The only good snake is a live snake!
April 9th, 2010 by admin
What not to do when you see a snake: On Wednesday afternoon, Robert Tyler was driving through Merritt Island when he spotted a diamondback rattlesnake. In an interview with Florida Today he described the snake as “a huge, beautiful diamondback.” Unfortunately, the snake’s beauty didn’t prevent Mr. Tyler from stopping his vehicle, grabbing the snake and cutting her head off with a knife.
Brevard County Animal Services spokesman Brian Figueroa told the paper that rattlesnakes are not uncommon in Merritt Island, and that if the snake had been captured by animal services officers, they would likely have relocated the snake to wild land on the north end of the island.
What to do when you see a snake (courtesy of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission): “What should you do when you come upon a snake? Just stand back and observe it…. They’d much rather avoid encounters and usually will flee. There is no good reason to kill a snake except in the unlikely situation of a poisonous snake posing immediate danger to people or pets. Snakes usually bite people only if they are molested; it’s their only means of self-defense. Even a poisonous snake in the woods or crossing the road poses no threat and should be left alone. Also, most larger snakes travel in large areas, so one you see in your yard today may be far away tomorrow.”
Bites often occur when people do something stupid, like when Mr. Tyler handled the snake.
As top predators, rattlesnakes play an important role in Florida’s ecosystem. Keep your distance and celebrate these unique animals!