LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- Across the state, Florida's Poison Control Center has received more than 500 calls about snake bites so far this year. And some those calls were from Lee and Collier counties.
It's simple…if snakes are too hot, they will look for a nice cold, shady spot inside your home or A/C unit. If they are too cold, that's when you see snakes just hanging out on the street, getting warm from the hot pavement.
Spring and summer are usually the busiest times of year for snake bites. But the state's poison center says it's unusually busy this fall.
We spoke with experts at the Calusa Nature Center in Fort Myers. They say all snakes are just searching for water, shelter, food, and warmth.
There are about 20 species of snakes in Southwest Florida, and four of them are venomous.
But the likelyhood of a venomous one being in your backyard or home is very slim. "It's super rare to find a venomous snake in your backyard. If you find a snake in your house or backyard, it's almost always going to be harmless. It's looking for mice and wanted a nice shady place to get into," says Mary Wall of the Calusa Nature Center.
Experts say you should cut your grass to avoid snake problems, and patch up any holes in your screen doors.
Snakes are scared of you and they mainly bite out of fear, so experts say don't confront them. Just leave them alone.
Call wildlife removal company and they will safely remove the snake.
