The Burmese Python gets a lot of attention being in the Everglades. However, there’s a lot of other snakes in the Park. In fact, there’s 23 snake species that live in the Everglades and four of these are venomous. Although the Burmese Python is a big problem in the Park, these other native snakes help keep the ecosystem in check by preying on other snakes, rodents, and invertebrates, while also being a food source for certain birds and alligators.

The four venomous snakes the Everglades are: The Eastern coral snake, the Florida cottonmouth, the dusky pigmy rattlesnake, and the eastern diamondback rattlesnake.

Eastern Coral Snake – This snake is made up of beautiful colors red, yellow, and black bands running down its body. It can be found in a wooded habitat. It spends most its time underground or under foliage. It is an elusive creature. They are not confrontational and hardly bite. Less than 1 percent of bites in North America come from this snake every year. Good thing. Why? Their bite is the most venomous of all the snakes in North America. The bite really isn’t painful, but it can cause death within a few hours.

Florida Cottonmouth – This snake is known as the “water moccasin.” It is a type of pit viper and is the only semiaquatic viper species in the world. You can spot this snake around shallow waters like streams and marshes. They are black, brown, tan or olive. The cottonmouths have thick bodies and can grow up to six feet long. Their bite is painful and can lead to death.

Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake— This snake only grows up to 2 to 3 feet in length with a gray body and black/brown spots on its back and white flecks on its stomach. You can find this snake in wet and dry areas. They are aggressive and quick to bite. With small fangs, they only release a small amount of venom, so the bite is rarely fatal; however, their bite can be more dangerous to a child or pet.

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake – This snake can grow up to 8 feet and is often found in the water and underground. It has dark diamonds on its body separated by a whitish color. This snake isn’t aggressive and warns threats by rattling its tail.

Can you tell the difference between a poisonous and non-poisonous snake? There’s a couple ways. Most snakes with a triangular head are venomous. Snakes with length-wise stripes are non-venomous. It’s best to just avoid interacting with these snakes or any snake. If you want snakes to stay away from you, it’s a good idea to make a lot of noise while walking on a trail or wooded area, so the snakes are aware you’re around. Keep your hands out of common snake hiding spots like logs, brush, leaves and rock piles.

Although snakes may be interesting to look at, they are not fun to run into, especially the aggressive or venomous species. To avoid running into a snake, tour the Everglades on an airboat! On an airboat tour, you’ll get to see the snakes’ habitats from a safe distance.

To check out the Park, book an Everglades airboat tour with Captain Mitch through the Everglades today!

Mangrove forests are something of out a fairytale. The beautiful roots intermingling with each other as they reach down into the water and line the waterways. Florida is lucky enough to be home to 469,000 aces of mangrove forests, and the Everglades has the largest mangrove forest in North America. These mangrove forests can only survive in subtropical and tropical climates.

Mangroves drop their seeds, which get carried by water/winds and the seeds can grow easily in other areas.

Florida houses three species of mangroves: the red mangrove, the black mangrove, and the white mangrove.

The red mangrove is the most popular and most seen mangrove. It can tolerate salt water and grows in areas with low-oxygen soil. It can remove and use freshwater from saltwater to life. Their roots are known as prop roots, so the plant looks like it’s standing on the water. These tall roots help the mangroves handle rising tides. These roots are reddish.

Black mangroves can be found at a higher elevation than the red mangrove. This mangrove has finger-like growths that protrude from the soil around the trunk of the tree.

White mangroves can be found at the highest elevations of these three species. This mangrove’s roots do not show, and it has light, yellow-green leaves.

Mangroves help protect the Everglades and Florida coastline. How? They help reduce erosion with their roots. They block winds, waves, floods, tides, and storm surges from damaging the land. The bigger, winder, denser, and thicker the forest, the more it can protect the environment.

Mangroves also help the ecosystem by filtering water and dropping leaves. The fallen leaves break down into organic compounds, carbon dioxide, and nitrogenous wastes, which benefits the entire ecosystem.

These forests also provide a home and protection for different species of birds and marine life.

Mangroves are disappearing. In fact, almost half of the world’s mangrove forests have disappeared in the past 50+ years, according to the national conservation organization American Forests. This organization said the world continues to lose 578 square miles of mangroves per year due to shrimp farming, climate change, and coastal development. The state of Florida has protected areas have mangrove forests.

Sailing by these mangroves is unreal. They’re a truly magical sight. If you want to see some mangroves, get on an airboat! To schedule an airboat tour, click our Everglades airboat ride page or contact Captain Mitch’s Everglades Airboat Tours at 800-368-0065.