You have probably heard the rumor that snakes come out at night in Florida. It is a common question, with lots of different answers. If you are living in Florida and want to know for sure whether or not it is true, then keep on reading!
We will go over some facts about snakes and answer your question if they do come out at night in Florida.
Are Snakes Active At Night?
Some snakes are nocturnal creatures, meaning they typically hunt and move around at night. However, this does not mean that snakes do not come out during the daytime! Some Florida snakes are active during the day and at night so be aware when you are outdoors in grassy places with plenty of vegetation.
A lot of snakes are most active at night, but there can be exceptions. All snakes will want to find shelter from the heat during the day, so again, be careful when you walk around.
During the summer, snakes will be more active early in the morning and late in the evening when the temperatures are cooler to come out. For example, cottonmouths or rattlesnakes actually prefer hunting at night.
Florida has many types of snakes and they come out at night because they are nocturnal.
What Kind Of Snakes Come Out At Night In Florida?
There are many different types of snakes that might come out at night in Florida. The most common snakes are the Eastern Coachwhip, Southern Black Racer, Coral Snakes, and Cottonmouths.
In order to identify a snake at night, you need to learn what they look like during the day.
Eastern Coachwhips are about 3 feet long with brown or black stripes on their body. They also have a tan or brown coloration with a white underbelly. They’re active mostly during the day and are non-venomous. Besides, they’re very agile and fast, and have great eyesight that allows them to be active at night as well.
Southern Black Racersare about 4 feet long and have a black or brown body with yellow stripes on their back, head, and tail. They also have an orange belly that looks like it is inside out. They’re Florida’s most common snake species, are non-venomous and very speedy.
Coral Snakesare about 2 feet long and have a yellow, black or red body with beautiful patterns and an orange belly. Even though they’re quite timid, they’re one of the highly venomous species in Florida.
Cottonmouths are often mistaken for non-venomous water snakes. They are about 2 to 3 feet long with a dark olive or light brown body, triangular head, catlike vertical pupils, and white mouth area that looks like an open cotton ball. They’re highly venomous and should be avoided at all costs.
Where Do Snakes Go At Night?
The idea that snakes get into the bathroom at night is a myth. Snakes are cold-blooded, and they can’t produce their own body heat so they need to find warmth during the day in order to survive.
When it’s nighttime, snakes will typically stay in hiding because predators are out hunting for them. They may also be found under logs or other covered objects where they can stay warm and safe.
On some occasions, a snake may come out at night if it’s hungry and needs to find food. If the snake is nocturnal, it can be found hunting throughout the evening or during a large portion of the night. It will have excellent vision in low light conditions, which is why you might see them coming out at dusk after sunset when it becomes dark outside.
Do Snakes Get Into Houses At Night?
Snakes are not typically found in houses. If you see a snake, it is most likely outside and just passing through.
The only time snakes might get into your house is if they were looking for a nice safe and warm place to hibernate during the winter months.
To prevent snakes from getting into your house, keep doors and windows closed, and keep your yard clean of debris. Trim overgrown bushes and plants, which provide snakes with the cover they can hide in.
When Do Snakes Sleep?
You might be wondering whether snakes sleep at all. Snakes do not sleep in the same way humans or other mammals sleep, but they can experience a form of slumber.
They don’t have eyelids, so they always have their eyes open. They sleep by turning around themselves into a ball shape and tucking inside their mouth to protect themselves from predators. When they do this their muscles around them relax which is how snakes are able to stay so still for such long periods of time.
The word “sleep” can be confusing because if you don’t have eyelids, you might not know that you’re sleeping. But it is hard to tell for sure if a snake is asleep without looking at the snake’s eyes.
In the evening, snakes may go into a state of lethargy which is when their body slows down and becomes very cold so that it doesn’t use up their energy stores too quickly while resting in cool temperatures. This helps them because at night there is less prey available and snakes need less energy to stay alive.
Different snakes experience different periods of sleep which is related to how active or inactive their lifestyle may be during the day. When a snake has been in an area where there are lots of food sources then they will find themselves sleeping less than other snakes who live in less active areas where they don’t have to hunt for food as often.
Final Words,
Snake presence on your property can be a quite disturbing event and I’m sure most of you don’t like the idea of sharing your space with slithery reptiles, even though they are beneficial to Florida’s ecosystem.
Luckily, there are options for snake removal and control. Working with a reliable pest and wildlife removal company such as Wildlife Troopers is your best solution. So, if you need snake removal services for your home or business, contact us today!
