Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can anyone please tell me why there might be sudden rash of snake sightings? We live in NW FL and see maybe one or two in a year. But in the last 2 weeks I've lost count of how many snakes in our neighborhood. Including to be what we think is a pygmy rattler in our backyard area. We've had cottonmouths and copperheads before and my kids know not to bother or attempt to touch any snake. We've even seen at least 3 or 4 snakes at the soccer fields-close to where the kids are playing.

Well the weather is cooling off and theres lots of rain so thats atractiong the snakes.

Also, I'm not sure of the breeding seasons down there, but they may be hunting for mates.

If there's any nearby major construction projects, like a new highway or a subdivision, that may explain it. There may not really be any more snakes than in years past, but just that you have been "lucky" enough to see more. The attached website may be of some help to you in identifying any venomous snakes in your area.

~~Greg~~
Florida's Venomous Snakes

I live in Tallahassee & don't see this as unusual behavior. Spring brings about a resurgence in activity, semi-hibernated snakes crawling about looking for a full belly & a mate. In the heat of summer they semi-estivate, avoiding the high temps. Late summer & fall, they head out looking for all the meals they can find to carry them thru the next semi-hibernation. Just normal cyclic behavior that would be obviously affected to some degree by weather patterns. This year's drought may be having an effect on their movements but, for the most part, I think what you're seeing is normal. Enjoy watching their increased activity!
Dan.

N. American Viperid snakes (Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, Cottonmouths) generally breed and mate in the late summer and early fall. Therefore, they are much more commonly encountered at this time of year compared to the summer or spring.
Also because babies are born around now, there are more individuals in the population at the moment.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Thanks for the info. on the snake situation. I had forgotten about mating season. To go from 1-2 in a year to several in a 2 week period just seemed unusual. I don't consider myself "lucky" to encouter them. Over the years I've had snakes in my pool, on the front porch, and 3 on the back porch area-including a cottonmouth.

Greg-thanks for the link on Florida Snakes. I had bookmarked that a few years ago when I encountered an unknown snake. I do study that link on a regular basis just so I know what it is when I encounter it--including our new resident pygymy rattler.