About any body of fresh water may harbor gigantic, hungry alligators and bad-tempered, venomous cottonmouth moccasins. Anybody wanting to go outdoors without encountering the beasties of the forests, palmetto scrub, lakes and rivers could head to the beaches. No gators or venomous snakes there, but there are plenty of sharks that can take a bite as big as a gator. And there are jellyfish and other sea creatures that also have their own supplies of venom. Then there are spiders lurking under woodpiles and in various nooks and crannies of old buildings.
Scorpions seek shelter in bedclothes.
Spider and scorpions usually aren't deadly, but the bites and stings often make victims wish they were dead. Everywhere, there are also varieties of annoying, disease-carrying mosquitoes and biting flies. Meanwhile, a growing population each year means that more people arrive and confront dangerous beasties. Actually, despite their horrendous reputations, Funcoast reptiles rank very low on the list of dangers, according to May and others who deal with deadly creatures. More people are at risk from allergic reactions to bee and wasp stings than they are from snake bites or alligator attacks.