Wildlife

[harryhornet]

This may be a really daft question, but I'm going to ask anyway.

I don't want to sound like a wimp, but, is it safe to swim in the sea at Clearwater, or am I likely to be a Great White Shark's dinner.
Also are there any snakes in Florida, and if so, where do they congregate (so I can avoid them)

even if there are snakes, I'm still looking forward to my trip

 

[Olaf]

Originally posted by harryhornet
Also are there any snakes in Florida

Oh yah! Florida has snakes all right! My parents live an hour west of WDW and they have several of the long icky creatures lurking around their property. I hate snakes too and I'm always amazed at my mother's nonchalance when confronting "her pets." She kinda likes them, they keep the rats and mice down.

Last December, while walking back to our room at VWL, I almost stepped on a small black snake that was crossing my path (near the quite pool). It was tiny, only about 10 inches long, and DS was fasinated by it, "Oh look, cute little snakie." Basically, you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone.

We've had many stays at Shades of Green (across from the Polynesian), and we've seen several small gators in the pond there. They were small, but the kids love it. Makes walking back in the dark a bit of an adventure. When they get to a certain size, they are captured and taken away.

Don't worry about it. You probably won't see a thing.

 

[WDWfan uk]

I'm certain that if one of the many ships/boats saw any evidence of sharks off the coast, there would be warnings all over the place, including the beaches.
Regards snakes, on most visits we haven't encountered any apart from when we went over to Discovery Island, now sadly closed. We did see one last year in the Magic Kingdom and it was trying hard to keep it's distance from the people!

 

[TracyK]

I've seen snakes at Blizzard Beach. One actually fell out of a tree and bit a man on a sunlounger next to me. I also saw a sweet little alligator in the MK on my last trip. He was by where you get the boat across to Tom Sawyer Island.
Tracy

 

[pt415999]

I've stayed down the Florida Keys four times now and have on each occasion hired a boat to snorkle at Sombrero Reef. Three times sharks were in the water with us along with countless barracuda and I've still got all my fingers and toes!
So go , enjoy and don't worry, but if you do see a fin......

 

[pegasusEH]

Just remember to take note of any warning flags on the beaches. I have a friend whose step-father drowned after been swept into the Golf earlier this year!

 

[Olaf]

You are so right pegasus. The undertow can be very strong. If you're caught in it, must remember not to fight it. Let it take you wherever, ride with it, eventually it will let up, and then make your way back. It's very scary.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Fish - plenty of em in the waters at Clearwater - little ones mind, so just lie back and they'll jump over you. Two weeks ago at Marco Island (further south down the gulf coast) we saw a most amazing sight - two guys were playing with their frizbee when it landed in the water between them . . . only to be pushed around and then jumped over countless times by a Grouper Fantastic sight. Fish we've seen both in the Clearwater/St Pete's area and Marco/Naples areas were angel fish (stunning), grouper, pipe fish and tiddly widdly little fishy fishes (haven't a clue what they were called).

Down in the keys the biggest fish they hooked off our pier was a small nurse shark (harmless) - and a baracuda (sp?) - not quite to harmless, but never seen one even show the remotest interest in a human bean. The fishes on the coral reefs there were just too stunning for words - beautiful .

Get in the water - you'll love it

Sadly, the only snake I've EVER seen was the one I ran over two weeks ago down in Marco (hope it wasn't a mummy snake ).

 

[Olaf]

Originally posted by Mrs Dazzle
Sadly, the only snake I've EVER seen was the one I ran over two weeks ago down in Marco (hope it wasn't a mummy snake ).

Oh don't worry Annie. Snakes just lay their eggs and then slink off and let them fend for themselves. One less snake in Florida--it's a good thing.