There are 46 native Florida snake species, many of which are quite common. A few non-native snakes have also been introduced from other parts of the world.

Fortunately, only six of these species are venomous. All are harmless if left undisturbed!

40 of Florida’s snake species belong to the “colubrid” (pronounced col-ooh-brid) family. The rest include five pit vipers and one elapid (the coral snake). As their name suggests, pit vipers possess sensory pits. They are found on each side of the head, between the nostril and the eye.

Three of the five pit vipers in Florida are rattlesnakes. These snakes possess a “rattle” at the end of their tail. They may use this to produce a “buzzing” sound when threatened.

Note that young rattlesnakes lack an obvious rattle. Newborns may not produce this sound when disturbed. Young snakes can still produce enough venom to hospitalize an adult human.

The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake – up to 6 feet

The Copperhead

The Cottonmouth

The Eastern coral snake is the other venomous species found in Florida. As an elapid, it looks entirely different from the pit vipers.

This color pattern makes the coral snake easy to spot. However, there is one common colubrid with similar markings.

This doppelgänger, the scarlet kingsnake is a species many want to keep around. It preys on other snakes (including venomous ones). Fearsome as it sounds, it is harmless to humans. It can be easy to confuse these species.

Many Floridians will swear by the old saying:

“Red touches yellow – kills a fellow. Red touches black – friend of Jack”

Both snakes can have red, black, and yellow/white bands. The rhyme implies that the yellow bands of the coral snake usually “touch” its red bands.

The yellow bands of a harmless kingsnake do not usually “touch” its red bands. The two are usually separated by black bands.

Florida does also harbor some non-native snake species. Some are thought to have arrived in shipments of goods from overseas. Others may have escaped from captivity.

Non-native species prey upon native animals and compete with others for food. Some species can form populations that grow rapidly. These are known as “invasive” species.

Invasive species pose a serious threat to Florida’s fragile ecosystems. Florida scientists are battling to keep them under control.

The Burmese python (Python bivittatus) is among the most infamous invasive creatures in the world. It is also one of the largest snake species. These colossal reptiles can exceed 20 feet in length, and weigh over 150 pounds!

It is believed that Florida’s python problem began with Hurricane Andrew. During the storm, many pythons escaped from breeding facilities.

The near-tropical climate of South Florida allowed these snakes to thrive. Today, they are mostly found in the Everglades, where they kill and eat local wildlife.

Their diet includes opossums, raccoons, and white-tailed deer.

Large pythons have even been known to prey on alligators.

Snakes have an important job to do in Florida. These reptiles form a vital part of the regional ecosystem.

Many snakes help to control populations of rodents, ticks, and other pests. This can prevent the spread of disease.

Some harmless species (such as kingsnakes) even kill and eat their venomous cousins!

Snakes also provide a source of food for other predators, such as birds.

So – whether you like them or not – preservation of these critters is crucial. We need them around to keep Florida’s wilderness healthy and wild!