Joyful, it's a dusky pygmy rattlesnake. If you look closely, you can probably see one or two very small rattles (buttons) on his tail.

Haven't seen any lately, but I know they are out there. Especially in areas with plenty of palmettoes.

Marcia

Here is another photo for you, for comparison, Joyful.

Marcia

i have seen many through the years. actually probably over a hundred. that is the brightest most colorfull one of them all.

I can't tell from where you live without a zone indication, i-grow, but the Florida subspecies of pygmy rattlesnake (the dusky pygmy) is a bit more colorful than others. The chief thing that catches your eye is the rust colored spots that run down the center of the spine, and the rusty markings on the head. Certain ones are really pretty looking.

Grouchy ol' things, though. At least sometimes. They always seem to be ticked off about something, to me.
*grin*

Marcia

Unfortunately his tail was kinda squished. Well I thought it was something like that but wasn't sure. I knew Marcia would know and probably jump on this post. LOL. It is kinda scary because the area he was near is very close to where my children play all the time. I know they're out there but I've just never seen one. I have A LOT of pines and palmettos where I live.
Thanks for the ID.

Teach your kids to leave snakes alone, Joyful...tell them to come get you or another adult, or just to get out of Dodge if they see one. Better for them, and for the snake, even if it's harmless. And usually, they will try their best to avoid people.

This one may have been moving somewhat slowly due to the cooler weather we have been having...or he could have been lying on the road, trying to warm up.

Yeah, you know I love my snakies! Thanks for posting about this one.

Marcia

Yes, I have taught them. The only thing that worries me is that children usually don't look before they leap. It's the surprise factor that worries me. We have a couple of racers that live somewhere in our scrub and they don't bother me. My husband happened into a hornet's nest recently and I thank God it wasn't my kids. Husbands are replaceable you know. LOL. Children are not. It was an underground one so no one saw it coming. Oh well. You live and learn and hopefully learn to live at the same time.
:-D

You are right, Joyful. Accidents do happen, and it IS hard to teach kids to be careful. One of the trials of motherhood, isn't it? If their play area is free of brush and the like, it should make it easier for them to see anything that might cause a problem. Also, snakes don't particularly like being out in the open for very long, so that might be one way to help make their play space safer. (I'm sure you have probably already done all this, anyway.)

Good luck! The snake in the road is probably the only pygmy rattler you will run into, fingers crossed!

Marcia

Interesting every one say's they like palmettos and pine. For years I lived in downtown WPB and twice found them on my doorstep. Since moving to the country 15 years ago, I constantly crawl under palmettos (approx. 1.5 acres) cleaning out the old bottom growth to get to the persistent wild grapes to keep them from taking over the whole area. Knock on wood, have never encountered one yet!

They are by no means restricted to palmetto areas, flyingfish. They are small, versatile, and easily overlooked, so quite successful in hiding their existence in more urban areas. (Don't forget a couple of people have been bitten by them in potted plants at garden centers.)They also like pine/hardwoods, pond cypress areas along lakes, and more.

It's just that pine woods and palmettoes are PRIME pygmy habitat.

Marcia

they can be thick when the st johns marsh floods. what high ground remains is prime real estate for the snakes and everything else actually.but ive never seen colors as bright as that photo.