SNAKE vent! One of the things I hate about Florida

[Pin Wizard]

Our pup, Max, was resting on his bed by the back slider. We have a lake behind the house and sometimes I think the visiting snakes come out of that lake. Max started growling like we've never heard before. He growls differently when someone is out there fishing (which they aren't supposed to do.) Sure enough, there's a black snake slithering on the deck headed in Max's direction! Thank goodness Max was inside and the slider was closed. Someone told me to stay away from the black ones, especially near a lake, because they could be cottonmouths (water moccasins)! Online last night I read that cottonmouths are aggressive and will come after you.

A couple weeks ago, I had someone get rid of an ancient spa cover. He found a different kind of snake in that and killed it. He was filling in an in-ground spa and planting sod on it. When I went out to check on it, he told me that he buried the snake in there. Well, I guess I won't be getting a picnic set and putting it there. Just the thought makes my skin crawl. I don't even want to talk about the Coral that was in the garage a couple years ago. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...Florida!

Is it Shep that likes the snakes? He had a tag about snakes at one point and it vanished. Hey, Shep! Want to collect some from the neighborhood?

 

[MaryAnn B]

So tell me what do you like about Florida and hate about it. I am thinking of moving to Florida . Have family in the southern part which I don't want to move to. Family also along the east coast and thinking of moving back that way but want warmth.

What is good and bad about florida?

 

[Denine]

This is one of my hesitations about moving there. If we do, I will not live by a swamp or lake. I will move into a developed area and not get the "nature" view.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I've been in Florida 14 years, so there's obviously more I like about it than not. I'm just not much of a "nature" person so to speak. My husband was the hunter, fisherman, and camper. I'll camp out in the Hilton, thank you! The weather is great, the area is beautiful and well kept, and the housing is reasonable compared to the northeast part of the US. I don't know about comparisons these days, but when we moved here that was true. Best of all to me is the cooler weather we have while the rest of the country is in a deep freeze. And WDW is within driving distance! A huge plus! And that's just the beginning.

 

[GeorgeG]

I have to make sure my wife doesn't see this. I'm trying to get her to move to Florida and she is terrified of snakes. Is living away from water a good way to minimize the exposure?

 

[grinningghost]

Sandy, my grandparents (both deceased now) lived in N. Ft. Myers, FL for years. They had a drainage ditch in back of their house that always had those icky black snakes in it. They would occasionally slither into their yard and carport. But they liked it in the water better, so they mostly stayed in the ditch. I am definitely moving to Florida in a few years, snakes or no snakes. There are alot more pros than cons in Florida when you compare it with up here.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by GeorgeG
I have to make sure my wife doesn't see this. I'm trying to get her to move to Florida and she is terrified of snakes. Is living away from water a good way to minimize the exposure?

Tell her about the good things! I would think avoiding being too close to water might help. When we rented an apartment we were on a canal, but I never saw any snakes. But we were also on the 2nd floor. I don't think I'd rent on the first. But you also have to watch the shrubs, bushes, stuff like that. And today my exterminator told me that corals like to be in palm trees! I'll be looking up as I pass them. LOL! Seriously, I don't see snakes too often. Just occasionally. It wouldn't keep me from living here. And I did see stuff online to repel them, to keep them from coming too close to the house. But Florida has so many canals, I don't think you can find an area completely waterless. I know around here I've seen neighborhoods without canals too close, but there's a canal on either side of the entire development. It's just the way Florida is. Perhaps an inside portion of a development would be better than the edges.

I should also probably say that I've lived in this home almost 7 years, and in that time I've only seen a few. In our previous townhouse, there was a golf course that surrounded our neighborhood. In my 5 years living there I NEVER saw a snake. Look for that golf course home.

 

[vald1977]

Okay, so now I have to ask. What about the bugs? I have heard some horror stories about enormous bugs in Florida. I also saw one in Epcot (someone told me but I forget what it is called). I don't think I could deal with those in my house !

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by grinningghost
I am definitely moving to Florida in a few years, snakes or no snakes. There are alot more pros than cons in Florida when you compare it with up here.

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! There is a lot that's good here.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by vald1977
Okay, so now I have to ask. What about the bugs? I have heard some horror stories about enormous bugs in Florida. I also saw one in Epcot (someone told me but I forget what it is called). I don't think I could deal with those in my house !

Maybe it was a Palmetto bug. But I have to say the biggest one I've seen was when I was on vacation in the Dominican Republic! We had a monster on the wall. I just make sure I have my exterminator come in monthly. It's worth it, and no bug problems.

 

[vald1977]

Thanks, it was a Palmetto bug! It was at least three inches long. I still want to move to Florida someday but I don't want to co-habitate with creatures like that. I'll just have to find myself a good exterminator .

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by vald1977
Thanks, it was a Palmetto bug! It was at least three inches long. I still want to move to Florida someday but I don't want to co-habitate with creatures like that. I'll just have to find myself a good exterminator .

If you move to southeast, I'll have the name and number of a good one for you.

 

[Tess]

The very reason I don't want to live in FL. Can't stand the sight of those slitherin' creatures--2nd (a very close 2nd) are alligators. The thought of them gives me the heebie jeebies.

I've seen two snakes while visiting Disney--both have managed to cross my path--at night! Ugggghhhhhh. One fell from a tree while I was on the verandah at GF, the other slithered in front of my foot just outside the concierge building at Polynesian. The alligators I've seen at CBR, MK, and the golf course across from GF/Polynesian! I can't imagine coming into contact on a routine basis.

As to the exterminator--friends of ours living in FL said the same thing--they have a "bug service" like we have a lawn service. I'd definitely have to have one because bugs in the house is disgusting, too!

 

[TEENEE]

I've lived in Fl all of my life. Some people have strange ideas about what it's really like to live in Florida. We don't have snakes and gators wandering around our neighborhoods. Every now and then I find a snake in the yard but they are usually harmless black snakes. They eat bugs and rodents, they can live in my yard anytime. We do have mosquitos that seem like they are big enough to carry small children away. You learn to carry a bottle of skintastic with you when you are going to be out in the summer. I'll take my bugs over all that snow anyday.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by Tess
I've seen two snakes while visiting Disney--both have managed to cross my path--at night! Ugggghhhhhh. One fell from a tree while I was on the verandah at GF

As to the exterminator--friends of ours living in FL said the same thing--they have a "bug service" like we have a lawn service. I'd definitely have to have one because bugs in the house is disgusting, too!

...as far as the snake falling out of the tree and into your path! Eek!

LOL! I guess an exterminator is like your lawn service.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I'm with you, Teenee. And welcome to the DIS!

 

[marlasmom]

In the 6 months we have been here, I have only seen one harmless black snake (although it got inside the screened lanai and I made DH get it OUT. I have had NO bugs in my house whatsoever.,

Now then - the damn damn fire ants. They are everywhere and I have spread so much poison I fear for the dog and for visiting children. And they still bite me. It stings and hurts and your skin makes little postules and then horrible scars.

 

[MaryAnn B]

Okay now, those fire ants I am not sure about those they sound terrible. Are they everywhere in the state. Also anyone know anything about the Ocala area in Marion County. I know the humidity and mosquitos are bad.

Here in Colorado we don't have bugs or mosquitos (very minimal), but the dryness is really hard. And I am getting tired of cold and snow. Of course digging out from the recent blizzard is helping decision. And family there.

 

[Pin Wizard]

It hasn't been bad here with fire ants. We're pretty fortunate I guess. Any time I see a mound, out comes the stuff to get rid of them. We had them in New Jersey also, but up there we called them red ants.

I see Marion County is towards the middle of the state. I've heard that in general, the middle of the state is much more humid and buggy. They don't get the coastal breezes like we do.

http://www.this-town.com/images/flmapbycounties.gif

 

[shep]

Did someone say snakes??
I get to mow the back yard tomorrow, well actually today...Wonder how many I will encounter back there??