Jump to content

Dangerous plants/wildlife in Florida?


Coldgears

Recommended Posts

What do I need to watch out for when bushwhacking and hikig?

 

I used to live in FL and the only things I ever ran into were golden orb weaver spiders. As far as I know they're not poisonous, just numerous and big and scary. They make mighty big and scary webs. Have I mentioned scary?? One time across an entire path at a NIGHT cache. Didn't complete it that night. I do know people who have seen alligators so be cautious around fresh and brackish water. Always look under your car before getting in. Lol!

Link to comment

Folks want to worry about bears, gators, venomous snakes, but statistically, what's gonna harm you is bugs - all manner of stinging insects and blood suckers.

 

They don't apply enough DEET product, or don't use any. Ticks can be stopped with the permethrin based products.

 

Typically people underestimate their sun exposure.

 

That said, sand spurs are terribly obnoxious, and found where ever there is grass, so isn't just hiking, they can be worse doing roadside PnG. Saw palmetto is called that because the stem is fine hacksaw like cutting edge. Some areas have cactus.

 

Poison ivy grows all over, north in the state the more toxic Poison Sumac, and south in the state Poison Wood.

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep220

Edited by Isonzo Karst
Link to comment

Folks want to worry about bears, gators, venomous snakes, but statistically, what's gonna harm you is bugs - all manner of stinging insects and blood suckers.

 

They don't apply enough DEET product, or don't use any. Ticks can be stopped with the permethrin based products.

 

Typically people underestimate their sun exposure.

 

That said, sand spurs are terribly obnoxious, and found where ever there is grass, so isn't just hiking, they can be worse doing roadside PnG. Saw palmetto is called that because the stem is fine hacksaw like cutting edge. Some areas have cactus.

 

Poison ivy grows all over, north in the state the more toxic Poison Sumac, and south in the state Poison Wood.

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep220

 

So FL is basically PA with gators and venemous snakes, and poison wood and plants that cut you. (well technically we had copperheads in the applachians, but I so rarely visited that areas I never worried about it.)

 

Edit: Okay, so I was gonna say that Florida is better than PA because it doesn't have Seven Minute Itch. But apparently it does. Seven minute it h is by far worse than poison ivy and sumac combined.

 

It hit's you with a rush of intense pain and continues throbbing, itching and hurting for days.

Edited by Coldgears
Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...