Wildlife

[tttessa]

Hi,
have booked our April 2008 trip with Virgin - staying in a 3 bed villa - are there any dangerous beasties to be aware of?
Obviously we know the - "do not approach vergeside ditches" kind of thing, but are there any risky "bugs" / snakes around the villa areas? I'm a bit of a paranoid mum....
Cheers,
Tessa

 

[UKDEB]

Tessa, I hate all kinds of bugs and creepy crawlies, but with the odd exception, I've managed to avoid them (in 15 years of Florida holidays). As long as you have a screened pool, you should be OK. In fact, our last two villa stays have had unscreened pools and, even then, I've coped.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Nothing life threateningly dangerous (although if you pool is unscreened, just give it a bit of a check to make doubly sure that nothing has crawled/slithered in...)

I would keep away from natural bodies of water - like unchlorinated ponds/lakes - because they will attract a lot of mosquitos as much as anything.

Buy some GOOD insect repellent and/or get the suntan lotion with the reppelent in it - make sure you and the kids wear plenty to keep the mosquitos away: not thank dangerous (unless you have an odd allergy), but if they make a meal of you it can be VERY itchy etc. You can also buy repellenet lantern/candles to put around the villa pool to keep them away too. Keep doors/windows/screen closed to keep mosquitos out of the villa.

Boo

 

[wicket2005]

Only seen true wildlife in the Disney parks. Animal Kingdom a water snake and Magic Kingdom a huge spider. Nothing other than ducks round one of the villas we stayed in.

 

[Steve and Sarah]

Agree with Boo Boo Too as above. In the time we have been travelling to Orlando (Approx 7 years) the only time we have ever suffered any insect bites is when we visited Kennedy. It is designated nature reserve and there are mosquito's everywhere. Definately use repellant for these days.

With regards to the pool. If you have a covered lanai you will be fine from all things slithery or flying as that is what they are there for.

 

[tttessa]

Thanks everyone - nice to know there's not too much to worry about!
Also, as a newbie, nice to know there are lots of friendly (and knowledgeable!) people on the forum!!

Cheers all...
Tessa

 

[martina857]

Tessa,

Be a little careful though, we had a snake in our villa in June last year, it was a non poisoness one but it was VERY big !! I vacated the house very quickly.

Also watch out for mossies and horse flies, Florida is a wet land and wetlands come with a large variety of little blood suckers.

Martina

 

[tttessa]

Thanks (?!) Martina - that is one of my biggest worries!!!!!AAArgghghgh

I have this wierd fear of finding a snake at the bottom of the bedcovers - since it happened to my college roommate! A snake escaped at halls of residence and crawled into her bed - the warmest place - AS SHE WAS SLEEPING IN IT! It was only (?!?!?) a 3 foot reticulated python, so apparently not dangerous.

Cheers, aaarrrrgggghhhh,
Tessa