Snakes??

[Mom_of_3_Pirates]

My MIL is terribly afraid of snakes and is scheduled to go with us in June. We have booked ressie at THV, which is in the woods and close to water. Are we likely to run into any snakes while down there? If she even sees a picture of a snake or hear of any down there, she will not go. The only thing that I have ever seen down there is an armadillo on our walk from Contemporary to MK.

Anybody seen snakes or other creatures while staying in this area, either at OKW or SSR? Just trying to be prepared.

 

[Lynne M]

Sorry, but there are snakes all over Florida, including Disney property. They've been spotted at every resort, every theme park, every water park. It's their natural habitat, no way to keep them out. Snakes that appear to be dangerous are removed when they're found.

That's not to say that WDW is totally infested with snakes and you'll see them all over the place, because that's not the case. I've been going since 1987,and I've never seen one. But there is a chance that you'll see a snake just about anywhere on property, including SSR and OKW. Unfortunately, no one can promise otherwise.

I just wouldn't mention it to your MIL, and hope you don't see any. Odds are that you won't.

 

[Mom_of_3_Pirates]

Thanks. I've never seen them any of the times I've been there either, but just trying to be prepared in case she asks (you know, "The DIS boards say this...") I just didn't know if the area we're staying in will increase those chances. Maybe we'll just blindfold her because we're not changing our reservation.

 

[JimMIA]

THV is certainly an ideal habitat for snakes, but I think it's extremely unlikely that you'll actually see one. In fact, they are probably harder to see at THV because it's such a great place for them. Snakes tend to avoid people as much as they can, and they are very adept at hiding.

Also, all the recent construction at THV has probably displaced most of the wildlife away from THV. When you disrupt habitat like a major construction project does, wildlife doesn't stay around long. Birds might stay, but anything that crawls or walks is likely to leave, at least temporarily.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Yes, I think with all the construction, this might be the best time to go. Also, I'm with DH, and he doesn't "see" snakes. Before we go out, I often ask him if I see one, does he want to know.

I'm hoping to see the otter family over at OKW or SSR someday. I've heard there's a family around VWL, but I don't know where to look.

Bobbi

 

[PKK/MJK]

I totally understand your MIL. Snakes scare me to death too!!! Yes, I have seen a snake at OKW--only once, thank heavens. It was stretched across the sidewalk between my room and my car. That being said, it was a VERY TINY snake. Short in length and very slender. Nonetheless, I was totally freaked out because it lifted its little head and stared at me! Eventually it did move and I got to my vehicle. I've stayed at OKW many times and only had this one encounter. A family friend is currently working on construction of THV and he says there definitely are snakes there--but if you stay on the pathways that are marked and don't venture off into the trees, shrubs etc, you will be fine. Since I trust him, I just made ressies at THV for November; however, I'm going to be VERY alert and only walk where I'm allowed to go!

 

[OlderMan]

This is Florida so there are LOTS of snakes, although you may see only a few, or none.

FWIW, I've lived if Florida for the last 8+ years. I've seen MORE snakes in these 8 years than I had CUMULATIVELY the prior 45+ years of my life.

Snakes are a fact of life here, but remember: They are more afraid of you than you are of them!

 

[Dean]

We've had as many or more snake bites in WalMart locally than out in the wild. I think the pigmy rattlers must have stock on K-Mart or some other local store.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We've had as many or more snake bites in WalMart locally than out in the wild. I think the pigmy rattlers must have stock on K-Mart or some other local store.

Wow. Growing up near NYC, word was tarantulas were in bananas.

Bobbi

 

[JimMIA]

We've had as many or more snake bites in WalMart locally than out in the wild. I think the pigmy rattlers must have stock on K-Mart or some other local store.

We have the same problem at all the garden areas of Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Pygmies just seem to love potted plants. They are usually very non-aggressive, but they are also fearless. So when you stick your hand into a pot, they're not going to run, they're going to bite.

 

[Dean]

We have the same problem at all the garden areas of Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Pygmies just seem to love potted plants. They are usually very non-aggressive, but they are also fearless. So when you stick your hand into a pot, they're not going to run, they're going to bite.

Exactly except all the bites we've had have been at WM, I think it's a conspiracy.

 

[JimMIA]

Snakes are a fact of life here, but remember: They are more afraid of you than you are of them!

Well...that varies both with the snake and the human.

Most wildlife in general will flee at the first sight of a human, but some snakes are not one bit afraid of humans. Of the bad ones, cottonmouths, pygmy rattlesnakes, and pythons are not likely to flee at all. They might or might not give some defensive display, but more often they'll just sit there and see if you're dumb enough to get close enough to bite.

And some humans have an absolutely irrational fear of snakes and there is nothing they can do about it.

 

[toocherie]

Well...that varies both with the snake and the human.

Most wildlife in general will flee at the first sight of a human, but some snakes are not one bit afraid of humans. Of the bad ones, cottonmouths, pygmy rattlesnakes, and pythons are not likely to flee at all. They might or might not give some defensive display, but more often they'll just sit there and see if you're dumb enough to get close enough to bite.

And some humans have an absolutely irrational fear of snakes and there is nothing they can do about it.

I would be the human with the absolutely irrational fear of snakes. And no, there is nothing I can do about it.

Remind me not to go to any garden centers in Florida. I take it the pygmy rattlesnakes are poisonous?

 

[Dean]

I take it the pygmy rattlesnakes are poisonous?

They are but apparently somewhat less than most.

 

[JimMIA]

They are but apparently somewhat less than most.

I don't know if the strength of the venom is any different from other rattlesnakes, but the snakes themselves are smaller and therefore the fangs are smaller, smaller dose injected, etc. They can still spoil your day.

 

[PeterPan09]

I've only seen ONE snake at WDW in all the years I've been going there. (since 1971, practically every year) We were waiting at the bus stop at SSR and there was a a black one crossed the sidewalk behind it. Dad said it was a rat snake, completely harmless, but I was still moving quite far away. I felt no need for a formal introduction.

Snakes and bugs are a part of life here, sort of payment for the great weather.

 

[Dean]

I don't know if the strength of the venom is any different from other rattlesnakes, but the snakes themselves are smaller and therefore the fangs are smaller, smaller dose injected, etc. They can still spoil your day.

Almost all the sleepless nights I've spent in the ICU related to snake bites have been pigmy rattlers but they are not as sick overall or require as much ante-venom as other rattlesnake bites but it's still not a fun time for anyone involved.

 

[javamom]

I've read some trip reports with snakes:

One at the Wilderness lodge pool, and the other at Typhoon Lagoon (of all places).

 

[JimMIA]

Almost all the sleepless nights I've spent in the ICU related to snake bites have been pigmy rattlers but they are not as sick overall or require as much ante-venom as other rattlesnake bites but it's still not a fun time for anyone involved.

Yeah. We had a very good presentation on snakebites and other envenomations from the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Venom Response Bureau (who are incredible -- one of the best in the world) recently and there's no such thing as a minor venomous snakebite. With the advanced medical treatment available, few die of snakebite in the US, but it is certainly a very, very bad thing to go through.

On the bright side, you have to really go out of your way, or be very unlucky to get bitten by any snake. All of the bite pictures the "snake charmers" showed us were on the fingers, usually the tips of the fingers. To be perfectly honest, I worry more about bee stings than snakebites.

We take 8'-13' pythons weekly without any issues (except for the python) -- but of course, we know what we're doing and we're very careful.

 

[skylynx]

My Epcot snake story...

My family and I were sitting cross-legged on the pavement scooched up to the metal railing in Epcot waiting for Illuminations to start (near the bridge linking France to the UK). We were making a few strawberry crepes disappear, when a lady standing behind me gently tapped my shoulder and said "I don't want to alarm you, but there's a snake heading your way." I looked to my right and saw a 3 foot snake (don't know what kind, it was dark) slithering towards me. I slowly backed a bit away from the railing and made my kids do the same and the fellow just went along, minding his own business. We were just getting settled back at the railing after he passed when we heard this ungodly shriek. Some man completely freaked when he saw the snake, but instead of just moving away, he grabbed the poor thing and threw it up in the air, where it landed in the water. There were a couple seconds of silence, then people started yelling at him for throwing the snake in case it wasn't a water snake and couldn't swim! That was one weird night.

I did have a duck come into my villa when Disney Institute was still in its heyday. She just pecked on the sliding glass door, and when I opened it, strolled in to the kitchen, took some corn flakes I'd dropped on the floor, then wandered on out again. My family always jokes about the Disney ducks and Disney birds and Disney squirrels that seem, oh, magical somehow ;-)