A rich ecology, including a range of snake species, can be found in Florida, a state well-known for its immaculate beaches and pleasant climate.
The majority of these reptiles are harmless to people, although one Sunshine State lake is well-known for having a lot of snakes in it. This post explores this snake-infested body of water in great depth and offers vital safety advice for anyone considering a visit.
Lake Okeechobee
The recognized range of the invasive Burmese python, which is constantly expanding and stretches from western Broward County to Collier County and south to Key Largo, is capped by Lake Okeechobee.
The longest Burmese python (Python bivittatus) ever captured in the Sunshine State measured an incredible eighteen feet in length and weighed in at two hundred and fifteen pounds! Most specimens captured in Florida are normally between six and nine feet long.
Though they have only been seen in the vicinity of Big O, not in Lake Okeechobee itself, something that enormous would thrive in the vast and well-stocked waters of the lake.
About Lake Okeechobee
Other than these two slang terms, Lake Okeechobee is also called “Florida’s inland sea.” This can be attributed to its unique location on the Florida Peninsula, which is less than 50 miles west of West Palm Beach on the Atlantic Coast and little over 60 miles east of Fort Myers in the vicinity of the Gulf of Mexico.
Despite being rather shallow, with an average depth of nine feet, Big O has a surface area of 730 square miles.
As a result, it is not only the biggest freshwater lake in Florida but also the second largest lake totally contained within the contiguous United States.
There are three main natural streams that feed Lake Okeechobee: Fisheating Creek, Taylor Creek, and the Kissimmee River. These are other points of connection.
Speaking of our topic of interest, Big O is located directly north of the Everglades, a real snake refuge that has gained international attention due to an uncontrollably large number of Burmese pythons in recent years.
Lake Okeechobee is also a part of two important recreational pathways, one being water-based and the other terrestrial. Regarding the former, the 154-mile Okeechobee Waterway centers around Big O. From Fort Myers to Stuart, this boating network traverses the southern peninsula via the Caloosahatchee River on the west and the St. Lucie Canal on the east.
Read Also: Utah’s Snake Hotspots: The 5 Lakes with the Most Snakes
The Okeechobee Lake Snakes
Florida Cottonmouth
This large, deadly snake is between thirty and forty-eight inches long. The juveniles have light coloring at first, with a yellow-tipped tail, and eventually they develop a mixture of dark and light crossbands.
Eventually, adults could have a nearly uniform black appearance. Not to mention, the cottonmouth gets its name from the white, meaty mouth it exhibits when it flashes its teeth.
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Burmese Python
The recognized range of the invasive Burmese python, which is constantly expanding and stretches from western Broward County to Collier County and south to Key Largo, is capped by Lake Okeechobee.
The longest Burmese python (Python bivittatus) ever captured in the Sunshine State measured an incredible eighteen feet in length and weighed in at two hundred and fifteen pounds! Most specimens captured in Florida are normally between six and nine feet long.
Read Also: Beware the Water: Oregon’s Lakes with the Highest Snake Populations
South Florida Mole Kingsnake
Only the peninsular region of Florida is home to the endemic, non-venomous South Florida mole kingsnake (Lampropeltis occipitolineata), which stretches from Brevard County in the north to Lake Okeechobee in the south.
This gray-brown-tan snake, measuring between 30 and 42 inches, has reddish-brown blotches and is a modest size. It burrows, thus it is not frequently sighted.
To Conclude
Although Lake Okeechobee provides chances for outdoor enjoyment and breathtaking natural beauty, it’s also well-known for having a lot of snakes, notably the invasive Burmese python.
It is important to use caution and awareness when enjoying the lake’s environs, even though the majority of snake species in Florida do not represent a threat to humans. Examples of these include the cottonmouth, which can be poisonous, and the Burmese python, which could bite.
Visitors can reduce their chance of coming across these reptiles and yet enjoy Lake Okeechobee’s natural beauty by being mindful of wildlife habitats and exercising caution.
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