Snakes and Scorps

Considering that most of the homes are new contruction, ie they tore down the trees and built houses, yes, there are many snakes, scorpions, spiders, etc. Many are poisonous, some venom is particularly nasty. Is there a place that doesn't have some kind of pest?

Nah..

there certainly isn't!

We've been here 5 years and I've never seen a snake. I've seen their trail going across the dirt road, but never actually seen one around my house. I've seen one scorpion (a very small one).

It is best if your kids and your animals, learn avout "the gotchas" in the world. I have raised my children in the beautiful woods of North Alabama. I have 5 dogs. I taught my children with pictures and on nature walks about what to look for. One nishgt my 2 YO came to my room to tell me that was a bug on the stairs and she demonstrated a claw with fingers coming together. She knew not to touch without checking with us. I have had lots of dogs through the years and have learned different breeds repond in different ways to snakes. Some of my dogs come running if the least little thing gives them pause, other dogs are wonderful at alerting us to the presense of snakes. Teach your kids not to walk in the woods without walking stick that they can use to disturb the vegetation and scare any snakes away. Get with a veternarian as soon as you get down there. Talk with folks and ask which vet has the expertise to handle a sanake bitten dog. Last summer one of my dogs was bitten by a timber rattler. It was a serious bite but I can report with pleasure that she came through with flying colors. My vet had just hired an associate from Arizona who was incredibly good at diagnosis and my local vet hospital gave her 24 hour ER care. These things are in the worlkd and it is best to know about the dangers and how to respond effectively. You're going to love it there. And Florida Girl is right..every place has something...It's the ones you don't know about that are most dangerous....

There are poisonous snakes here, but you just avoid places you know they might be. I've only ever seen one (nonpoisonous) in my "natural" yard - most of them have actually been while golfing or out in the wild.

There isn't a specific neighborhood we can recommend as they are potentially everywhere.

Better warn you about the Coyotes as well, particularly with a small dog.

Coyotes pose minimal danger to supervised kids at play or a dog in a fenced yard. Depending on where you live, if you let the dog roam loose it might become a coyote snack.

Florida does have scorpions, but these aren't the southwest kind. They are fairly harmless. That being said if you are allergic to bees or insect bites they can cause problems. Otherwise you'll probably be lucky to see one.

Thanks Everyone

Sounds OK to me. Didnt want to make this sound like too big a deal..I just hate snakes. We have 'em here too, but not 7 foot rattlers...

My updated wildlife-in-the-yard list:

pine snake
water moccasin
turtles
toads
frogs
small scorpions (yard and house- they get in like spiders and bugs)
coyote
small bobcat
woodpeckers


Pretty cool!

As SWGB said, the scorpions here won't kill you, except for possibly being allergic. But to be stung hurts like holy hell. The scorpions do favor pine trees, though. When we moved to Freeport, our house was full of them. They even got in my car. We also had about 70 small, skinny, lightning-rod, hurricane-projectile pine trees in our 1/2 acre yard. Between the scorpions and the fact that pine trees scare the stuffing out of my spouse for the reasons stated above, we sold the trees for timber. After about three months the scorpions were gone.

(Note that I am typically against tree-cutting, but this was different.)

Snakes are basically everywhere. There are fewer poisonous ones crawling around than there used to be, but all it takes is one. Look up Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Pygmy Rattler, Cottonmouth Moccasin, and Coral Snake. Between those four, that pretty much covers it. Also look up Hognose (aka spreading adders). They are perfectly harmless but will scare you, on purpose, to keep you from hurting it.

My updated wildlife-in-the-yard list:

pine snake
water moccasin
turtles
toads
frogs
small scorpions (yard and house- they get in like spiders and bugs)
coyote
small bobcat
woodpeckers


Pretty cool!

Unicorns

Better add Brown Recluse and Black Widow to that list!

We've spent a total of 6 weeks in Seagrove to date and I've never seen a snake or scorpion (knock on wood) near our rental, I've seen some garden spiders and more ants and mosquitos than any other critters.

Unless you're in a woodsy area, I wouldn't worry much. Myself, I stay on the concrete or beach and always feel safe!

I did see one snake on the beach a couple of years ago, a large group of folks had left all of their floats and chairs on the beach overnight-hello, big NO NO-and there was a snake,looked non-venomous to my hubby, under their floats the next morning. Some forum folks might say that's what they get for leaving all of their stuff out overnight.

I've also seen several bald eagles flying about the coastal dune lakes this year. I wouldn't leave my small dog or cat out alone if they are flying overhead. There was a sad story when we were in Alaska about a couple who got out of their RV at the gas station and let their tiny pooch out unteathered. Eagle came down, picked him up and carried him away never to be seen again. Maybe the eagle will swoop into your yard and grab any snake that happens to be about. I see a harmelss snake or two in my yard each year. I have a very wild and native yard though. I enjoy watching the spiders out in the yard. They can't come in the house, however.

Better add Brown Recluse and Black Widow to that list!

Brown Widow

Better add Brown Recluse and Black Widow to that list!

Are you sure? I did some research and thought that these two species, while in FL, are not found in the panhandle. Especially the recluse because I thought I had them in my last home.
I'm not saying you're wrong, I just gotta be right.

Are you sure? I did some research and thought that these two species, while in FL, are not found in the panhandle. Especially the recluse because I thought I had them in my last home.
I'm not saying you're wrong, I just gotta be right.

Quite sure! They are on my property!

Yellow Jackets are annoying too! They burrow into the ground, and next thing you know, they're swarming you! Got a half a dozen or more inside my work glove last summer.

For crawling pests around the house, I sprinkle sulfur or a sulfur/diatomaceous earth mix. (can use soil sulfur or mix dusting sulfur with water and tank spray around foundation)
I have not seen scorpions around my house but have a friend who had them under her porch area and she supposedly kept them away with sulfur.
Here in TX since our soils are pretty alkaline, the sulfur helps with the pH a little too!


.

Quite sure! They are on my property!

brown or black?

Quite sure! They are on my property!

http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/ento/venomousspiders.html

Dang if you aren't correct! :shock: No Recluse documented in Walton County according to the attached website, but that might just be a matter of time. the link has photos of what the spiders look like.

Thanks Florida girl, now I have two more things to worry about.

http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/ento/venomousspiders.html

Dang if you aren't correct! :shock: No Recluse documented in Walton County according to the attached website, but that might just be a matter of time. the link has photos of what the spiders look like.

Thanks Florida girl, now I have two more things to worry about.

That's a cool site! Good to know these things. I also found an Audobon Field Guide of Snakes. It doesnt' have them all, but it helps identify what I'm shooting! Only kill poisonous!

Almost forgot, can't forget the Chiggers, ticks, and fleas!

Almost forgot, can't forget the Chiggers, ticks, and fleas!

You mean like sand fleas? Those things make great bait.