Officers remove rattlesnake from Charlotte County home

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — At first, Paul Tremblay didn't believe it. 

"We were shocked," Paul said. "We were genuinely shocked. I mean, that's not something you expect to see."

But there it was. A plump brown rattlesnake in front of the Tremblay's Gulf Cove home. Paul and his son Brandon discovered the Eastern Diamondback on Saturday morning, as they prepared to do some lawn work. Instead, they called the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office emergency line. 

"Typically snakes don't really faze me that much," Brandon said. But it was definitely a little scary."

The family said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers removed the snake after about half-an-hour. They captured the encounter on video and shared it with WINK News. 

Ranger Rob Howell is a naturalist at Pink Shell Resort. He's an environmental educator with a master’s degree in behavioral science and zoology. Howell said the Eastern Diamondback is one of five venomous snakes in Florida. 

"The only time it's going to bite is if it thinks you're its food, or if it thinks you're a threat," Howell said. "So the best thing to do: give them their space, leave them alone."

The snake is native to Southwest Florida. Sightings are becoming increasingly common as development encroaches on their home, Howell said. As the weather starts to change, Eastern Diamondback's will start seeking a cold-weather shelter. 

The Tremblay's said they are thankful no one was bit - and wildlife officers safely removed the snake. 

"Beautiful snake and a great part of our ecosystem," Brandon said.