Orlando - Next Weekend, so what have I forgotten?
Discussion
Don't get too relaxed about snakes, however. Most of the ones that end up in the pool skimmer are small black (rat snake/black racer) non-venomous and quite timid - but they will strike at you if cornered and they do have teeth, of course. However, there is also a more dangerous and similar looking snake called a cottonmouth - or water moccasin - so make sure you know which is which before you try your new snake wrangling skills.
Matt Harper said:
Don't get too relaxed about snakes, however. Most of the ones that end up in the pool skimmer are small black (rat snake/black racer) non-venomous and quite timid - but they will strike at you if cornered and they do have teeth, of course. However, there is also a more dangerous and similar looking snake called a cottonmouth - or water moccasin - so make sure you know which is which before you try your new snake wrangling skills.
Just back from the hospital and the doc says I should be ok in a day or two..... 
Seriously I just fished it out and threw it out of the enclosure. It was quite small, about 7-8 inches, thin, black, with what looked like a red or orange band just behind the head. I wasn't going to spend too long looking at it though.
I was walking back to my Hotel from Seaworld with the family, and a small snake scuttled across the pavement in front of us into the grass. First wild snake i'd ever seen. Couldn't tell you what type it was.
I remember it being very small about 6 or 7 inches long and a kind of grey/black colour.
I remember it being very small about 6 or 7 inches long and a kind of grey/black colour.
Rat snakes are very, very common throughout central FL and will be found wherever there is a plentiful food source. They are timid (unless you are a small rodent, of course). The Cottonmouth, on the other hand is a highly dangerous and quite aggressive pit viper, that you do not want to f
k with.
We also get to see the occasional Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake. These are also best given a wide berth.
Tourists are unlikely to encounter either of the venomous species, unless they have a hankering to leave the theme parks and head out into the State forests or wildlife preserves.
k with.We also get to see the occasional Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake. These are also best given a wide berth.
Tourists are unlikely to encounter either of the venomous species, unless they have a hankering to leave the theme parks and head out into the State forests or wildlife preserves.
Adenauer said:
What might this one be, Matt? Is was an orangey colour, about two foot long, and swimming in freshwater on Sanibel Island.
I'm no authority Karl, but my guess would be an Aspic - sometimes called a 'false moccasin' in these parts. That said, all of our indiginous snakes are good swimmers (even the giant Alligator eating Anacondas and pythons, they keep finding in the Everglades.To all the naysayers, snakes are very, very common in FL, though you are not likely to encounter them in theme parks of course. We have all manner of creepy crawlies in our midst - most are harmless, but some aren't, so it's sensible to assume that they are harmful until proven otherwise.
In reality the most seemingly benign have the potential to cause the most trouble. I refer to mosquitos (lyme's disease and west nile virus) chiggers, deer ticks and bad-ass raccoons.
Probably best not to mention the spiders......
I've been to Florida about 5 times, and this snake was a first for me. Regularly get lizards in the pool area though. My wife hates them....which makes me like them even more
We Brits need to be aware of the dangers in tropical countries, the UK is just to isolated from perspective which gives you a false sense of safety. Gators are not just confined to Gatorland in Florida!
We Brits need to be aware of the dangers in tropical countries, the UK is just to isolated from perspective which gives you a false sense of safety. Gators are not just confined to Gatorland in Florida!
Right, we're on the final countdown (flying this Friday morning)for Orlando and have started to get a bit worried about the weather....
Seems there's a hefty thunderstorm there right now, anyone (Matt :-p) got a solid website to check the local Orlando weather and possibly Marco Island aswell so that we can stop obsessing over loads of sites/reports?
Starting to limber up the stomach for what it is about to be put through
Seems there's a hefty thunderstorm there right now, anyone (Matt :-p) got a solid website to check the local Orlando weather and possibly Marco Island aswell so that we can stop obsessing over loads of sites/reports?
Starting to limber up the stomach for what it is about to be put through
http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/weat...
Looks like next week will be a bit bumpy from the effects of Isaac. They hope its going to swoop into the gulf, but there is no telling for sure.
Looks like next week will be a bit bumpy from the effects of Isaac. They hope its going to swoop into the gulf, but there is no telling for sure.
Thanks a bunch guys - got a gf sitting beside me freaking about storm Isaac.....
Will have fun no matter the weather but hopefully it clears towards the end of the week and isn't too serious for the folks caught up in it.
Oh, and Matt - if you don't mind tomorrow I might pop an eating list over for your seal of approval......PH should send you a tshirt for being our Florida oracle.
Will have fun no matter the weather but hopefully it clears towards the end of the week and isn't too serious for the folks caught up in it.
Oh, and Matt - if you don't mind tomorrow I might pop an eating list over for your seal of approval......PH should send you a tshirt for being our Florida oracle.
Edited by Goa'uld on Saturday 25th August 22:16
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