2 days ago
Summer Snake Series: Dusty pygmy rattlesnake is on Florida's venomous list
There are more than 40 species of snakes that are native to Florida, but only six of them are venomous.
This week The News-Press and Naples Daily News is taking a closer look at each of these snakes for a special series.
Snakes are most active in the spring and early summer months, when the weather warms up and they emerge from brumation, which is similar to hibernation.
As it starts to heat up for the summer in Florida, you might see more of your slithery neighbors gliding through your grass or across your driveway. But not every snake is a threat.
Here's a closer look at today's featured venomous snake:
Dusky pygmy rattlesnakes, also known as pygmy rattlesnakes, have a dark or light gray body, with row of black or charcoal blotches along the length of its body and a reddish-brown stripe running down the middle of the back. Their bites are very painful, but not life-threatening. They can be found throughout the entire state, but aren't known to occur in the Florida Keys, according to the Florida Museum.
According to the University of Florida IFAS website, these snakes live in natural wooded areas but can sometimes be found in neightborhoods.
To see photos and more in-depth descriptions on these and Florida's native, harmless snakes, visit the Florida Museum's guide for identifying the state's snakes.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Is Florida's Dusty pygmy rattlesnake venomous?
