BEWARE! As we begin to warm up more of our Florida predators come out. Over the past 3 weeks I have seen 3 snakes while walking clients pups. One of them being a large, poisonous water moccasin. Make sure you are aware of your surroundings, especially when walking near woods or swampy areas. Some other Florida predators to watch out for are alligators, bears, bobcats, and coyotes.

Alligators often move throughout the culvert system from pond to pond. Please do not approach or feed them and they will not bother you. The FWC or law enforcement will not remove alligators unless they are posing a threat. The way to ensure they do not become a threat is to not feed them.

Coyotes are being seen more in our area, especially with the increase in land clearing and construction. A lot of people like to leave their cats outside. I understand cats and their desire to hunt. Just like children though, we are responsible for making sure they are safe. Take the time to create an environment that allows them to hunt inside or even on a secure patio. If you do let them outside, make sure they are supervised and bring them back in before you leave the home. Many cats are going missing and the reason for this is the coyote and even bobcats and alligators are looking for food. Please, do not leave your animals outside unattended.

If you are new to Florida please take the time to learn about our common predators. The more you know and can identify the safer you and your pets can be. We have numerous species of snakes, and most are not venomous. Non venomous snakes are very important to our echo system and tend to keep venomous snakes away.