Snakes & other critters?

[MartDM]

How worried do I need to be about DS6 encountering snakes and other critters in the populated areas of the Fort? We'll obviously use our common sense around the water & such, but do I need to be terribly worried about finding any little friends around our cabin?

 

[North of Mouse]

How worried do I need to be about DS6 encountering snakes and other critters in the populated areas of the Fort? We'll obviously use our common sense around the water & such, but do I need to be terribly worried about finding any little friends around our cabin?

Snakes can be anywhere - but in all actuality, I have 'not' seen one in the many years we have camped at the Fort!

I DO NOT want to see one

Will a little 6 year old boy 'find' a snake around the wooded areas - in all likely hood he probably 'could' if he played a lot off the beaten path. Haven't heard of anyone having problems with them (except one little boy sticking his hand in a bush by a path when he dropped a toy -was bitten). I never worried when my children were there playing.

Enjoy your time there and try not to stress about it too much. If you camp a lot, you would be used to being in the woods.

 

[gratefulfred]

We heard a noise outside and opened our cabin to find a raccoon at the door. It ran away but still made me jump as I was not ready for that at 7am.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Once I heard a commotion outside, went running out to find a band of squirrel's try'n to steal our Dodge 2500.
They would have succeeded if it weren't for the armadillo's try'n to steal the wheels off the RV we were in at the same time.


Ya gotta really watch what part of the neighborhood you stay in at the Fort. l

 

[becky1960]

I have seen snakes a couple of times over the years, but not enough to make me worry and I don't like snakes. As far as critters, they are there and not much of a problem, now the two-legged ones thats a different thing..

 

[5stljayhawks]

there are also plenty of armodillos - bugs and other creepy crawly things. just make sure you say don't pick them up. also spring = mating season for gators. AKA be very careful around the water.

 

[bama_ed]

Once I heard a commotion outside, went running out to find a band of squirrel's try'n to steal our Dodge 2500.
They would have succeeded if it weren't for the armadillo's try'n to steal the wheels off the RV we were in at the same time.

That's funny.

Seriously, MartDM, most of the dangerous critters have been hauled off long ago. In all my trips I've only seen one tiny gator in the canal. Other than squirrels, armadillos, raccoons, turkeys, rabbits, and lizards which are all pretty tame, there's no dangerous wildlife to worry about.

Bama Ed

 

[2goofycampers]

The one thing to stay far away from is if you see ant hills. Those little red ants pack a big bite.

 

[CampingDad]

We have camped at the fort plenty of times. The only incident I was worried about was one morning we spotted a snapping turtle under the stairs of our neighbors RV. We were worried about them walking out and not seeing it. So we notified the CM washing a site a few sites down and she radioed someone. They came and escorted it out of there. My kids also spotted two alligators in the canal when we were fishing this year. Again we notified a couple CMs that we're driving by in a golf cart. There reply was "oh yea we know about them but we're not going to worry about them till they get aggressive" they were about 3' long and big enough to make us worry. But we're from IL so alligators are new to us. Seen a snake once but the busses took care of that one. Seen a few armadillos over the years. Lots of little lizards. I wouldn't worry and enjoy your vacation.

 

[michly]

If, in the off-chance you do see any snakes, it's likely to be non-venomous (like a rat snake, garter snake, water snake) so there's a little less to worry about. Of the 4 venomous species (Eastern Diamondback, Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake (little! and less harmful), Cottonmouth, and Eastern Coral Snake) in that area, I've only seen 2 in the wild (in the Everglades not at Disney ) and that was when I was specifically doing wildlife surveys and trying to find them. The venomous snakes in the area are more likely to take off than 'fight'.

The best thing to do, is if you are worried at all about this, is to simply learn what the venomous snakes look like so if you see one, you can go the other way. If you happen to see a King Snake, say thanks! They like to dine on the venomous snakes, and are also very pretty.

As mentioned earlier, I'd be most worried about red (fire) ants. It's easy to not pay attention to your feet and step on a hill. That was a hard lesson to learn .

 

[wdwmom0f3]

On our last trip to Disney we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside and on that one trip alone we saw a bob cat, one snake on the walk way, rabbits, and strange looking lizards. They also were out there removing a fairly large alligator from the water. We were also told that there was a very large snake by the pool area but they were not able to catch it yet. The only one that worried me was the bob cat.

We have seen several snakes at small gators over the years. After hearing of the child who was bitten by a poisonous snake while reaching down by a bush for something he dropped, I told my kids to stay in the middle of the walkway and away from bushes. Watch where you step.

If these things happened at the resorts, I would be very careful at the fort.

 

[North of Mouse]

On our last trip to Disney we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside and on that one trip alone we saw a bob cat, one snake on the walk way, rabbits, and strange looking lizards. They also were out there removing a fairly large alligator from the water. We were also told that there was a very large snake by the pool area but they were not able to catch it yet. The only one that worried me was the bob cat.

We have seen several snakes at small gators over the years. After hearing of the child who was bitten by a poisonous snake while reaching down by a bush for something he dropped, I told my kids to stay in the middle of the walkway and away from bushes. Watch where you step.

If these things happened at the resorts, I would be very careful at the fort.

Have happened less at the Fort!

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Come to think of it, I have never lived ANYWHERE in this country that didn't have snakes, bugs, small wild animals and even some big wild animals.
Ya just gotta expect that when camping or in camping type environment or in the wild, there are critters . Heck, you wouldn't believe the critters we see in our own yard.

 

[cjbcam]

We are staying in the cabins at fort wilderness and my biggest fear is snakes. I have read stories about snakes being in rooms and someone finding one in his suit case. My husband is a hunter, fisherman, camper etc. we go camping in the mountains and he sits laughing at me for being so freaked out. He's like there are snakes everywhere we have camped and bears and wolves ... Anyways he has promised to go into the cabin and search it before we go in lol. As for in the open we are staying on paths so hopefully we will be able to see and stay out of the way.

 

[MartDM]

Thanks for setting my mind at ease everyone. Used to camp a lot as a kid but that was longer ago than I'd care to admit! That said, I still remember all the common sense & safety rules & plan to apply them during our visit.

I'm not fearful of wildlife & would actually welcome seeing some armadillos, lizards, raccoons, etc. around the Fort. But, being a northerner, I'm just a bit paranoid of dangerous varieties of snakes, insects, & gators we don't see here in the snow belt & want to make sure I'm appropriate alert for my son's sake! The story of the boy who got bit picking up his toy stuck in my mind from when I read about it long ago & is actually exactly what prompted my question.

You've made me feel much better now

 

[tiggerdad]

Watch out for road lizards...

Sent from my Desire HD using DISBoards

 

[Born 2 Fish]

and the Solo Cup sippers.

 

[Old Snipe]

I did see a black (King) snake at the Fort once. I wonder how they got the Mickey ears to stay on its head?

 

[2goofycampers]

I did see a black (King) snake at the Fort once. I wonder how they got the Mickey ears to stay on its head?

 

[Born 2 Fish]

This guy is look'n for his Mickey ears,,,

onna mouse !