FWC seeks reports of sightings in Florida of rare rainbow snake

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking the public to report sightings of the elusive rainbow snake (Farancia erytrogramma), a nonvenomous species whose population has declined in recent decades.

Rainbow snakes are semi-aquatic reptiles that primarily feed on American eels, a prey species that has also declined in Florida waters. This dependency, along with habitat loss, has contributed to population reductions. Snake fungal disease is impacting rainbow snake populations in other states, raising concerns about the species’ long-term survival.

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