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

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.

 

[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

 

[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.

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...