Snakes

Snakes
I can remember when I lived in NY and a friend, who lived in Fl, wrote a letter. In it she talked about how she was mowing the lawn and almost mowed over a snake. A snake? I had never seen a snake in the wild in my life so I was surprised by this. Florida has snakes???
A few years later I was living in the great snake state myself. But it would be years before I actually saw one with my own eyes, well at least one long enough to be a snake and not a worm to me. I remember the day clearly. My dog was digging a hole, I wanted to catch her, and so I quietly snuck around the house to come up from behind her. I carefully put my bare foot down in out slightly high grass when a black slithery thing shot up on both sides. I ran, it went the other way and Lady (my dog) was caught but I didn’t care.
Since then I have realized these black snakes mean no harm and no longer bother me.
I am no expert on snakes, nor am I a fan; I have 2 in the house; my husband and my daughter. I have seen snakes in the wild, recently on a trip to the springs in North Florida, but I do not know anyone that has ever been attacked, bitten, killed or constricted by a snake!
Remember this:
Red on Black, Friend of Jack. Red on Yellow, Watch out, Fellow.
Red touches yellow, kills a fellow. Red touches black, friend of Jack

Bugs

No-see-ums; what??? Well they fit the name because you really cannot see these Florida pests but you can feel them and leave you with little bites and welts. They are most active at night or in the morning during warmer months. These bugs are so small they can go through screens so your first line of defense is insect repellent, and even Avon’s Skin So Soft may work for you. You can also have certain plants that contain citronella or eucalyptus in the area to help repel the bugs.

Tar

Well many people come to Florida to visit the beach, which includes walking in the sand. Just remember this; you may leave with a free souvenir, black tar. Some beaches have tar removal “station” near a water hose but many do not. Different articles claim that 1/3 of baby sea turtles ingest the tar, which can be a result of oil tanks with leaks / spills or from marine transportation and even natural seepage from the ocean floor. For all the years I have lived in Florida on the east coast I rarely have had a tar issue, but if you do mineral spirits / oils can help clean it off.

Stingrays

There are many kinds of rays along Florida's coasts and most pose no threat. None will actually "attack", however, they do have a very painful barb that will be deployed if stepped on. If stingrays are known to be in the area, or if in doubt, simply shuffle the feet while walking through the water.
I found out how painful a barb can be during the first year I lived in Florida. Since then I have never had a problem and I do the shuffle when needed.

Red Tide

Red Tide – no not a new laundry soap silly! Red tide is an overgrowth of algae in coastal waters which produce a toxin that can cause breathing problems in humans and kill marine life. That is extreme and not often the case but last year we had it bad here on the east coast and breathing was affected. The harmful algal blooms, known as HABs, not only cause physical problems, they can affect our economy, fisheries and ecosystems. The reproduction is an asexual cell that is one, divides into 2, then 4 and on so it has a fast growth. Looking further into Red Tide I found many website and groups dedicated to finding a way to stop this HAB, which has proven to be difficult since no one reason has been found to cause the Red Tide. Some suggest humans could be at fault and that we should use Florida friendly plants in landscaping. Red Tide usually does have a color, not always red though and can be seen from satellite. You can read more or get involved on your own. www.RideTideOnline.com, www.START1.com

Mosquitoes

Who doesn’t know mosquitoes are a pest? In Florida they can swarm, and should be our state bird. They are pesky bloodsuckers that can ruin a good gathering in a matter of minutes. I don’t know what attracts them to some people and not others, I tend to think it’s the sweeter people and that is why I’m a target all the time. They seem to be the worst at dusk, so wear clothing that covers your body (my husband has a great mosquito hunting jacket) helps and don’t forget repellent. Avon Skin So Soft is a great alternative to bug spray. Help control their population by eliminating standing water.

Please if you have a dog use heartworm preventive. Every dog is at risk for contracting heartworm disease which is transmitted through mosquitoes. In 1996 1 month after having my daughter we had to put our “Lady” to sleep following a heartworm treatment that did not work. The year prior was one of the worst for mosquitoes and the city was spraying nightly. Events were cancelled and people were staying in. Although she was given a preventative it was too late. These pills are given monthly and come with reminder stickers so you never forget.

Pepper Trees

Trees a Florida pest? You bet. The Brazilian pepper tree I not a Florida native but can be found all over our state. When we moved into our home during the first winter I was thrilled to see these trees with red berries to get me in the Christmas spirit – which is also a nickname for this tree. However nearly all of our ecosystems in Florida are affected by these pests. They shade and choke other vegetation dominating our native plants.
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Gators

Gators – and I do not mean the Florida UF Gators…alligators are aggressive during breading season which is March – May. And they are more active between dusk and dawn. Sate law prohibits harassing gators, and never feed one – it dangerous and illegal.
They are not really "pests" but I guess to some they are!

Love is in the Air

Love is in the air and it shows up in pairs – Love bugs look like black lightening bugs with a red head. They do not sting you, but they are a pest because of their acidic body chemistry. To get rid of them you can kill them with your car and let them splat all over so you then can have a hard time removing them before they remove your paint. Or you can not drive during the months of May and September when they swam. I read “Bissel” glass cleaner is good at removing the dead bugs and I know that a wet dryer sheet works.

Spurs...not for you cowboys!

Another sneaky native is the sandspurs which seem to leap on your socks, pants and shoe laces. So look out for those!

Red Ants

Red ants – I can remember being new to Florida and enjoying a night near the pool our apartment complex had. My sister, who was standing on the lawn which was wet from a resent rain, all of a sudden she starting yelling out while doing some sort of crazy dance, she ran straight for the pool and jumped in. Bad idea…she was being bit by the famous fire ants! In NY we had small ants that didn’t do a thing so this was something unfamiliar. Fire ants are notorious for their painful bite. The pile is visible and looks like loose soil or gopher diggings. They seem to pop up on the lawn after a rain, you can find them anywhere – even close to a tree (that’s another story). They like sandy soil which is typical in Florida. At first you might not see any ants on the mound but once it is disturbed you will see swarms of them and they attack quickly. The can be undetected for seconds before bite. I read that Listerine mouthwash will help alleviate the pain, I’m not sure but there will probably a time I can check on that. Anyone stung who has symptoms beyond the pain and itching should seek medical attention.

Don't kick this dirt mound - you will get bit very quickly!

Man of War

Portuguese Man of War – floating jelly fish that have tentacles with stingers that carry poison. If you get stung, pour ocean water on the area, cover and then scrape away any stingers and wash again with ocean water. Sometimes they float up on the shore and have a pretty iridescent color…leave them alone, you will get stung.