My uncle used to tell us, excitedly and in all seriousness, that it was great to live by Lake Harris because if you were lucky you could see a specimen of every venomous snake in Florida, all in one place.

Apparently he wasn’t just putting us on. I recently came across a story in the Orlando Sentinel that completely creeps me out: “Boat tours offer taste of gators, good life in Orlando area.”

Sound fun to you? Read on:

There are alligators and waterfowl aplenty in the Dora Canal today, but it is a water moccasin that steals the show. There it is, folded like trail switchbacks into a groove in a cypress log, its brown-red color blending with the wood.

The snake is about six feet from the 14 guests who crowd the rail of Heritage Nature Tours’ Sea Haven. As the pontoon boat glides past, all get a good look at its triangular head and flicking tongue.

It’s a lucky find, one not often seen, even on the wild Dora, says Capt. Dave Wurster from the helm. The “cottonmouth” is one of six venomous snakes in Florida. “And aren’t we lucky? We’ve got all of them in this river.”

[read the rest of the article]

I’m a big fan of the nature and all, but snakes are one creature I would much, much rather encounter at the zoo, thanks.

[Sadly, the Orlando Sentinel is no longer making that story available in their free archive. It’s from the November 11, 2006 print edition, if you really want to read the whole thing. Sorry. Teach me to let drafts languish for month. After I posted, I found it reprinted on another website, www.southflorida.com so I’ve updated the link.]