Some South Gulf Cove neighbors notice more rattlesnakes than usual

Some homeowners in Charlotte County are bothered by their new slithering neighbors. Neighbors say there’s an increase of rattlesnake sightings throughout their community, and they don’t know what to do about it.

Jessica Cannon and her dog, Scout, in South Gulf Cove don’t hear the rattle from a rattlesnake often, but it’s something they have both heard recently near home.

“It sounded like a sprinkler going in my yard,” Cannon said.

But when she did hear that sound, Cannon knew exactly what made its way onto her property.

“It was a rattlesnake, obviously,” Cannon said. “My first thought was I can’t believe it hasn’t attacked my dog yet because it had it cornered up against the house … I just got my dog inside and stayed back.”

Cannon was not the only individual to let us know the last few weeks they saw a rattlesnake.

Snakes are typically more active in the summer, so we asked Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to find out if there really is more now than before.

“I think in this particular case, it’s more than likely a coincidence,” said Adam Brown, a public information officer with FWC. “We will see snakes year-round.”

Brown told us warmer weather brings them out of hiding.

“They will come out to regulate their temperature when the sun is out,” Brown explained. “We’ve had warmer temperatures, so apparently, that might’ve played a role.”

That’s why it’s important to always keep your grass short, trim your trees and remove all debris.

Florida is home to six venomous snake species. Four of those are in Southwest Florida. The best thing to do if you spot one is to leave it alone.

Now that Cannon knows rattlers are out and about, she’s going to keep her head on a swivel and suggests others do the same.

“Who knows what it could’ve done to me or the dog,” Cannon said.

MORE: FWC – Living with Snakes