Beware Of Extra Copperheads Out Snacking On Cicadas In Florida This Spring

For many Floridians, spring is already in the air. Despite a few cold snaps here and there, spring has officially sprung, and we’re ready for all of it. All of it except for maybe…the extra copperhead snakes that might be roaming about? While copperheads aren’t necessarily found everywhere in Florida, with the rise of cicadas this year, they might be around more than usual hunting for snacks. Here’s everything you need to know about copperheads in Florida this spring.

This spring, you might be hearing more cicadas than what you normally hear in Florida.

Billions of Brood X cicadas, who have been hibernating for 17 years, will be emerging this year and it’s about to get loud.

While many might think this symphony of nature to be magical, it might bring about some difficulty, too - and we don’t just mean when you’re trying to fall asleep at night.

Cicadas are a much-sought-after snack for many snake varieties, especially the venomous copperheads who wake from a winter slumber hungry and ready to dine.

While copperheads are mostly found in a small area around the Panhandle of Florida, residents should be aware that the emergence of cicadas might bring more around to feast.

Copperheads tend to snack at night, particularly after the sun sets, which is most often when cicadas start their song.

Copperheads are easily recognizable by the skin pattern on their back, which looks like an hourglass band, which can be dark brown or almost black.

Snakes aren’t naturally aggressive, which is important to remember - they usually only attack when threatened or provoked.

But there are a few ways to help keep snakes out of your yard, including keeping your lawn mowed as short as possible, trimming all of your tree branches, hedges, and bushes, and removing any low-hanging growth.

Keep your eyes and ears open this year in Florida, not just for the cicadas, but also for the copperheads that may come out to snack.

So, have you ever seen copperheads in Florida before? Share with us your experience in the comments section! Or, if you want to read more about different species invading Florida, then check out everything to know about the red-headed lizards.