Snakes

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Eastern Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis

Range in Florida:entire state

Maximum length: 4 feet

Identification based on:

Florida's Fabulous Reptiles & Amphibians

by Pete Carmichael and Winston Williams

(c) World Publications 2006

Tenth Edition 2006

L.C. No. 91-065778

ISBN: 0-911977-11-2

page 34

This snake I've only seen

in the backyard once

Southern Black Racer

Coluber constrictor priapus

Range in Florida:most of the Florida mainland and the Lower Keys

Maximum length: 6 feet

Identification based on:

Florida's Fabulous Reptiles & Amphibians

by Pete Carmichael and Winston Williams

(c) World Publications 2006

Tenth Edition 2006

L.C. No. 91-065778

ISBN: 0-911977-11-2

page 39

This snake I've seen many times all around the house, on the ground and in the bushes. Lately I've seen two of them together several times. Once I found one with 5 or 7 eggs around it curled up in an irrigation valve housing (I quickly slammed the lid back on without getting a good count of the eggs).

According to the book referenced above these snakes are active in the daytime and prey on:

rats, mice, frogs, toads, lizards, birds, & other snakes

The main concern I have when I see a snake in my yard is whether it is venomous or not.

So far I have been lucky enough to encounter only nonvenomous snakes.

Florida only has 6 venomous snakes (out of 47 species of snakes that inhabit the state) according to D. Bruce Means, Ph.D., (FLORIDA WILDLIFE / September-October 1999).

The list of Florida's venomous snakes is as follows:

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

Canebrake Rattlesnake

Pigmy Rattlesnake

Cottonmouth or Water Moccasin

Copperhead

Coral Snake