For The First Time In 50 Years, A Rainbow Snake Has Been Spotted In Florida

After more than 50 years, the incredibly uncommon rainbow snake was recently found in Florida. The innocuous lizard was found by two women while hiking in Ocala National Forest, 47 miles north of Orlando, according to a Facebook post by the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, the previous observation of a rainbow snake in Florida was in 1969, hence the event surprised wildlife experts. The species is also non-venomous, according to museum officials.

“The rainbow snakes spend most of their life hidden among aquatic vegetation,” the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said. “They are highly-aquatic…seldom seen, even by herpetologists, due to their cryptic habits.”

The snake seen by the two hikers was about four feet long. The record for the longest rainbow snake was 5 feet and 6 inches.

Rebecca Boyer and Tracey Cauthen saw the snake while hiking in the Ocala National Forest. They even had the opportunity to take photos with the uncommon reptile. “Tracey hale Cauthen and I came across this gorgeous critter,” Rebecca Boyer said on Facebook.