Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake
Sistrurus miliarius barbouri
The Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake is Florida’s smallest venomous snake and is easy to overlook in leaf litter.
The Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake is Florida’s smallest venomous snake and is easy to overlook in leaf litter.
A small, thick-bodied snake with dark rounded blotches, a reddish-brown dorsal stripe, facial markings, and a tiny rattle that can be difficult to hear.
Relies on camouflage and often remains still. It may coil and defend itself if approached closely.
Never touch, trap, or kill the snake. Keep children and pets back. For a bite, call 911 and Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222; do not cut, suck, ice, or tourniquet the wound.
Killing or capturing wildlife can create safety and legal issues. Use trained wildlife professionals and follow current FWC rules.
Habitat:
Freshwater Wetlands, Pine Flatwoods and Sandhills, Scrub and Dry Prairie, Urban and Residential Areas
Area / Range:
Statewide
Diet:
Frogs, lizards, small snakes, mice, and large insects.
Behavior:
Relies on camouflage and often remains still. It may coil and defend itself if approached closely.
Daytime, Dusk
Active Times:
Best time to see:
Warm days near leaf litter, palmettos, and wetland margins
Florida Native Status:
Native Subspecies
Conservation Status:
Secure
Safety Level:
Venomous — Keep Away
Safety Information:
Never touch, trap, or kill the snake. Keep children and pets back. For a bite, call 911 and Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222; do not cut, suck, ice, or tourniquet the wound.
Benefits to Property:
Helps control rodents, frogs, and other small prey while supporting native food webs.
Property Concerns:
Its camouflage and small size increase the chance of close encounters in gardens, paths, and palmetto cover.
Fun Fact:
Its tiny rattle often sounds more like an insect buzz than a typical rattlesnake.
Wildlife Laws:
Killing or capturing wildlife can create safety and legal issues. Use trained wildlife professionals and follow current FWC rules.
Identification:
A small, thick-bodied snake with dark rounded blotches, a reddish-brown dorsal stripe, facial markings, and a tiny rattle that can be difficult to hear.