The majority of venomous snakes that outdoor enthusiasts should be concerned about are four different species: rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths (also known as water moccasins), and coral snakes.
However, there are more than 20 recognized venomous snake species in the United States, and even more when subspecies are considered.
As neighbors, Georgia and Florida have a same number of snake species (46), including the same six venomous species, making them two of the most snake-infested states in the United States.
The eastern diamondback, timber, and pygmy rattlesnakes, as well as the cottonmouth, copperhead, and eastern coral snakes, are among these six poisonous snakes.
Timber Rattlesnake
Large and heavy-bodied, timber rattlesnakes are known as “Velvet Tails” because of their characteristic black tail. They have tan or pinkish-gray bodies with cross stripes that resemble black chevrons.
They have distinct pits between the nose and the eye on either side of their faces, and their heads are notably bigger than their necks. These heat-sensitive pits aid in the rattlesnakes’ ability to find and hit warm-blooded prey with precision.
Despite being widespread in the eastern United States, timber rattlesnakes are only found in 12 counties in the far northern Florida Panhandle, where they inhabit farms, hardwood hammocks, riverbeds, and swamps.
Timber rattlesnakes inhabit a variety of environments in northern Georgia, including the ridges of the Appalachian Mountains.
They inhabit the bottoms of creeks and rivers in southern Georgia.
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Cottonmouth
The white, cotton-like inside of cottonmouth snakes’ lips, which they open as a warning when threatened, is the source of the snake’s name.
They are semi-aquatic snakes that can swim well and feel at ease both on land and in the water. They are thick, heavy snakes with a pattern of crossbands that are both pale and dark brown.
Throughout the state, Florida cottonmouths are primarily found close to lakes, rivers, springs, marshes, and ditches along the sides of roadways. They also live on a number of the Cedar Keys’ islands.
They are found practically everywhere there is water in Georgia, including lakes, rivers, and marshes, but they have also been seen in Atlanta, the state capital.
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Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
In terms of size and reputation, eastern diamondback rattlesnakes are the dominant venomous snakes in the United States.
Their backs are adorned with a recognizable row of black diamonds with brown centers and beige edges.
They are heavy-bodied pit vipers with a prominent rostral scale on their head and keeled scales, each of which has an elevated ridge.
The length of an adult eastern diamondback rattler ranges from 33 to 72 inches. With a death rate of around 30%, they are regarded as the most deadliest in North America in terms of venom.
Every county in the Sunshine State has rattlesnakes, as do several of the Gulf of Mexico’s islands, such as the Florida Keys, and the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
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In Georgia, the rattlers are usually found in longleaf pine forests, marshes, and swamps, as well as flat, sandy soils, in the Coastal Plain south of the Fall Line.
Pygmy Rattlesnake
Pit vipers with bulky heads, pygmy rattlesnakes are diminutive and have slender tails that finish in a tiny, nearly undetectable rattle. Its rattling is frequently confused with the sound of an insect buzzing.
Although they are only around 5 inches at birth, they grow to be 12 to 24 inches. There are nine huge scales on the rattlesnake’s head.
The most prevalent poisonous snake in Florida is the pygmy rattlesnake. With the exception of the Florida Keys, it may be found all around the state.
Low-lying regions, wetlands, pine flatwoods, cypress swamps, and sandhills are the rattlers’ preferred habitats.
In the Peach State, they are prevalent in the Coastal Plain and can be found in Georgia’s central, northeastern, and northwest regions.
Because of their protective nature, these snakes rarely bite, and when they do, the venom they release is insufficient to be lethal to humans.
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Eastern Copperhead
Experts in camouflage, copperheads are renowned for their capacity to fit in with their surroundings. These snakes have thick bodies and are either brown or tan, with darker hourglass formations on top.
Although they typically reach a length of 24 to 30 inches, the longest copperhead ever measured was 53 inches.
Copperheads love low, moist places close to marshes, stream beds, river bottoms, and damp ravines, as well as upland pine and mixed forests with lots of leaves and forest debris to hide in.
Only the Panhandle region of Florida is home to copperhead snakes, primarily at the westernmost point and the Apalachicola River and its tributaries.
The most prevalent poisonous snake in Georgia is the copperhead, which is situated in the state’s southeast.
Eastern Coral Snake
Eastern coral snakes are quite easy to identify due to their long, slender bodies and striking appearance. The snakes’ bodies are surrounded by a pattern of red, black, and yellow bands.
They are between 20 and 36 inches long. These poisonous snakes are members of the Elapidae family, which also contains sea snakes, cobras, and mambas, but they are not pit vipers.
Every Florida county and Key Largo in the northern Florida Keys are home to eastern coral snakes.
They flourish in a variety of environments, from low, damp hammocks and the edges of swamps to dry, well-drained flatwoods and scrub areas.
Their favored hiding places are woodpiles and rotting logs, and they frequently hide beneath garbage and soft soil.
Florida to Win
With 46 species in each state, including six common venomous species, Florida and Georgia are home to an impressive diversity of venomous snakes.
However, a number of factors, such as a snake’s elusiveness, dread of people, and ability to blend in with their surroundings, make it difficult to determine which state contains the most dangerous snakes.
Comparisons are further complicated by environmental factors that affect snake diversity and density, habitat degradation, and climate change.
Florida’s vast wetlands, tropical regions, and subtropical climate provide the perfect conditions for a broader dispersion of these species, even though Georgia also offers a variety of habitats.
Because of its wide range, Florida might surpass Georgia as a venomous snake hotspot by a small margin, but it’s close.
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