Painted Pathways

Can you spot it? 👀 See if you can identify these Floridean snakes.

🐍 The other day, I nearly walked right past this highly venomous cottonmouth hiding in plain sight.

Knowledge is power! If we spend enough time outdoors in Florida, we're bound to encounter snakes. Most are harmless and actually do us the favor of controlling rodent and insect populations, but it's important to know which species deserve a little extra space.

I'm also sharing a link at the bottom to an antivenom resource that can help you quickly locate veterinarians in your area if, God forbid, a pet is ever bitten by a venomous snake. If you're anything like me, your pets are family, and having a plan before an emergency happens can make all the difference.

These are some of the snakes I've encountered throughout Central Florida over the last few years. Stay safe, friends!

🐍 Florida Snakes: Friend or Foe? 🐍

📸 Southern Black Racer (Non-Venomous)
Fast, active, and usually gone before you even realize they're there. Black racers are excellent natural pest control, feeding on rodents, lizards, frogs, and large insects. They usually run away from me and startle me in the process. In the video, you'll see one rattling its tail in the leaves outside of my house—a clever defensive behavior that mimics a rattlesnake to discourage predators.

📸 Eastern Yellow Ratsnake (Non-Venomous)
Another beneficial species that helps keep rodent populations in check. This one decided my outdoor seat looked like a comfortable place to hang out and sat upright as if it was waiting for company. Despite their size, ratsnakes are harmless to humans and are excellent climbers.

📸 Eastern Coral Snake (Venomous)
One of Florida's most beautiful snakes and also one of its most venomous. Fortunately, coral snakes are not aggressive and bites are rare. They usually stay hidden in woodlands, marshes, and areas with loose soil and leaf litter. I always remember the little jingle, "Red touches yellow, kill a fellow; red touches black, you're okay, Jack."

📸 Florida Cottonmouth / Water Moccasin (Venomous)
This was the largest wild venomous snake I've personally encountered in Florida. Most cottonmouths are around 30–48 inches long, but this one looked closer to 5 feet. I spotted it in the woods of Marion County while photographing wildlife and immediately gave it plenty of space, especially since I had my husky with me. Using my 300mm lens, I zoomed in rather than getting closer.

Cottonmouths are often found in or near water, but they can also be encountered in forests, swamps, and along trails. This snake blended almost perfectly into the fallen leaves and pine needles—a good reminder that while I'm usually staring up into the trees looking for owls, birds, and raccoons, it's important to keep an eye on the ground too!

You'll also see an image of a cottonmouth swimming. If you ever encounter one in the water, don't panic or splash. Calmly and smoothly move away, giving the snake plenty of room. Cottonmouths are defensive animals, not aggressive ones, and they generally prefer to avoid conflict whenever possible.

Respect all snakes, give them space, and remember that most are valuable members of Florida's ecosystems. Understanding them helps protect both wildlife and people.

https://veterinarysnakebite911.com/antivenin-locator/

"Reach for the top."

This baby raccoon did just that.

His mom and five siblings had been making their way through the woods when they spotted my husky and me. While the rest of the family scrambled up one tree, this little guy panicked and chose a tree of his own—racing all the way to the very top of a splintered snag.

As the family called back and forth to each other, I snapped a few quick photos before continuing on my walk so they could settle down and reunite in peace.

Sometimes the best wildlife moments happen completely by accident—and sometimes they come with their own motivational headlines. Who remembers the old school motivational posters?

I’m glad that all the spider webs I’ve walked into and roots I’ve tripped over from always staring into the trees were worth it. This was a pretty charming discovery!

For weeks, I kept noticing the same barred owl in this area of the forest. Every time I visited, she seemed to be watching me, and I honestly thought she was just curious about the human wandering around with a camera. Every day, I looked around for my new friend.

Then one day, I discovered the real reason.

Tucked away in the trees were two juvenile barred owls, one peeking shyly from behind its sibling. Suddenly it all made sense. Mom wasn't just curious about me—she was keeping a close eye on her babies and making sure they stayed safe.

These little fluff balls were so unbelievably cute that when I shared this photo, my sister was convinced it had to be AI-generated. Thankfully, I had taken a video on my phone too, because these owls were 100% real and every bit as adorable as they look.

When I returned the next day, the babies were gone. They've likely moved on and started exploring the world beyond their nest, but I feel lucky to have witnessed them for a day. I think many times they stay within a 6 mile territory. Maybe I'll see them again since it's a trail that Im on every day. 🦉❤️

While I’m out here sweating on these 90 degree days, this tiny tenant is living his best life in a bromeliad… shade, water, and an all-you-can-eat mosquito buffet 🐸🌿

These brown anoles can change from light brown to nearly black depending on mood, temperature, or camouflage—and when they’re feeling bold, they flash a bright throat fan, bob their heads, and do pushups to communicate, defend territory, or impress a mate.

Tell me this doesn’t remind you of someone 😅

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🦉Spotting this Barred Owl on my daily walk felt like I hit the wildlife lottery.

I hike 4–6 miles with my husky and my camera almost every day and this is only my second Barred Owl sighting. They’re incredibly elusive, and honestly just as rewarding to photograph as a hummingbird (photographers, you get it). They also blend right in with the tree.

I was surprised to see him so late in the morning and noticed he looked sleepy—eyes fluttering like a kid trying to pretend they’re not tired— The lighting wasn’t perfect, but moments like this don’t wait, so I gave it a shot.

Fun fact: Barred Owls are known for their call that sounds like “who cooks for you?” They’re one of five owl species native to Florida, don’t migrate, and tend to be a bit curious—which might explain why he stuck around long enough for this shot.

And one of my favorite little facts… they often mate for life, calling back and forth to each other in the forest. 🦉

Wait… there are wild monkeys in Florida? 🐒🌴

Back in the 1930s, a tour boat captain released a few rhesus macaques on an island at Silver Springs to spice up his jungle cruise…

One small problem—he didn’t know they could swim 😅

Fast forward to today: hundreds now roam the riverbanks and treetops. A pretty wild surprise whether you're hiking or kayaking.

I suggest keeping your distance, since they like to throw their poo at you for sport. 💩🎯

Nature’s camouflage is unreal. Can you spot what stopped me in my tracks? 👀🌿

Baby White-tailed fawns like this typically have around 250-350 spots, are odorless, and excellent at remaining perfectly motionless. I can’t tell you how many times I haven’t seen them until I’ve already startled them… and then we both jump. 😅

I love encountering all the babies during spring! 🌷

What animals have you encountered?