Paul Tremblay and his son Brandon stepped outside their Gulf Cove home on Saturday, 11 October 2026, and were met with a plump eastern diamondback rattlesnake lolling in the yard. "We were genuinely shocked," Paul told WINK News, and they immediately recorded the encounter before calling the sheriff’s emergency line. The footage, now circulating on social media, shows the family standing back as the snake slowly made its way toward the curb.
Ranger Rob Howell, a naturalist with the Pink Shell Resort, explained that the eastern diamondback is one of Florida’s five venomous species, but it rarely hunts humans. "It bites only if it feels threatened or thinks you’re food," Howell told WINK News, adding that increased sightings are tied to development and cooler temperatures that push snakes outdoors.
The sheriff’s crew arrived within minutes, coordinating with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. By 11:30 p.m., a trained officer had safely captured the snake and transported it to a wildlife facility. Brandon reflected, "It was a beautiful animal, part of the local ecosystem, but we didn’t want to risk it or ourselves."
Residents in Charlotte County are encouraged to call 911 for any wildlife encounter, especially with venomous snakes. Local officials are planning a community workshop next month to educate homeowners on safe practices and the importance of giving wildlife space.
The Fish and Wildlife Commission will host a briefing on Thursday to discuss increasing snake sightings and outline new safety protocols for the growing Southwest Florida population.