Forget the alligators.....watch out for SNAKES!

[faerie_wing]

There seems to be a lot of discussion about alligators lately, but it seems that another more dangerous member of the reptile family is being overlooked.....the pygmy rattlesnake!

Last Easter we stayed at CSR, & each night my DH & I would take a relaxing stroll around the grounds. One evening, we happened upon a group of kids huddled around something. As we got closer, I asked what they had found.....to which they replied "a really pretty little snake & he's looking at us!" Well, this snake was none other than a pygmy rattlesnake, with his head raised in a defensive position, which packs a LOT of venom for it's size! I calmly instructed the kids to move on, then got out lf there myself!

Disney has done a remarkable job of maintaining wild areas for animals displaced by development.....however, it would seem that the resorts are attractive to just about every species, & they have no qualms about moving right back in. (We joke that the ducks in the swimming pool are on their honeymoon, & the bunnies at OKW are looking for golf balls.) So, just a warning to be aware of what's underfoot!

Julie

[Humpbacks1962]

Oh, come on.. snakes are more afraid of us than we are of them.

Most snakes bite only because someone reached out and grabbed it. Provoking them into biting is more difficult than anyone thinks. Snakes don't chase humans to attack them. Most times, the second one of those slitherings perceives a movement on the ground, it will slide away from you faster than lightning. So fast, often you can only guess what it was.

Yes, there are stories of bites and things but the truth is, they aren't common at all and chances are that it won't happen to you anytime soon. And if it just so happens that a snake bites you in Orlando, it is such a well prepared, urban area that will have ER staff ready to give you treatment according to the needs of the community. Nothing unknown will pop out of the nowhere to bite you that its anivenom won't be available.

Relax, you'll be alright.


Wanda

[Disneydenise]

Last year in August we were exiting the MK and had a close encounter with a curious little snake. I have no idea what kind it was but I got a picture. It looked like it was posing. Now I think it might have felt threatend. It was slithering down the wall next to the Town Hall. I like wildlife and I know nothing about snakes so I wasn't about to pet it. With DW being built on a swamp I think it is expected you will run into gods creatures. I am nota camper so looking from a distance is enough for me.

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Humpbacks1962
Oh, come on.. snakes are more afraid of us than we are of them.

<snip>
Yes, there are stories of bites and things but the truth is, they aren't common at all and chances are that it won't happen to you anytime soon. And if it just so happens that a snake bites you in Orlando, it is such a well prepared, urban area that will have ER staff ready to give you treatment according to the needs of the community. Nothing unknown will pop out of the nowhere to bite you that its anivenom won't be available.

Wanda

Wanda--

You don't have to worry about me molesting the wildlife, particularly anything remotely resembling a herp or rep of any type! I'm more than happy to have them go their way, and I'll go mine :)

Isn't there an acute shortage of a couple types of antivenom right now though:confused:

Anne

[dove]

When we stayed at POR, then Dixie Landings, we were on the way to the bus stop, the kids were running ahead of us and suddenly stopped. When we reached them we saw a baby snake of some kind right in the middle of the path. It was curled up looking at us. We, of course, grabbed the kids away and got out of there as quickly as possible. Everytime after that when we had to walk that path I got the creeps...yuck, yuck, yuck! In June we'll be staying at CSR...and I will be on my guard! Thanks Julie.

[Humpbacks1962]

Orlando is not loaded with deadly, poisonous snakes attacking Disney guests and depleting the antivenom supply! I never heard about such depletion situation but all it takes is a little spit to make some more and you don't need it for every snake bite anyway. They can rush some from the nearest site anytime.

Chances are that if you'll find a snake in such a populated area of the city, it will be a harmless, lost garter snake before it is a deadly copperhead! And even in that case, it won't chase you to bite you but will get the heck out of there faster than you can scream.

In fact, if you don't plan to hike in the woods but go from bus--> park --> resort, fear tripping and falling more than you fear the attack of a deadly snake.

Come on now, guys...

Wanda

[gabylin]

You got that right Wanda!! I did see one snake at Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon. I'm pretty sure it was a garter snake but who could tell because it was moving out of the pathway as quick as it could.(Mind you I was also moving out of its pathway quickly too) NOW the blisters I got from walking so much in 14 days!!Now that is SCARY!!

[Philly12]

Thank you for the sanity check Wanda. The chances of getting a bite from a poisonous snake at WDW are remote at best if you are not camping. A more appropriate warning would be "Forget the aligators, watch out for the Brazilian tour groups."

[Cindybell]

Snake bites occur more than you might think. My husband got bit by a copper head when picking up a rock. A snake struck at me but got my boot when I was just walking past it unaware of course that it was there. I really have a healthy fear of these slithering critters and will be on the look out. :eek:

[Humpbacks1962]

LOL, Philly

I'd say if you want to post a reasonable warning on Floridian critters, try bees, fire ants and mosquitoes instead. Their bites can cause anything from potentially deadly allergic reactions to bloodborne diseases.

The prejudice against snakes comes from biblical stories. Ever seen one out in the wild? It will run away from you the moment it sees your shadow! With common sense, there's no reason in the world to fear them.

And even getting bitten by a copperhead is much more rare than getting bitten by bees, fire ants and mosquitoes! Doubt me? Call the ER and get the scoop first hand then.

Wanda

[raidermatt]

Wanda- Nobody is saying snakes are a reason to live in fear while at WDW. But they are there. I didn't realize there could be rattlenakes, but there are definitely water mocassins.

The most likely places one would encounter one is on a golf course, reaching into a bush or under a rock, etc.

Common sense says to just use a little caution, particularly in the more remote areas of the property.

True, they are more afraid of us than vice-versa, but they also don't know the differnce between somebody reaching for the napkin next to them and someone attacking them.

So again, while there is no need to walk around afraid for one's life, it is important to be aware of where one should use some caution. Especially with children, as a bite from a poisonous snake is much more dangerous to them due to their small body size.

[MeanLaureen]

raidermatt is right. A little caution could prevent a huge mishap. While there might be antivenom.. who the heck wants to go through the pain of the bite and the recovery on their vacation in WDW?? LOL

While it's not a huge threat, you should never take for granted that a snake is going to run the other way if you happen upon one. The only time I have ever encountered a snake it stood it's ground! Must have been a rare snake ;)

What concerns me the most is the part in the original posters thread about the children that had the Pygmy rattler surrounded. YIKES. It's a miracle that snake didn't strike.. I'm sure it felt threatened!

And as far as the bees, ants and mosquitos causing a higher rate of ER trips.. I can see that. I'm sure there are more of these insects out there than snakes. Heck.. there are more of them out there than tourists on Spring Break! :) ;)

[Humpbacks1962]

It's a miracle that snake didn't strike

That is what the whole misconception is about!

There was a documentary on Discovery Channel or Animal Planet recently, where a herpetologist went out with a fake arm and tested copperheads and diamondbacks' reactions. He came close to the snakes, stepped on them (gently, this was a test) and reached out to grab them with the fake arm.

His point was, snakes strike out fewer times than people think and he'd show that. Snakes normally strike back only when they perceive that people try to pick them up.

He tested several snakes, coming very close to them and placing his foot on them. Lo and behold, the one snake that bit back had been picked up with the fake arm! He demonstrated that snakes are not as easy to provoke as people think.

It takes educating ourselves regarding what we fear. The common sense and level of caution should apply to our own backyards, where we'll get bitten by anything else lying under rocks and inside crevases before we get bitten by a snake.
It just does NOT happen as often as most people think.



Wanda

[ducklite]

There are a LOT of fire ants at WDW!

Anne

[Philly12]

I think this has gone on long enough. No one will get a snake bite at WDW unless they are looking for one. It's that simple. You would be surprised at how many snakes you have come across in you life and didn't even know it because they got out of dodge before you ever saw them. Forget the snakes, bees, mosquitos, fire ants, leeches, wild monkeys, dinosaurs, hippos, sharks, parrots, jellyfish, angry crabs, nasty cm's and just have a good time. Just don't forget the sun block if you go in the summer because it only takes one bad sunburn to get skin cancer. That is my biggest concern.

[perdidobay]

yes fire ants are more of a threat than snakes... my dd got bit by several 3 weeks ago while at the Mexico section of Epcot... leaning against the wall outside the building... despite allergy meds, and pain killers, those bites hurt for 2 weeks after... and she's not allergic:eek:

[GeorgeG]

Outside of a few mosquitos, we've never had any problems. We always go in October or November, so maybe it's more of a seasonal thing. Also, we have never strayed off the pavement very far.

My wife is deathly afraid of snakes and I can certainly have a better time without seeing them, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to stay alert.

[Gina]

Originally posted by Humpbacks1962
The prejudice against snakes comes from biblical stories. Ever seen one out in the wild? It will run away from you the moment it sees your shadow! With common sense, there's no reason in the world to fear them.

And even getting bitten by a copperhead is much more rare than getting bitten by bees, fire ants and mosquitoes! Doubt me? Call the ER and get the scoop first hand then.


Wow, no offense, but you need to come to Texas, Wanda. :) I've had a copperhead actually come after me down a dirt road, and you can barely swing a cat without hitting a water moccasin. I know that growing up as a camper and then counselor at a Girl Scout Camp north of Houston, snakes were so prevalent that we had hoes tied to trees all over the place so one would be handy when we encountered a snake. My little brother has had two pet dogs killed by snake bites in our own suburban backyard, growing up in SW Houston.

I can't speak for the snakes in Florida, and I've never encountered any on our WDW trips, but the SE Texas ones aren't very afraid of you! We grew up to have a healthy respect for them as potentially harmful creatures to not be taken lightly. I just wouldn't assume that a snake is going to lie there and not feel threatened, even if you're not messing with it.

Now don't even get me started on the poisonous spiders and scorpions around here... ;)

-gina-

[Mickey76]

:)

When I stayed at CBR a few years ago, I had an encounter with a small snake. It was early in the morning and I was walking to the food court. My room was in Trinidad South. In order to get to the food court using the resorts walkway, guests have to walk under a bridge that goes over the path. Anyway, just as I was getting to tht section of the walkway, I saw something moving on it. There was a couple comig the other way and they both jumped. Then I saw it slither and I jumped. It freaked me out. I hate snakes. On the way back to the room, took the long way around and actually walked over the bridge so that I didn't have to encounter the snake again. I saw it one more time during my stay, but it was from a distance. Piglet203 and I are staying at the CSR in May, and I see so much as a worm, I'm going to freak out.:D

Mickey76:)

[dove]

The prejudice against snakes comes from biblical stories. Ever seen one out in the wild?
Sorry, but my prejudice with snakes doesn't come from a "story." My prejudice comes from growing up on a farm in OH and being chased, yes chased, by MANY a snake. Mind you none of them here are poison, but I do NOT like them any more than I like the poison ones!....Too each his own fear...:(

[10drum]

Maybe I should pack my long handle shovel, it works pretty well as snake terminator.

[AK4EVER]

There are almost 3000 known species of snakes in the world. Of those, less than 10% are venomous and among those, even fewer are deadly-to-humans venomous.

Your chances of getting bitten by a mosquito are greater than those of getting bitten by a nasty, venomous snake. And the mosquito could carry malaria, dengue, and numerous potentially deadly diseases in that bite!

And, unlike the deadliest of snakes, the mosquito *will* chase you for your blood!

So, add me to those discouraging unfounded, ignorant fears and encouraging getting over the traditional prejudice about snakes.

[boltjames]

Two years ago, after I neglected to tip a housekeeper, I found a copperhead rattlesnake in my pillowcase. It bit me, so I called housekeeping and they shot me with the antivenom and brought me some towels.

Because this was above-and-beyond normal duties, I gave them a $3.00 tip. It would have been more, but I think they put the snake in there to begin with.

BJ

[Disneydenise]

Dear god where was this snake in the room thing? I really don't venture to too many places but WDW. I want to make sure I tip well if I go to that locale

[raidermatt]

Your chances of getting bitten by a mosquito are greater than those of getting bitten by a nasty, venomous snake.

Very true. Of course, the chance of catching anything from one mosquito bite is still slim, while one bite from a venomous snake will at the very least ruin your day. Its not like you are limited to one insect or reptile you can be aware of...

Again, the smaller you are, or more to the point, the smaller your children are, the more dangerous a venomous snake bite becomes. You can choose to mock this all you wish, but its still something to be aware of. We just get the occasional rattler around here, but I've spent time in Louisiana and there are plenty of water mocassins, and people do get bit. They rarely die, but that's hardly a reason to not at least be aware of what you are doing.

Its not like one will find snakes all over the walkways and such, but if you or your children decide to go rummaging through bushes or foliage, you should be aware of what you could encounter.

[smjj]

and I would not take some documenterary that they probably won't bite as gospel. We were staying on the thrid floor in Rapi Nui. We were on our way back to the room and on the landing was a huge rat snake. It startled us and we startled it. It struck out at us but missed. We called quest services and they came in just a few minutes but by then it was gone. They said they are not poisonuous but can hurt if bitten. He said they climb up the bamboo next to the building looking for food. That was all my wife needed to hear, we were on the end and right off out balcony was a huge stand of bamboo..smjj

[PlutoPal]

Snakes are bad but dont you think that alligators are worse? I can deal with snakes but alligators...na.. i dont like them too much...

[Babblin'Boo]

Now, this thread is one big chuckle.

Some of you need to grab a book and read about what you talk about before you keep making fools of yourselves. If you won't trust the research of a professional herpetologist (Ph D) in a reputable, science-based documentary, then by all means, get yourself to the local public library and grab the latest encyclopedia on snakes. Read ANYTHING written by literate, educated people on snakes! The alarmists are always the ones with the least amount of knowledge.



Boltjames, I think your housekeeper left your snake on the grass in front of my resort room after you left, you Scrooge! She trained it to sense my footsteps and wait patiently for me to get closer to it before it jumped on me and attacked me. I swore to myself I won't walk on the grass of any parks or resorts without spotting all the strategically placed, Floridian venomous, man-killing snakes.

...And you'd think that urban rush would chase them away!

[GeorgeG]

I was told by a cast member some time ago that all the construction has the snakes more on the move than they used to be. I guess they are, for the most part, content to stay in the remote areas, but when that starts getting bulldozed they will evacuate to anywhere the bulldozers aren't.

[smjj]

I thing some of the posters on this thread are more vemonious then the snakes, no need for that. This thread needs to be closed down..smjj

[antnee]

I'd like to know what hotel had the the snake in the pillow
case???

While at WDW last year I was stung by an angry bee while riding the monorail. I went to the poly as the gave me a kit to use myself( I had never been bitten, so I didnt know what to do) so I went to the First Aid station at the MK and the helped me.

[caitycaity]

wow, i can't believe some of the posts on this thread! :eek: the fact is some people are afraid of snakes. whether that fear is founded or not isn't going to make them less afraid. i mean, look at how many people are afraid of flying, the statistics show it is safer than driving a car, but people are till afraid of it and i don't see anyone jumping down those people's throats!

[ripleysmom]

Let's see so far we have the documentary watching, textbook reading set saying Nah..a snake won't bite you.

Then we have the lived on a farm, grew up with them my whole life set saying "Yes..they can and will"

Hmm....life experience vs. academia....guess who I pick.

Also for the documentary watching people, perhaps you should turn on The Crocodile Hunter. Seems to me that snakes go after him and try to bite him a lot....course I wish they would succeed but that is for another thread.

[HorizonsFan]

Here's another "grew up in the middle of nowhere in Central Texas" opinion. Snakes will not come out of the woods and track you down so that they can bite you. They are just as frightened of you as you are of them. Having said that, I must also say this. Snakes will bite you if they feel threatened. Making a snake feel threatened is not difficult. Stepping very close to snakes can make them strike. I have the boot to prove it...
I am also amazed that the pygmy rattler didn't strike. I don't have much experience with rattle snakes. My experience is more with copperheads, cotton mouths, and coral snakes. It's funny, the coral snake has the most deadly venom of the three but has the poorest delivery system. Its fangs are so soft, it can only puncture the thinnest of skin. Remember, "Red touch yellow, kill a fellow; Red touch black, poison lack". LOL, some things you never forget.
I don't think WDW has a snake problem. Just stay on the beautiful, well lit paths and out of the woods.

[Talking Hands]

Wanda,
I would not take such a chavilier attitude about poisonous snakes in Disney. We recently had a person bitten by a pigmy rattler her in Miami. There has been mention of a low supply of antivenom.
Yes most snakes will flee but if they feel threatened they will bite. And they can be found in any area that is lush with vegetation. We have found various kinds of critters in my own back yard and that included snales. Good reason to keep the yard cut and have it done by a service :)
Living in Florida I am all to aware of the possibilities of snake bites and their dangers. I also give any and all snakes a wide berth.

[TXDeb]

Take it from another Texan who lives in a rural area, snakes will chase you on occasion. I've seen it happen too. As someone else has said, they usually don't bite unless provoked, but since they are often hidden, you can sometimes provoke them unintentionally.

My cousin is a director at a Central Texas zoo, and she loves snakes. Think of a female Steve Irwin. She has several pet snakes at her house, and has even been to several exotic, remote areas on snake gathering expeditions. According to her, snakes do have "personalities", and some tend to be more nervous and/or aggressive than others, even among the same species. She is always advising us to be careful where we walk around our property. She has taught my kids not to fear snakes, but to respect them for the wild creatures that they are.

BTW - My cousin has gotten bitten a few times while handling snakes from the zoo - the latest was by a type of rattlesnake during a demonstration for a group of elementary school kids. With blood trickling down her arm, she continued her talk, just taking a few minutes to clean up her arm and remind the kids that snakes can bite, and that is why you should never touch a snake that you find in the wild. After, finishing up she went to have the bite checked out and anti-venom administered. It's all in a days work to her!

[Tramp'sLady]

OK, I just have to put my 2 cents in here. This snake issue must be a real emotional one for some people. I, personally, really appreciated Faerie_wings original post, notifying us of the kinds of snakes at WDW. I would have just assumed that every snake there was relatively safe since I am NOT a snake expert. However, my 5 year old DS, who thinks he is Steve Irwin Jr, DOES think he's an expert. Since we don't have alot of snakes around our house, he has no fear of them. I could totally see him as one of those kids surrounding the pygmy. I am almost certain that he would also try to touch it, no matter how many times we have told him not to. When it comes to reptiles, he thinks "the fiercer, the better". Now, before all you child defenders jump all over me for not "hovering over my child every second of the day" or "not thoroughly explaining the dangers of wild animals", I and every other mother of a young boy will tell you that they are quick and curious and will not walk next to you when meandering down a "jungle path". And things like this only take a second. I don't understand how a simple sharing of stories about snake experiences turns into a mud-slinging for some people. People are entitled to their concerns and fears. That's what I thought these boards are about. Now, I am not going to loose sleep or cancel my trip over this, but I will be a little more cautious in October. I appreciate the heads-up Faerie_wings!

[sandramaac]

I greatly apprecite the 'original' poster giving us the heads up on snakes at DW. Yes there is the gator talk on the boards but I never really gave it a second thought as far as the snakes go. And as with the gators, the is no need to go into panic mode, it has been VERY interesting reading others encounters with snakes. Thanks

However, I really do feel that the 'debate' portion of this topic is better suited to the debate board. Really some of the comments have been just a little nasty and a little confrontational. The comment was just an FYI, and I would hate to discourage other such post from our Dis'ers.

Hey thanks again for the info

[Tramp'sLady]

AMEN TO THAT Sandramaac!!!
I also apologize about my "child defenders" comment - I guess that sounded a little nasty and confrontational. It's a shame that I was anticipating a backlash about my parenting skills (the "electric shock" thread was fresh in my mind).

[Tess]

LOL ripleysmom! A little bit of the crocodile hunter goes a looonnnggg way!

I freely admit my absolute intimidation by snakes, poisonous or non. Ditto alligators! I'm just one of those folks who can't even stand to look at pictures or visit the reptile house at the zoo. I am just exceedingly creeped out by these creatures and that's my problem! I know it's irrational and, despite the negative posters' opinions, I don't care they think I'm a complete wacko for failing to get over it! We all have our foibles even them.

My husband and I encountered a snake at GF while lounging on the verandah as our children slept. They were very young and in those days we returned to our hotel early for them to go to bed. Husband and I were just chatting at the end of the MK fireworks and a storm kicked up. He was leaning on the rail while I was seated. He looks down and announces "WOW, you should see this cool snake coming up the side of the patio." It, evidently, wasn't intimidated by our conversation or presence just inches away. Maybe it was just being hospitable and wanted to join us for a snack? It proceeded to slither onto the patio as I am doing the hysteric's dance across the chair, table, chair, and through the door to safety! I was not waiting around to see if it would strike or not--after all, it was brave enough to slither up beside us (despite voices, activity, lights, etc.) instead of slithering toward the lagoon (dark and inactive). :rolleyes:

I'll hang onto my irrational fear and give all reptiles and many amphibians wide berth at WDW or anywhere else! No amount of book smarts is a substitute for common sense. :D


BTW, don't get me started about the one pulled from the lazy river ride at BB--I'm sure it, too, was harmless--that's why the lifeguard grabbed it with a LONG pole rather than his hands. Maybe they didn't read all those books about snakes or watch the documentary. Hmm, let's think about this--2 snake encounters after (at the time) only having visited 5x--I wouldn't make book on it, but not the longest of odds either. :rolleyes:

[Kallison]

I think the original poster did a service by explaining that there are snakes even in WDW. For those of us not from or familiar with Florida it's best to remember not to send your kids out in the courtyard area to play unsupervised or somewhere they might wander into the brush. For us in PA, whenever my kids see some bushes, trees or shrubs they want to set off and explore. In FL you can encounter coral snakes, fire ants, scorpions or even the wayward alligator and it could put a real crimp in your vacation plans.

[sandramaac]

Very,very well said Kallison----Thank You!!!!