PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. (AP) -- Residents in two Florida cities say snakes are overtaking their backyards.
City officials say the recent heavy rains have pushed the snakes out of their natural habitats. Residents in Miramar and Pembroke Pines have taken to social media sites to share their experiences, posting snapshots of snakes and seeking help in identifying them as either venomous or non-venomous.
Nelson Giraldo says his backyard has been taken over by cottonmouth snakes. He's found the venomous reptiles hiding under his grill, behind his air-conditioning unit and near his banana tree. He's killed three in the past few weeks. Another resident said at least a half-dozen snakes started following him on a canoe ride in the canal near his home.
The Sun Sentinel reports the venom unit said responded to calls once every four days in June and July. That's much higher than in previous years.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: A reference to the snakes being "poisonous" was removed, as snakes cannot be poisonous, only venomous or non-venomous.
