Things That Scare People About Living in Florida

Scary Things in Florida... My Experience After 6 Years

Before I moved to Florida, people warned me about everything, snakes, sharks, alligators, giant spiders, and every creepy crawly you can imagine.

After living here for six years, here's my honest experience:

🐍 Snakes: I've only seen a handful. Most were crossing the road while I was driving. I've had four on my property, three in the yard and one in my garage. The advice from locals? Leave them alone. Most are nonvenomous and actually help by keeping rodents and other pests under control.

🦈 Sharks: I love swimming and kayaking, but I usually stay waist-deep in the Gulf. I've never seen a shark while swimming, and you're not going to find them cruising through the mangrove tunnels.

🐊 Alligators: They generally stay in their ponds and lakes. Most of the time you'll only see their eyes above the water. If you respect their space and don't try to approach or feed them, they're usually not interested in you.

🕷️ Spiders & Palmetto Bugs: I have regular pest control, which keeps most of the unwanted visitors outside where they belong. Once in a while, one sneaks inside, but it's not an everyday occurrence.

🐜 Fire Ants: These little guys deserve more attention than they get! They're probably more likely to ruin your day than a snake.

The best advice I got when I moved here came from a local guide. He said:

"Out of everything in Florida, lightning should be your #1 concern."

That has proven to be true. Our afternoon thunderstorms can pop up quickly, and lightning is one of the most serious natural hazards here.

Florida wildlife deserves respect, not fear. Most animals want nothing to do with us if we simply leave them alone.

🌴 So tell me... what was your biggest fear about moving to or visiting Florida? Did reality match your expectations?

Tracy Jones

REALTOR & Licensed Broker Associate

White Sands Realty Group

(941)376-3405

www.941.realestate