Step 1: stop and back away
The most important thing is also the simplest: give it space. Back away slowly to at least 6–10 feet. Snakes don't chase people — every bite story starts with someone getting too close, trying to catch it, or trying to kill it. The safest snake encounter is the one where you both go your separate ways.
Step 2: secure kids and pets
Bring dogs and cats inside — most snakebites in Florida happen to curious dogs that won't leave a snake alone. Keep children away from the area. Then keep an eye on the snake from a safe distance if you can do so without approaching; knowing where it is helps a professional find it fast.
Step 3: don't try to identify it up close
Central Florida has harmless black racers and rat snakes, and it has venomous species too — pygmy rattlesnakes, coral snakes, cottonmouths near water, and the occasional eastern diamondback. Telling them apart takes training and a close look you should not be taking. Take a photo from a safe distance if you can; otherwise just note the color, pattern, size, and location.
Step 4: call a professional
A wildlife pro identifies the snake, removes it safely with proper tools, and — the part people skip — tells you why it was there and how to make the yard less attractive. Snakes follow food (rodents, frogs) and shelter (brush piles, tall grass, junk). Removing the snake without fixing the habitat means meeting its cousin next month.
What NOT to do
Don't try to catch it — even non-venomous snakes bite when grabbed, and misidentification kills people every year. Don't try to kill it — that's how most bites happen, and many snakes are protected or ecologically valuable. Don't use mothballs or "snake repellent" granules — they don't work. Read about our snake removal service.