It happened. It finally happened. After 6 months living in Brevard County I have finally found a LIVE venomous snake! Yes, others have found venomous snakes here, but this is my first and it also happens to be a Lifer!!
Today started out like any other. I spent a good portion of the day on a roof sealing holes to prevent an incursion of rats and was quite tired by the time I got off of work. My wife had previously agreed to help our mutual friends pack up to move so after changing clothes I realized I'd have some time to do some herping. I went to an area I've frequented, but hadn't found much besides Ringnecks, Garters, and Corns. I haven't found much out there before, but there is a lot of junk piles scattered throughout to flip and I have found a DOR Florida Brown Snake and a Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake- both of which would have been lifers. I digress.
I drove around flipping many items and only managed to flip a single Ringneck which I lost in the grass. Frustrated I decided it was time to go home. I drove by a pull off I've seen many times, but failed to explore and decided today was a good enough day to check it out. I walked around for a while and noticed that this was clearly an area that people liked to us target practice. There were tons of boxes and boards with many holes in them scattered throughout the area.
As I was walking back to the truck, I looked down and noticed something out of place. And there it was!!! The most incredibly gorgeous lifer I've seen in my life thus far!!
Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake
Dusky Pygmies are a dime a dozen for many of you, but this is one lifer I will never forget.
Here is my other lifer from the past few weeks. Florida Brown Snake
My curse is over!!
Moderator: Scott Waters
- InfantryVeteran
- Posts: 58
- Joined: April 24th, 2014, 9:34 pm
- Location: Palm Bay, Fl
- mtratcliffe
- Posts: 533
- Joined: January 19th, 2014, 4:34 pm
- Location: Mt Laurel, NJ
Re: My curse is over!!
Congrats! The Dusky Pygmy is also my only venomous snake sighting in FL. I've found a dead EDB but I seem to be cursed with finding venomous snakes otherwise.
You'll have to check out that site again - looks like it could also be EDB habitat.
You'll have to check out that site again - looks like it could also be EDB habitat.
- soulsurvivor
- Posts: 530
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 9:09 am
- Location: NE Florida
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Re: My curse is over!!
Congrats! When I was first getting started in the road cruising game, some 15 years ago, a dusky pygmy was the first venomous snake that I ever cruised, so they also hold a special place in my heart. That does look like a great area. Keep checking it!
~Bree
~Bree
Re: My curse is over!!
I'm happy for you!
Some people seem to find lots of some things and hardly any of another. While I have seen my fair share of pygmies, I've only seen a couple of brown snakes, and none this year so I'm most envious of that one. Plus, I haven't seen too many ringers either. Have any pictures of them?
Some people seem to find lots of some things and hardly any of another. While I have seen my fair share of pygmies, I've only seen a couple of brown snakes, and none this year so I'm most envious of that one. Plus, I haven't seen too many ringers either. Have any pictures of them?
- BillMcGighan
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- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 9:23 am
- Location: Unicoi, TN
Re: My curse is over!!
My favorite type of post: Took us along with you and communicated the "tension" of the hunt.
Good looking road. Don't forget to hit the junk piles in Jan or Feb on days when it drops to 50s and low 60s.
Good looking road. Don't forget to hit the junk piles in Jan or Feb on days when it drops to 50s and low 60s.
- InfantryVeteran
- Posts: 58
- Joined: April 24th, 2014, 9:34 pm
- Location: Palm Bay, Fl
Re: My curse is over!!
captainjack0000 wrote:I'm happy for you!
Some people seem to find lots of some things and hardly any of another. While I have seen my fair share of pygmies, I've only seen a couple of brown snakes, and none this year so I'm most envious of that one. Plus, I haven't seen too many ringers either. Have any pictures of them?
I have lots!
Re: My curse is over!!
Great pictures! I must not flip enough rocks or be in the right habitat for ringers. Perhaps they're just too small and I don't notice them....
- Rich in Reptiles
- Posts: 494
- Joined: November 30th, 2012, 7:45 am
- Location: Missouri
Re: My curse is over!!
Sweet!!!! Congrats on those lifers, both are very cool in their own unique way!
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- Posts: 2248
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 11:42 am
Re: My curse is over!!
Ditto that.My favorite type of post: Took us along with you and communicated the "tension" of the hunt.
Congratulations on your beautiful lifer!
I like your ringneck photos. I find them devilishly difficult to get good pictures of. Tips/hints welcomed (for photoing ringers, not finding them).
Re: My curse is over!!
I'll take tips & hints for finding themTips/hints welcomed (for photoing ringers, not finding them).
- PrimitiveTim
- Posts: 154
- Joined: September 8th, 2013, 9:05 pm
- Location: Florida
- Contact:
Re: My curse is over!!
Well done man. Persistence pays off often enough be persistent.
Throw a bag of mulch out beside your house. A month later flip it in the Fall or Winter. You don't have to open it or anything. It's worked for me on a few occasions.captainjack0000 wrote:I'll take tips & hints for finding themTips/hints welcomed (for photoing ringers, not finding them).
- FloridaSerpent
- Posts: 85
- Joined: October 18th, 2014, 12:12 pm
- Location: South Florida
Re: My curse is over!!
I felt the same way when I walked up on my first venomous, a cottonmouth about a month ago. It was something I'll never forget. Great post. Short and sweet.
Re: My curse is over!!
The first time I encountered a venomous down here I was shaking with so much excitement I couldn't take a picture. I had cruised up on a decent sized cottonmouth after some afternoon rain. What a rush!