The snake hook is the best way to pick up a rattler - but better to leave it be.

DESCRIPTION: Snake hooks work better than gripping tongs when picking up heavy thick-bodied snakes.

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At up to 8 feet long and weighing up to 10 pounds, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the biggest venomous snake in North America, and the largest of the 32 species of rattlesnake in the world. They are easily recognized by their yellowish to brown background color and telltale diamond shaped pattern on their back.

Their habitats include pine flatwoods, coastal dune habitats, and sandy woodlands that stretch from southern North Carolina to Louisiana, including Florida and the Florida Keys. While they prefer dry sandy areas, they will sometimes live on the edges of swamps and even swim across saltwater to get to gopher tortoise burrows for shelter during the winter.

Diamondbacks come out in the morning or evening during the summer to feed and you may see them on mild winter days. Like almost all snakes, they enjoy sunning on rocks and other warm, flat places. They stay out of sight during cold snaps, preferring to take shelter in old animal burrows and stump holes.

Females reproduce every two to three years and will give birth to newborn diamondbacks in the late summer. The snakes are born live in batches of one to two dozen at a time. It takes several years for eastern diamondbacks to reach full maturity.

Eastern diamondbacks are stalk and ambush predators. Adults will feed on rodents, squirrels, and rabbits, and are often beneficial in rural areas because they keep the rodent population down. They are not aggressive toward humans unless cornered and shake the rattles on their tail as a very obvious warning that they are uncomfortable.

An eastern diamondback has an accurate biting range of up to one-third their body length. The bites are extraordinarily painful and deadly if not treated right away. Their venom and can cause symptoms like severe swelling and discoloration, headache, dizziness, and convulsions. Professional treatment and antivenin are needed to survive the effects.

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Running a wildlife removal business in the state of Florida gives me the chance to see all kinds of interesting snakes! Florida has about 45 species of snake, and I've seen 29 of them so far. I've always got my eye out for new species, and I love spotting rare snakes in Florida. I also have a thing for venomous snakes - they're not too common in FL, so I always enjoy the chance to see a poisonous serpent. I really like snakes, and I've never hurt or killed one. They're an important part of the ecosystem, and often persecuted. Still, if you don't want snakes in your house or on your property, and judging from the number of phone calls I receive regarding snake problems, you don't, then give me or a local snake expert in your area a call, and we can remove the snakes from your property for you. I use many snake control methods - from snake traps, to snake repellents, to habitat modification, but most of all, good old-fashioned capture and removal. If you want to learn more, please read my How To Get Rid of Snakes page.

AAAnimal Control is a privately owned wildlife removal and pest control business, located in Orlando Florida. I deal strictly with wild animals including snakes inside houses. I am not an extermination company, but a critter removal and control specialist. The above photos are some of the many that I've taken in the field over my years of work. Please email me if you have any questions about the above photographs, or any questions about wildlife problems or Florida snake removal issues.

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Wildlife Photographs by David     Email me with questions: david@aaanimalcontrol.com     Residential & Commercial     Licensed & Insured