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Fla. Wildlife Seeks High Ground After Fay

Posted on: Friday, 29 August 2008, 21:00 CDT

The flooding that followed Tropical Storm Fay in Florida has driven animals from their homes, forcing humans to cope with alligators, snakes and fire ants.

Jerry Flynn, who traps nuisance alligators, said he is getting twice the normal number of calls.

"With waters coming up, it gives (the animals) more room to get in trouble," Flynn told the Orlando Sentinel, pointing to a truckload of dead alligators. "And we're the trouble stoppers."

Henry Cabbage, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, said water snakes have been roaming flooded residential areas. Most are harmless, but Florida is home to the venomous cottonmouth.

Rodents like squirrels are trying to get away from the floods, Cabbage said. Even insects have been affected, and mosquitoes have more places to breed.

Fire ants are another problem. They can survive for hours in the water and climb into boats up the oars.

A Chuloata, Fla., man died Tuesday, hours after he suffered multiple bites from fire ants that had been washed into his home by flooding.

Source: United Press International

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