Snakes and Scorps

Sand fleas good.

Chiggers bad. Very, very bad.
Especially if you happen to be sitting or squatting when they find you.

You know I haven't found any here, but if you've ever stepped on it, stinging nettle. I stepped on some when I was a kid and when my mom realized what I stepped on she let the stream of four letter words go without a smack or scolding.

Gives me a shiver just thinking about it.

If you know stinging nettle, then you know what a sting from the Nettle Jellyfish feels like. They are the same. I say this from experience of both.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jdarg [ame="http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?p=522474#post522474"][/ame]
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


Yellow flies

You know I haven't found any here, but if you've ever stepped on it, stinging nettle. I stepped on some when I was a kid and when my mom realized what I stepped on she let the stream of four letter words go without a smack or scolding.

Gives me a shiver just thinking about it.

There used to be some at Grayton Beach, between my aunt's former home around the west side of the pass. I don't know if the storm surges from hurricanes killed it, or if we don't have to deal with it now since the boardwalk was built. But yeah, you will know it when you find it.

While we're at it, Prickly Pears seem to jump on you!

While we're at it, Prickly Pears seem to jump on you!

I'd take a patch of those over one thorn off of a stinging nettle.

Regardless of the location, I've seen snakes in my yards in FL, GA, AL, SC, and NC. I've seen only two scorpions in the last 6 years -- one in my shower and one under some surplus wood in a friend's yard.

There is no escaping snakes, even in a city. They serve a good purpose of eating rodents, frogs, and lizards. It's the vicious cycle of life. It would be good to teach your kids about the poisonous snakes in this area, so that they can stand clear if they encounter them. However, if you really want your kids to be safe, keep both hands on the steering wheel, don't talk on the phone and don't text while driving.

I try not to look down. The only thing I have noticed are man-o-wars, chameleons, and some pesty fly that comes from unused plumbing ( I still haven't figured that one out) but running the water sends them away

Busted!

Thanks to everyone who replied to this thread.....some very good info!

I would, however, like to point something out....my HUSBAND started this thread. He is deathly afraid of snakes.....myself and our girls make fun of him often because of it.

Next time he has a question about our future community, he will be posting as CSully.

CSully + snake =


I hope everyone has an AWESOME weekend!

Sincerely,
NSully

OK...Guilty as charged.

So Im afraid of snakes.

I just wanted to know if it was something I would be dealing with regularly....and even if I was, Im under what feels like 5 feet of snow right now...so I'd make the trade!

The yellow flies are the worst varmints that I have to tend with after being here for 8 years. They are very unforgiving. I hate them!

So Im afraid of snakes.

I just wanted to know if it was something I would be dealing with regularly....and even if I was, Im under what feels like 5 feet of snow right now...so I'd make the trade!

You'll be fine. Of course I do encourage your family to purchase a rubber snake. That's just too much funn to pass up.

Let me see if these two pics show up. I have found and taken pics of many, many snakes here along 30-A in the state forest. As for worrying about them, I would just teach my kids about snakes and that they shouold not approach them. Anyone who can't comprehend the possible danger, someone very young, should be closely monitored. But I don't think this area is any more prone to snake problems than elsewhere. Only 10 or 12 people die of snake bites across the nation yearly. When my kids are here and want to play in the backyard, I comb the area before letting them play since they'll be running and not looking where they will step. I've found 3 in my backyard last summer.

Anyway, I played at Regatta Bay golf course this past Saturday, Januaru 25th. On hole number 17 I went to look for a ball that I errantly hit off to the side of the fairway. Instead of my ball, I found a young Eastern Diamondback Rattler. I was told by a snake expert that Diamondback like golf courses because rabbit love the grass and the rattlers love the rabbit. Today I went to a lake here along 30-A and found a beautiful specimen of cottonmouth. It opened its fangs and protested my arrival, but after I tried to adjust its position for another picture, it clumsily moved off.

Let's see if my two pics from Saturday show up.

Snakes on the Golf course (that could be a really bad sequel) don't bother me nearly as much as the free roaming alligator over at Camp Creek.

I've seen several coyote but have also spoken to a couple people who claimed to have seen a panther. I tend to view testimonials with skepticism, but it is interesting. A guy told me he saw one this past week cross the road that goes north from 30-a by Camp Creek golf course. I asked if he thought it may have been a big bobcat and he said 'no'. Again, I don't value testimonials as science or fact by any means. First, from what I've studied, there is not enough area here to support a large enough population of cougar to exist over time. The only way for one to exist here is for someone to put one here, which has happened in other places/states that I know of. Kind of like when people release non-indigenous snakes in the Everglades. There, an overabundance of contrictors exist that are not native to Florida or the United States. My point is, it could happen and there could be one or more panther here.

I've seen several coyote but have also spoken to a couple people who claimed to have seen a panther. I tend to view testimonials with skepticism, but it is interesting. A guy told me he saw one this past week cross the road that goes north from 30-a by Camp Creek golf course. I asked if he thought it may have been a big bobcat and he said 'no'. Again, I don't value testimonials as science or fact by any means. First, from what I've studied, there is not enough area here to support a large enough population of cougar to exist over time. The only way for one to exist here is for someone to put one here, which has happened in other places/states that I know of. Kind of like when people release non-indigenous snakes in the Everglades. There, an overabundance of contrictors exist that are not native to Florida or the United States. My point is, it could happen and there could be one or more panther here.

I completely disagree, head over to Bud & Alley's from Memorial Day to Labor Day and you will see a very healthy and thriving cougar population.

I could name a native pest that's found on this board...:roll:

I could name a native pest that's found on this board...:roll:

Which one?

Seriously, NSully & CSully, we've got 3 kids that are 7 and under. We've seen a few snakes in the yard, but nothing poisonous. One lives near the garage & there's a glass lizard (legless) that lives near the front door. There have been about 3 scorpions in our house that Mr. Clean (my other half) has disposed of. When the spiders have egg sacs on the back porch, I move them. I just don't want that many baby spiders suddenly bursting forth. That's about it.

Mr. Clean gets freaked out by the funniest stuff, so I am laughing with the two of you. He freaked about the glass lizard and made me call our neighbors to come and help take care of it, then they laughed their rearends off at his expense.:roll: And I got lectured by our 7 year old about not saving a mosquito's life tonight.

We've got a pretty amazing, naturally diverse place down here. Even with kids, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I completely disagree, head over to Bud & Alley's from Memorial Day to Labor Day and you will see a very healthy and thriving cougar population.

I'll have to be more observant. So, healthy and thriving, uh? Any of them radio collared?

Not a pest that I know of, but there was an otter in Oyster Lake yesterday morning swimming around in the lilly pads East of the bridge. I really need to take a camera on more walks.

I'll have to be more observant. So, healthy and thriving, uh? Any of them radio collared?

No, but they do have collars, hides the old lady necks.

Not a pest that I know of, but there was an otter in Oyster Lake yesterday morning swimming around in the lilly pads East of the bridge. I really need to take a camera on more walks.

I've seen an otter on a bike on 30A.

Come on guys you keep setting them up I'll keep knocking them down.

Seriously though ASH, that is cool that you saw an otter. I didn't know we had any here. Although they are native to Florida.

Well thats it, you all (is it ya'll ?) have cemented it...lol...we'll be down on April 9 for several days to find our new abode.

I know this is for a different thread, but any agents who specialize in rentals that we should be talking to (other than those easily accessible on the web)?

There is an alligator in the pond behind my house. I don't really see him much until spring, but he was here before I was so I give him plenty of space. I did get stung by a scorpion in the fall. I was sleeping and it felt as if I rolled onto a hot thumb tack. It was on my shoulder blade. The next morning I found a small squished scorpion by my bed. My shoulder hurt for a few days, but he got the worst of it. I think our ample fauna is a great treasure, and as long as you 1. are aware of it 2. respect it all will be well, statistically that is. Now, those orange eyed cicadas that I encountered my first year in Maryland, those were unnerving.

Well thats it, you all (is it ya'll ?) have cemented it...lol...we'll be down on April 9 for several days to find our new abode.

I know this is for a different thread, but any agents who specialize in rentals that we should be talking to (other than those easily accessible on the web)?

For the love of god get 4X the normal damage deposit from him, you'll need it to clean all of the Astroglide off of everything.