My experience has been that locals everywhere seem to mostly only see snakes in the late spring and summer. My theory is that there are two reasons for this:

1) locals are more active in the yards doing yardwork and more active at campouts and outdoor gatherings in the summer and thus it tells us more about the activity patterns of locals than the activity pattern of snakes.

2) male snakes in search of mates travel the farthest from their dens and their home territory in the summer and are thus more likely to cut across areas where people who aren't looking for snakes will find them.

Oddly I find that the times the locals are seeing snakes (summer) are not especially good times for herpers to find snakes, because the snakes are less concentrated and more widely dispersed.

Snakes can be found 12 months a year in north and central Florida and although November through February can be a little slow, snakes should be out in very good numbers by mid March. In fact late March and early April should be an almost ideal time to find snakes in Florida.

Unfortunately I don't know the Orlando area but I would try any nearby state park or wildlife refuge.

That's exactly what I've found - about locals. Thanks for the info. I've found quite a few reserves or refuge areas around Orlando that I'll be visiting. Last year I found a dusky rattlesnake which was quite exciting. Beautiful colors on it!

Thanks again!

Mary,

The Dusky Pygmy is a cool find! I struck out on them when I was in Florida. I hope you have a great trip there this year.

hello everybody dale from the everglades here. use to collect reptiles in south fla. for a living.but i moved to alabama.just hobbing know. mary you should go futher south reptiles year round if you know where to look. none,here to help.