Calls to wildlife trappers in South Florida have tripled in recent weeks as heavy rains and flooding push snakes out of their usual homes and into neighborhoods, according to Trapper Jay of Treasure Coast Wildlife Trappers.
Trapper Jay said he has collected nearly 50 snakes over the past month. They include venomous species such as rattlesnakes, water moccasins and coral snakes. Many of the calls involve snakes in garages, yards and inside houses. Last week, he responded to a rattlesnake that had settled outside a veterinary clinic.
He said wet conditions are forcing the animals to seek drier, higher ground. “They want to stay dry, so they’ve been coming up to more elevated areas,” he said.
Trapper Jay advises residents not to kill snakes, even though they can be dangerous. He said they play an important role in the ecosystem. If someone spots a snake, he said, the safest step is to call a professional trapper.
Snake activity is expected to decline over the next month as rainfall decreases and temperatures drop, the report said.
