OKW - 2 snakes - first 2 hours - UPDATED 6/22

[KPH500]

I had three snakes in my backyard on Friday My dogs were trying to play them.

OMG, my son was mowing the lawn on Thursday and said he saw 3 snakes in our backyard too! eeww

 

[princessfionasmom]

Glad I wasn't there but not for the reasons you might think! My DH and kids are huge nature lovers and probably would have chased the snake and tried to catch it. I'm not kidding. One year we were in Crystal River, FL with DH while he was at training and I went to the store by myself and came back to find that DH and kids had been out catching little lizzards. Guess where they were . . . yep, all over our room. The kids were in heaven and I was freakin out on DH to get them out of the room. Needless to say I didn't sleep well in fear of waking up and finding one on my face. My kids are always catching the garter snakes in the back yard, they are definitely their fathers kids and not like me at all in that respect. I hope they don't find any when we are there in Oct!

 

[Simba's Mom]

It's not that manicured grounds will thwart snakes, at least I don't think so. Last Friday, we were eating in the outside area of the Beachclub Marketplace, and a smallish black snake poked it's head over the "window box" type of plantings that they have. I was about 5 feet away, and just watched it. In the end it decided to head into the bushes and not cross the path. That BC area is very definitely landscaped, not wild at all.

Bobbi

Yes, BCV is the only resort where I've ever seen snakes. The real irony is that when I saw the first one, I was with Mom, who has a REAL phobia about snakes (worse than mine, if that's possible) When we returned from the MK one night, one was "waiting" to greet us as we got off at the bus stop.
The closest I ever got to one at OKW was one night, about 20 feet away were a group of about people in a circle, looking at something in the grass. One person finally said "What kind of snake do you think that is?" I ran into the villa-that was close enough!
ChuckS-maybe some people in Texas get used to snakes but some of us.....I watched a kiskadee catch a ribbon snake and then proceed to hit it repeatedly against a rock until it died, then fly off with it, probably to feed babies. Since then I've been real nice to the kiskadees!

 

[diesel]

OMG, my son was mowing the lawn on Thursday and said he saw 3 snakes in our backyard too! eeww

I saw a snake in my garden hose container this week also. Is it mating season in Massachusetts for snakes or is it because of all the rain?

 

[Sammie]

Yep, Building 55 is where the wild things hang out, love that building.

 

[Sammie]

We saw a pretty long black snake ( about 3-4' long) at SSR about three weeks ago right near the Grandstand bus stop. A bird was flying at it and attacking it. It was lying on top of the nicely manicured bushes there.

And Bill saw a black snake in the Lazy River at TL during that same stay. Some other guest found a rake on the side of the river, picked up the snake with the rake and flung it on the side into the brush. Bill said he thought it was a water moccasin, but wasn't sure.

Ok, now a water moccasin in the Lazy River, that would definitely thin out the crowds. They are one mean snake. Hopefully it was a banded water snake, not venomous but do resemble a Cottonmouth.

 

[mandjblum]

just the conversation about snakes is creeping me out. I am sitting at my desk with my feet in the air. At 6 foot 300 lbs I can be fast a lightning if I spot one.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Yes, I'm afraid if you want to stay away from snakes and other slithering forms, you probably shouldn't be going to Florida. Manicured or wild, they are going to be lurking in the bushes. Just remember that they are cold blooded, so when it's hot, you wont see them out in the open much.

Yep, snakes are a part of nature. I don't like them either but Florida means snakes, bugs and gators.

 

[ParrotBill]

Balcony & Palm Trees -

The cottonmouth does sun on branches along water but not in Palm trees over balconies. It will flee from humans unless cornered.

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/FL-GUIDE/Venomsnk.htm

Guide to Florida snakes:
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/FL-GUIDE/onlineguide.htm

There is a rough green snake that likes trees. Look at its picture - it's even in a palm frond!

I will still sit on my balcony. But I may search the trees first.

 

[PattiPB]

Here's a charming fellow I spotted near the International Gateway at Epcot.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/2872788174_a6e28a08e6.jpg?v=0

Definitely won't fit on a dime, now will it???

Looks like I'm going to be led around WDW from now on---out of sight, is better than out of my mind!!

 

[ccigliano]

Ok, now a water moccasin in the Lazy River, that would definitely thin out the crowds. They are one mean snake. Hopefully it was a banded water snake, not venomous but do resemble a Cottonmouth.

That's just Disney - trying to keep it real. You don't need animation when you can train the real thing.

 

[Sammie]

Balcony & Palm Trees -

The cottonmouth does sun on branches along water but not in Palm trees over balconies. It will flee from humans unless cornered.

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/FL-GUIDE/Venomsnk.htm

Guide to Florida snakes:
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/FL-GUIDE/onlineguide.htm

There is a rough green snake that likes trees. Look at its picture - it's even in a palm frond!

I will still sit on my balcony. But I may search the trees first.

The cottonmouths you have experienced are obviously much more polite than any I have ever seen. I have seen them climb in fishing boats that were trying there best to get out of the snake's way, I have seen them drop out of trees into fishing boats.

The ones we have encountered are very aggressive and if you google the Cottonmouth you will see many have encountered the ones like I have.

http://www.itsnature.org/ground/reptiles-land/cotton-mouth-snake/

 

[COACHSTING]

I saw the three foot black racer on the pool deck last week at the Beach Club lazy river pool. The guards and rec folks tried to catch it by throwing a towel over it. It got about 8 feet from the pool. It escaped by slithering into the short bushes in front of Beaches and cream and was not located again.

 

[JimMIA]

Balcony & Palm Trees -

The cottonmouth does sun on branches along water but not in Palm trees over balconies. It will flee from humans unless cornered.

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/FL-GUIDE/Venomsnk.htm

I am around Cottonmouths daily, but I have never had one flee from me -- cornered or not. My experience with them is that they are basically fearless, and also a little curious.

For example, it's not uncommon for them to approach humans in wild settings. We often are out in the Everglades marsh on foot (in water up to our knees or higher), and I've had a number of Water Moccasins approach to see what I was doing. They don't come right up to us, but they will swim toward us to about 15-20 feet away with their heads up out of the water to see better. I can tell you that a 4-foot moccasin gliding slowly through the water toward you is a distinctly unnerving experience!

I once had one do that and then go underwater! There was a lot of algae floating on the surface, so when the snake went underwater I had no idea where it was or where it was going. A few seconds later, I saw ripples moving away from me and resumed breathing.

I was also amused by the comment in the linked article about the "harmless Brown Water Snake." Brown Water Snakes (light brown body, dark brown rectangles along the spine) are easily the most aggressive snakes in the Everglades. They are the only snake I've actually seen go after a human. They're non-venomous, but the larger ones can inflict a painful, dirty bite.

Regardless of species, however, you have to be really unlucky (step on one) or really stupid (try to handle one) to get bitten by any snake. Their default setting is to flee (except for most water snakes, who usually stand their ground), and even the fastest ones are slow compared to humans.

 

[dianeschlicht]

UPDATE 6/22: No snakes spotted today but I've also had my poor DH running out a few feet ahead of me; returning and then guiding me like I'm sight impaired. I know every inch of the back of his head.

Seriously, the landscaping at this bldg. is atrocious. There are weeds growing 2-3 feet out of the hedges and the palms are seriously encroaching on the balcony. The front desk has told me that 'horticulture' will take care of it two days in a row now.

Things grow really fast in Florida, and it doesn't take long for ANY kind of plant to grow nearly out of control there. I have always liked the beautiful landscapes at OKW. Granted, they will hide a few critters, but that's part of Florida. When we were there last month, buildings 45 and 46 had just gotten a horticulture trim. They were much more groomed than they had been in January when we were in the same unit. I have the pictures to prove it. I do remember staying at 55 once where the palm tree hangs over the balcony. I actually thought it was nice. The only thing that bothered me was that it hampered my view of the canal a bit.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Things grow really fast in Florida, and it doesn't take long for ANY kind of plant to grow nearly out of control there. I have always liked the beautiful landscapes at OKW. Granted, they will hide a few critters, but that's part of Florida. When we were there last month, buildings 45 and 46 had just gotten a horticulture trim. They were much more groomed than they had been in January when we were in the same unit. I have the pictures to prove it. I do remember staying at 55 once where the palm tree hangs over the balcony. I actually thought it was nice. The only thing that bothered me was that it hampered my view of the canal a bit.

"horticulture trim". I'll have to remember that phrase next time DH yells at me for trimming plants.
One reason I love all the trees around the balcony is the not-so-good golfers. I can't count the number of times I've heard a golfer yell and then heard the whosh of the golf ball tangling in the trees nearby. I'd hate to think of my head if those trees weren't there to protect me.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I am around Cottonmouths daily,...

OK...I am probably around racers and garter snakes daily in my yard and the general area around my house, but I don't see them...but I could not say what you do with any sort of composure!

I am around hummingbirds and woodpeckers daily. That's my comfort zone!

Bobbi

 

[casper]

Anyone see Mowgli lately? Mowgli!? Mowgli? Now where is that boy?

 

[scot@dvcstore]

Sorry to hear about your "snake encounter." As a 35 year resident of central Florida, I have realized snakes will be anywhere at anytime but are generally harmless other than getting your heart racing for a few minutes. Most active morning and late afternoon hours. Black racers are very common and completely harmless. Take a step back, close your eyes for 5 seconds and they are generally gone when you open your eyes. They are as scared of you as you are of them. Enjoy your vacation and the great Florida outdoors!

 

[JimMIA]

OK...I am probably around racers and garter snakes daily in my yard and the general area around my house, but I don't see them...but I could not say what you do with any sort of composure!

I am around hummingbirds and woodpeckers daily. That's my comfort zone!

Bobbi

It's like anything else, Bobbi...we fear what we don't know. We all have lots of irrational fears -- mine are just about things other than critters because I'm accustomed to critters.