The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Source:
Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:45 PM
10-Foot Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Spotted In Florida Near Jacksonville
The snake slithered across a 10-foot golf cart path in Ponte Vedra, according to Derek Tyson, who first spotted the rattler.
Derek Tyson
✔
@DerekJTyson
Hey @k9sforwarriors, saw this large Eastern Diamondback rattler over by
your facility on Sunday afternoon. Be careful with your dogs!
Tyson told Fox News on Tuesday that he was out for a drive with his wife
and 5-month-old child when the family noticed the “monster” serpent.
“We drove by it, but did a U-turn and came back to take pictures,” he
said.
Tyson said that he’s seen several other snakes in the area before, but
Sunday marked the first time he’s ever seen an Eastern Diamondback.
The snake was found near the facility for K9 for Warriors, an
organization that assists military veterans in obtaining service dogs.
“[The rattlesnake] hasn’t affected any of our operations or any of our
dogs, it’s not [currently] a threat to us,” Brianna Ehrhart, the
education coordinator for the organization, told Fox News.
However, Ehrhart said that this is the
first time a rattler has been spotted so close to the organization’s
grounds.
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“Safety is always at the forefront,” she said, adding that grounds
maintenance has been made aware of the serpent.
The sighting comes just days after an Oakleaf woman spotted a roughly
6-foot rattler, according to News4Jax.
Dan Maloney, the deputy director at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, told
Fox News that it’s not uncommon to see rattlesnakes in Jacksonville,
adding that Eastern Diamondbacks are just one of the many types of
rattlers in the state. Locals will have a greater chance of spotting a
rattlesnake as spring temperatures continue to climb, he said.
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If you do come across one of the serpents, Maloney said it’s best to
leave it alone and call a removal service. People with pets and small
children should especially keep their distance, he added.
“They don't want to encounter you if they don't have to -- they would
rather save their venom for something they’re going to eat rather than
having to fight someone off,” he said. “Give them as much space as you
can.”
Madeline Farber is a Reporter for Fox News. You can follow her on
Twitter @MaddieFarberUDK.