precise. Because their venom spreads rapidly through the body, the victim will almost certainly die within half an hour without the immediate injection of anti-venom.
A one exception in this group of Florida snakes is the copperhead, the venom of which very rarely, if ever, requires an antidote. Their poison is the least potent and thus they are considered the least dangerous of the venomous Florida snakes.
It is because of the danger they present that poisonous snakes are the first kind to attract attention, however the most common of Florida snakes is the Black Racer, which is a non-toxic species that relies on very sharp fangs to capture its prey.
Although home owners usually try to remove snakes from their gardens, specialists point out that, without them, rodents would soon multiply out of control giving us an even more cause for alarm.
Therefore, unless there are any special reasons for worry, like snakes nesting in large numbers in your garden or shed, there is no reason to upset the lives of these usually shy, useful animals.
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Tagged with: advice • animals • exotic • florida • other • outdoors • Pet Health • pets • poison • reptiles • snakes • toxins • tropical • usa • venom
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