By Dan Mantini
Like many homeowners in Marsh Creek our house backs up to a pond. Several times in the last couple of years I have noticed the shedded skin of a large Florida Moccasin on the stones near the pond. But I had never actually seen the snake.
Last Wednesday evening that all changed. Around 7 pm I opened the front door to walk my dogs and there it was stretched out, about four feet long, lying still while soaking in the late day sun. Our front door faces west and sometimes the driveway is bathed in bright sunshine before the sun goes down. The snake was only about fifteen feet or so from the front stoop. My first thought (probably not a good one) was to get a shovel from the garage and kill it. But after I got the shovel my sweet wife, who is a vegetarian, pleaded with me not to kill it. So I thought to myself that maybe she was right and I could simply encourage the snake to slither back to the pond. With heart pounding, I stepped off the stoop and reached out as far as I could with the flat side of the shovel facing the ground to gently nudge it in the tail, which was the closest part to me. With incredible lightning speed, the snake coiled and struck the shovel, scaring the hell out of me. Instinct took over and I bashed it on the head at least six or seven times. Its head was smashed and bloody but it writhed back and forth for at least five minutes. Remembering the sad ending to one of my favorite childhood books where “Old Yeller” gets bit by a rattlesnake in its death throes, I stayed clear and watched in abject horror until it stopped moving. I then scooped it up with the shovel and dumped it in the pond for the turtles to enjoy. I proceeded to thoroughly hose my driveway off in fear of venom being left behind, although I have subsequently been told that’s not possible.
After a few drinks to calm my nerves, I came to the conclusion that I had almost made the worst mistake of my life. Indeed, if you are brave enough or perhaps foolish enough to try and kill a big moccasin with a shovel, bash it while it is lying dormant, alerting it to a potential threat is extremely stupid and very risky. It could have easily struck me instead of the shovel. I started thinking that perhaps I should have stayed inside and by morning it would have been gone, but I don’t think I was capable of that kind of inaction. I must admit that I felt extremely relieved when it was dead. Florida moccasins are dangerous creatures to have living in a residential neighborhood. In retrospect, the next time around (and I sincerely hope there isn’t one) I will stay inside and call Animal Control and wait for the cavalry to arrive. After all, discretion is the better part of valor.
Dan Mantini
Helpful Links
First Aid Guidance from Florida’s Poison Control Centers
Possible Symptoms
Pain, swelling, vomiting, bruising, weakness, shock, metallic taste in the mouth.
First Aid
Remove jewelry and tight clothing near the bite. Keep the bit limb below heart level. Cleanse. Do not apply a tourniquet or ice, as these worsen the damage. Do not cut the skin and suck out venom. Go to the nearest hospital.
Hey! We had the same situation. The snake was on our front porch and daughter called from her car in the driveway to say there was no way she was coming in the front door! We took pictures and then left the snake alone. It eventually went away. These large carnivorous snakes are good for Marsh Creek. They eat the marsh rats that can easily multiply and take over everywhere. When our children were small, yes, we did kill them but not anymore! Just leave them alone and eventually they will go away. Same story with a baby diamond back who decided to curl up right by the front door midwinter. He was gone the next day.
There is another common water snake here, the banded water snake, which could easily be mistaken for a moccasin. It is not venomous. it’s lower jaw has bands of dark and light colors.
I have come across venomous snakes in my garden many times over the years. I have never threatened them and they have never threatened me. They have always been very respectful as have I.
I just read an article in this months Readers Digest about a man who was bitten by a severed head of a rattle snake he had beaten with a shovel Apparently because they are cold blooded they live after decapitated and then when they bite empty all their venom into the victim He couldn’t get the head off him Luckily he lived to tell the story so no don’t do it yourself But my question is will Animal Control deal with poisonous snakes?
I enjoyed reading your entertaining and informative piece, Dan. There are quite a few pesky creatures surrounding my home: a brown rabbit and (armadillo?) disfigure my rear lawn, which borders on the marsh; deer stomp across my garden; and I’ve encountered black snakes. (Once I almost stepped on one that was hidden in the tall grass of my unmowed lawn.) But I try to remind myself that we humans are the invaders. The last time I spied a brown rabbit munching my St. Augustine grass I yelled: “What are you doing on my property!” Then I imagined the rabbit retorting: “I might ask you the same question.”
I too had a snake experience last week on Fiddlers Point Dr. I noticed my cat looking out the patio door to my front porch. When I looked out, there was a 6 ft. rattle snake looking back at me with a body as big around as my arm. I googled it and identified the snake as a Eastern Diamond back rattler. Very dangerous and indigenous to this area of Florida. When I open the door a crack, he started rattling and I knew i shouldn’t try to get him off the porch. He stayed there about 30 minutes looking back at my cat. Eventually, he slithered away.
I have natural areas on both sides of my house, and in the future, I’m going to be very careful where I step.
Wow, Dan! Not an encounter any of us would wish to have! I am so glad you forewarned us. It is doubly smart to call Animal Control instead of attempting what you did. Thanks for writing the article.