The State of Florida is home to 6 venomous species of native snakes. Three of these are rattlesnakes. The other three are the Florida cottonmouth, the Eastern copperhead, and the Eastern coral snake.
We’ll talk about each of these dangerous snakes in the paragraphs below. We’ll include their appearance, behavior, and where they live in Florida.
Florida Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon conanti)
Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)
Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri)
Eastern Coral snake (Micrurus fulvius)
Pit Vipers
Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, and Cottonmouths belong to the venomous viperidae or pit viper family. Pit vipers have a deep facial pit between their nostril and eyes on each side of their face. These pits are actually specialized organs that detect infrared radiation from prey animals. Pit organs enable pit vipers to strike their prey precisely, even in the dark. They are also able to detect body heat from about 1 meter away.
These snakes also have triangular-shaped heads. Furthermore, the pupils of their eyes are vertical elliptical slits.
Pit vipers have hollow fangs connected to venom glands. They use their fangs to inject venom into their prey. This venom immobilizes the prey, making it easier for the snake to consume. They primarily consume small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and small birds. These snakes play an important role in maintaining balance in rodent populations.
Florida Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon conanti)
Cottonmouths are also called water moccasins. The Florida Cottonmouth is a distinct cottonmouth subspecies.
The Florida Cottonmouth is a stout, muscular snake that grows 30 to 48 inches (76 to 122 cm) long. Larger individuals may exceed 72 inches (183cm) in total length.
The Florida Cottonmouth has a dark brown to black body with 10 to 17 black bands. They also have a black stripe on each cheek. The color of these snakes often darkens with age to the point that any markings are obscure or absent on adults. The inside of their mouth is pale pink to white. They tend to strike an open-mouthed defensive pose. This displays the white insides of their mouths, hence the name “cottonmouth.”
Florida cottonmouths have two dark bands running vertically on the snout’s tip. These are not present in Northern cottonmouths. They have cat-like elliptical pupils, which appear as narrow slits in the day. In the night, though, they have a round appearance.
Where Do Florida Cottonmouths Live in Florida?
Florida Cottonmouths live throughout the state of Florida. They spend most of their time near swampy areas, rivers, and lakes. But they are not completely dependent on water. Sometimes, they are seen as far as one mile from any surface water. They can hold their breath underwater for up to an hour while hunting for prey.
How Dangerous Are Florida Cottonmouths?
Florida cottonmouth snakes have strong hemolytic venom. Hemolytic venom destroys red blood cells. The venom from these snakes has the potential to cause extensive necrosis. It is also more lethal than the venom of Northern Cottonmouths. The mortality rate is up to 17%. Source
Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
The Eastern Copperhead is a pit viper native to the eastern United States.
Florida was formerly home to the Southern Copperhead subspecies. However, DNA analysis shows little genetic difference between Southern, Northern, and Osage Copperheads. Today the former Northern Copperhead, Southern Copperhead, and Osage Copperhead are taxonomically combined. The common name for these snakes is Eastern Copperhead. Their scientific name is Agkistrodon contortrix. Source
Eastern Copperhead snakes have reddish-tan to grayish-tan bodies. Their bodies are overlaid with hourglass-shaped dark brown markings. Their triangular heads are proportionately large. The color of their head is dark coppery brown. This is the reason they have the name “Copperhead.”
Copperheads are stout heavy-bodied snakes. Adult copperheads are 20 to 37 inches (50 to 95 cm) long.
Eastern Copperhead Behavior
Copperheads are dangerous because they use camouflage as their number one defense mechanism. In other words, these snakes choose to lie perfectly still rather than flee most of the time. Their camouflage helps them blend in with leaf litter and other ground debris.
When they feel threatened, they occasionally mimic the tail vibration of a rattlesnake. But, in most cases, they choose to lie perfectly still.
Most copperhead bites on humans occur when the person steps on or near the snake.
What Do Copperheads Eat?
Copperhead snakes are opportunistic feeders. They eat insects, spiders, frogs, small rodents, birds, and other reptiles.
Where Do Copperheads Live in Florida?
Like Timber Rattlesnakes, Copperheads only live in north Florida. They are confined to a small territory just west of Tallahassee.
How Dangerous Are Copperheads?
A Copperhead can bite and inject venom from the time they are newly born. Like most pit vipers, they have hemotoxic venom.
Most copperhead bites are not life-threatening. On the other hand, any bite from this snake is a medical emergency and should be treated as such. Prompt medical attention increases the chance of a good outcome.
Copperhead bites can cause intense pain, shock, and swelling. Their bites also have the potential to cause blood in urine, tissue damage, and kidney failure.
An interesting study has found that Copperhead venom contains a protein called contortrostatin. Contortrostatin has been found to stop the growth of cancer cells in mice.
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Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
Timber Rattler and Canebrake Rattlesnake are both common names for the Timber Rattlesnake. Generally, in higher-elevation habitats, they are called Timber Rattlesnakes. On the coastal plain, though, they’re called Canebrake Rattlesnakes.
The average Timber Rattlesnake grows 36 to 60 inches (.91 to 1.52m) long. However, there have been reports of them growing up to 7 feet (2.13m) long. See
These snakes vary in color. Their general base coloration is a yellowish-brown to grey-brown, though. They have a dark brown to black chevron pattern on their back and sides against a lighter base color. Moreover, they have a rusty to reddish stripe down their backs. A Timber rattler has either a dark brown or black tail. There are also melanistic timber rattlers. These are dark and sometimes almost entirely black. In the dark color morph of these snakes, the tail is also darker than the rest of the snake’s body.
Where Do Timber Rattlesnakes Live in Florida?
Timber rattlesnakes live only in northern Florida. They live in the Suwannee River basin and the northeastern Florida panhandle. Source
What Do Timber Rattlesnakes Eat?
Timber rattlers prey on small mammals such as mice, rats, squirrels, and chipmunks. They also eat small birds, other reptiles, and amphibians.
These snakes are excellent climbers. In fact, timber rattlers have been found in trees at heights of more than 80 feet. Source
The experts have proven that timber rattlesnakes help control Lyme disease. This is because as they consume rodents, they’re also consuming ticks. A timber rattler will consume 2,500 to 4,500 ticks per year, depending on the location. See
How Dangerous Are Timber Rattlesnakes?
Timber Rattlesnakes are among the most dangerous snakes in North America. This is due to their long fangs and high venom yield. 1% to 10% of untreated Timber Rattlesnake bites result in a fatality.
Fortunately, 40% to 60% of the time, they produce dry bites. In other words, although their fangs penetrate the body, they do not inject any venom. Source
These snakes produce hemotoxic venom. Timber Rattlesnake bites sometimes cause serious complications. These include shock, seizures, coma, internal bleeding, and deep tissue damage. Source
Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)
The Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake in the United States. These snakes average anywhere between 3 to 6 feet (.91 to 1.83m) long. Amazingly, though, the largest eastern diamondbacks reach 8 feet in length. In weight, they average anywhere between 5 to 10 pounds (2.27 to 4.54 kg).
Their base coloring varies between brownish-yellow, brownish-gray, or olive green. A brownish-black diamond-shaped pattern runs down their backs. Each of these diamond-shaped blotches is lined with a row of cream-colored scales. Towards the end of the snake next to the tail, these blotches turn into crossbands. Their bellies are a cream color with dark mottling along the sides.
A black band extends from behind each of the snake’s eyes and down towards the mouth. The band is outlined with white bands on either side.
Where Do Eastern Diamondbacks Live in Florida?
Eastern Diamondbacks live throughout Florida. They prefer coastal forests, scrublands, and pine and wiregrass flatwoods. They can be found in moist areas such as wet prairies, savannas, and around wetland borders. These snakes are proficient swimmers. It’s not uncommon for them to swim between barrier reefs and along swamp edges. Source
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Behavior
Eastern Diamondbacks take shelter in gopher, tortoise, and armadillo burrows. They emerge early in the morning or afternoon to bask in the sun. Occasionally, these snakes climb into bushes and trees, hunting for prey. Some have been spotted as high as 33 feet off the ground. Source
How Dangerous Are Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes?
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes have powerful hemotoxic venom. In fact, they kill more people than any other venomous snake in the United States. Source
Eastern Diamondback bites cause severe pain, edema, headache, nausea, dizziness, and convulsions. Their hemotoxic venom impairs blood coagulation. This may lead to severe internal bleeding, which may lead to kidney damage. Source.
Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri)
The Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake is a small, slender-tailed snake with a tiny rattle. It grows 14 to 30 inches long (36 to 76 cm), with an average body length of 21.1 inches (54cm). Their body is light gray with a rust-colored vertical stripe, which may be absent in some Pygmies. They have a series of dark-colored blotches along their top and sides. Their cream-colored belly is frequently mottled. They have a distinct, dark stripe that leads from the corner of their mouth to their eye. Their small rattle produces a faint, grasshopper-like buzz. This can only be heard from a few feet away.
Where Do Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake Live in Florida?
Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnakes are found throughout Florida. They prefer sandy pinelands and scrub regions near bodies of water. Pygmy rattlesnakes are rarely found in extremely dry habitats. Source.
These snakes also have other common names. A couple of them are Barbour’s Pygmy Rattlesnakes and Florida Ground Rattlesnakes.
How Dangerous Are Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnakes?
Dusky Pygmy rattlers have cytotoxic venom. By definition, cytotoxic venom destroys the body’s cells. It contains digestive enzymes that disrupt blood flow and prevent blood from clotting. Luckily, these snakes produce a small venom yield. Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake bites are painful. But there has never been a human fatality caused by one. But any pygmy rattlesnake bite victim should still receive prompt medical attention.
Eastern Coral Snake (Harlequin Coral)
The Eastern Coral Snake is the only venomous snake in Florida that is not a pit viper. Instead, they belong to the Elapidae family, along with Cobras and Mambas.
Eastern coral snakes can grow up to 4 feet long (122 cm), but most grow to 2 feet (61 cm). They are sexually dimorphic, with the males slightly smaller than the females. They have rounded heads and noses with similar-looking tails. Consequently, it is sometimes hard to tell a coral snake’s head from its tail.
Coral snakes are brightly colored, highly venomous snakes. They have black, light yellow, and red bands, with the yellow bands separating the red and black.
Where Do Eastern Coral Snakes Live in Florida?
Eastern coral snakes live throughout Florida.
The places they live in range from dry, open, bushy areas to hardwood forests and pine flatwoods.
Batesian Mimicry Of Coral Snakes
Batesian mimicry is a biological term. It describes how a harmless species protects itself by resembling a dangerous one. For example, scarlet king snakes and eastern milk snakes are non-venomous snakes. However, their color patterns closely resemble the venomous coral snake. The difference is that a coral snake’s red and yellow bands touch. On the other hand, the nonvenomous species’ color patterns are red, black, and yellow. Also, a coral snake’s head is blunt and entirely black, even behind its eyes, while a Kingsnake’s head is red.
This rhyme helps people distinguish between a nonvenomous species and a coral snake. “Red touch yellow can kill a fellow; Red touches black, a friend of Jack.”
The rhyme is mostly accurate in the United States. However, coral snakes from areas south of the U. S. do not always follow the black-yellow-red pattern. This is also true in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
Finally, there are rare coral snakes that do not follow the usual color pattern in the United States. Pink, cream-colored, light blue and completely black coral snakes exist in the wild.
How Dangerous are Coral Snakes?
Coral snakes are highly venomous snakes. In fact, herpetologists regard them as the most venomous snakes in the United States. Fortunately, they almost never bite.
A coral snake’s venom is a neurotoxin and is the second strongest of any snake. The experts consider coral snakes to be less dangerous than rattlesnakes, though. Their smaller mouths and short fangs produce less venom. Thus, they have a less effective venom delivery system.
People should take coral snake bites seriously, though. Before we had antivenom, the death rate after coral snake envenomation was around 10%. See
Potential effects of coral snake envenomation include,
- muscle weakness
- difficulty speaking
- difficulty swallowing
- difficulty breathing
- Inability to move eyelids
- blurred vision
- twitching of the tongue
- paralysis
- respiratory arrest
One reported death has been caused by an Eastern Coral Snake bite in the last 40 years. Source
Symptoms of Venomous Snake Bites
Some of the symptoms you may experience when a venomous snake bites you include:
- Discoloration in the area of the bite.
- Swelling in the area of the bite.
- Loss of muscle coordination.
- Tingling sensation in the area of the bite.
- Feeling nauseous.
- Having a faster heartbeat or rapid pulse.
What Should You Do if You Are Bitten?
If you or someone you are with has suffered a venomous snakebite, time is of the essence. Because the sooner a victim receives antivenom, the less chance the venom in their body has to cause harm. In other words, it is important to seek immediate medical help.
Do not attempt to kill the snake for identification purposes. This gives the snake a chance to bite you again. Also, consider that severed snakeheads can still bite and envenomate and often do. If you have a phone, take a picture of the offending reptile. Otherwise, get started on your way to the nearest hospital.
First Aid for Snake Bite Victims
- Remain calm and limit your movements. Do not run. If you must hike back to a vehicle, do it calmly and deliberately. Put as little stress on your heart as possible.
- Keep the area of the snake bite below the heart level and never above the heart level. Keeping the bite below the heart level will reduce the venom’s flow. However, holding the bite above your heart level will increase the venom’s flow.
- Remove all constricting items such as bracelets, watches, or rings before swelling occurs.
- Remember that using a cold compress on a venomous snake bite is not advisable. The cold may cause the local blood vessels to constrict and spread the venom faster.
- You can wash the affected area like any other wound with soap and water.
- You may cover the bite area with a moist dressing to reduce the swelling.
- Get medical attention as soon as possible. Call the hospital to tell them a venomous snake has bitten you. So they can have antivenom ready to give you when you arrive.
- A person whom a venomous snake has bitten may go into shock. If this happens, lay them flat and cover them with a blanket.
Dressing for Snake Country
- High-top leather boots and long pants are both wise ideas.
- Also, wear loose-fitting denim. If there’s a gap before the snake’s fangs touch your skin, your chances of being envenomated are lower.
- In the absence of high-top leather boots, some people wear snake gaiters.
