One of the less known parts of DuPuis is the Powerline Grade along the eastern perimeter. A one way trip is 13 miles long and can be traveled on foot, bike, horse, or car. As the name implies, the shellrock road parallels high tension power lines running south from the FPL Indiantown plant. The southern half of the road runs between a canal (with many resident alligators) and the adjacent Corbett WMA. You may also see otters, deer, birds and various Florida fauna. Bringing your camera is recommended. Happy caching!
The common or eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius) is a poisonous snake found in the southeastern United States and northeastern Mexico. In Florida, coral snakes are most commonly found in dry, lightly vegetated areas. They feed on lizards, frogs, and small snakes. They are closely related to cobras.
Due to the snakes' reclusive nature, bites are rare. Although highly poisonous, bites often result in "dry bites" i.e. no poison released. Coral snakes lack the large fangs of most other poisonous snakes and cannot control how much venom is released in a bite. As a result, they must chew on a victim to properly inject venom rather than making a quick strike like a rattlesnake.
Coral snakes have a distinctive pattern of color of wide red and black rings seperated by narrow yellow rings, with a black head. They can be confused for two species of non-venmous snakes: scarlet kingsnakes which have the same color bands, but in a different order; and scarlet snakes which have gray bands instead of yellow. A useful folk rhyme for snakes in the US is "Red against black, friend of Jack; red against yellow, kill a fellow."