Rare snake species sought in Florida that hasn’t been seen in over 5 years

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recently made the following plea to residents and visitors across the state: if they see a rainbow snake, then please make them aware. Such a request comes as the rare and stunning creature, known scientifically as Farancia erytrogramma, has not been spotted after almost half a decade of slipping into the shadows.

These snakes are a sight to behold: with glossy black or violet-blue skin offset by three bold red stripes, their bodies are accented with yellow scales on the chin and lips, with some even speckled with violet.

They’re vanishing due to multiple threats: human-induced habitat loss, decreasing eel populations (their favourite meal), and a fungal disease spreading in other states that’s causing alarm among conservationists.

FWC research scientist Kevin Enge said in a statement: “We need help from Floridians and visitors to better understand where rainbow snakes still occur in the state. Every sighting report gives us valuable data about their current distribution and helps us assess the health of the species in Florida.”

These non-venomous, semi-aquatic snakes are can be found in specific habitats, including rivers, springs, or brackish marshes. Interestingly, a subspecies once lived in Fisheating Creek, in Glades County, more than 150 miles south of the nearest known rainbow snake population in Lake County. That southern outpost hasn’t seen a confirmed sighting since 1952.

However, there was a ray of hope for these secretive creatures. In early 2020, a hiker named Tracey Cauthen captured a photo of a four-foot-long rainbow snake in Ocala National Forest—marking the first confirmed sighting in Marion County in half a century. That moment offered a glimpse of what’s still possible if the species survives.

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You can report a rare snake sighting here, on the official FWC website.

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