Florida nuisance trapper Cashing in on Snakes

"The first month I caught 10 snakes and have been returning twice a month since, checking traps, searching the property, and getting a warm welcome from the snake-fearing couple."

- Chaz Smith

Snakes can be found in about any dark crack, crevice, or shady spot in South Florida. The year-round tropical climate with an abundance of lakes and canals teeming with tiny fish make the southern peninsula a modern-day Garden of Eden for serpents.

Truth is, most of these snakes are completely harmless and help to reduce or at least control booming populations of rodents and tree frogs. Yet most of my ADC clients fear no animal more. I try to educate them on the uniqueness of our ecosystem and the importance of promoting a proper balance with nature. It's paramount that they understand the need for proper landscaping to stop the snakes returning.

They do not always appreciate this. A particular client is a perfect example. The home is a 6,000-square-foot mansion with beach front for a backyard. The front yard incudes a lake. A long driveway wraps around the lake. It is bordered with shrubbery that is filled with tasty little birds and offers plenty of shady hiding places for snakes.