Like Batch, I grew up swimming in creeks and rivers full of snakes and gators and all sorts of things most folks would run away from screaming. I've been out fishing and watching gators swimming by, we'd get hot out in the sun, and just jump on in and cool off. I've only had one incident with a snake in the boat and only one incident when a gator made us leave the place where we were fishing, and that was mainly because her babies wouldn't leave our corks alone! I've been snake-bit once, while relocating a 7 foot white oak, and still I have nothing against snakes. I wouldn't have gotten bit if I weren't messing with it, duh!
Rick, if you ever do decide to take a trip south, you gotta come fishing with me. I just might change your mind about snakes and gators with a cooler full of white bass!