Snakes are on the move; Expert asks residents near Wekiva Preserve to be careful

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — With hot weather moving in, experts are warning central Florida residents to watch out for snakes, especially residents of Seminole County.

Experts said snakes are on the move and one of the areas to be extra careful in is near the Wekiva River and Markham Woods Road.

Channel 9's Racquel Asa talked to a snake expert who's already caught several snakes in the area over the last couple of days.

Photos: Water moccasin captured feet away from children

Jennifer Cornell's dog was bitten in the face by a snake recently, she said.

"This time of the year you have to be careful," she said. "I've had several of my neighbors with water moccasins in their backyards."

Critter and snake expert Bob Cross has captured other venomous snakes in the Magnolia Plantation community, including a cotton mouth water moccasin a couple days ago.

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"Two little girls were playing in our neighborhood in their backyard and they stepped, according to the little girl, one foot from this cotton mouth water moccasin," said Cross. "They are very lucky."

Cotton mouth water moccasins are hard to see, Cross said. They are known for the signature white lining in their mouth.

"They are on the move and during the wet season, the subdivisions off Markham Woods Road that back up to the Wekiva Preserve flood and all the snakes come out of the swamp and into the subdivisions," said Cross.

WFTV