On Florida’s Space Coast, the arrival of autumn has brought more than just cooler breezes and the occasional thunderstorm. For the residents of Cocoa and surrounding Brevard County, October 2025 has delivered a soggy, unsettling reality: relentless rainfall has not only flooded homes and roads, but also driven some of the state’s most notorious wildlife into the heart of local communities.
At the Westgate Mobile Home Park, just west of I-95 in Cocoa, the scene has become all too familiar for many of its more than 100 residents. After a single rainy day, the ground turns so waterlogged that some homes begin to sink, leaving families anxious with every passing cloud. "It’s been an ongoing problem since we’ve been here," said Virginia Martin, a resident whose mobile home sits closest to the retention pond that many blame for the flooding. "This area will be flooded," she told News 6’s James Sparvero, gesturing to her front yard. "Before they started digging the ditch on through, it would be flooded all the way up the street, there."
According to News 6, the retention pond in question was built back in 2007, a product of the I-95 widening project. Since then, it’s supposed to collect and manage stormwater runoff. But locals argue that it’s doing the opposite—spilling over and sending water straight into their yards and beneath their homes. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), for its part, insists that the system is functioning as designed. Workers recently cleared the ditch along the pond, removing debris that could have blocked water flow. "The system’s working how it should," FDOT told News 6, pointing out that, with the ditch now clear, there’s no indication the pond itself is causing the flooding.
But for residents like Martin, those assurances ring hollow. Each new downpour brings fresh anxiety, as water pools in low spots and seeps under foundations. "They need to trench it better," Martin said. "The water’s coming this way, but it has no place to go down here. It needs to go that way." The sense of frustration is palpable. Even as FDOT officials consider possible improvements, neighbors worry that the next big storm could bring worse damage—and perhaps something more dangerous than water.
That’s because the flooding isn’t just a headache for homeowners. Across Brevard County, the same heavy rains have triggered a wave of unexpected visitors: venomous snakes, including the infamous cottonmouth, also known as the water moccasin. As reported by WFTV and confirmed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the recent deluge has pushed these semi-aquatic reptiles out of their usual swampy haunts and into places where people live, work, and play.
The culprit is the swelling Saint Johns River, which has inundated low-lying areas, parking lots, and popular trails. In their search for higher, drier ground, cottonmouths have been spotted in some unlikely locations—including the parking lot of Camp Holly Airboat Rides near U.S. 192. After multiple sightings, staff at Camp Holly sounded the alarm, issuing a public warning to visitors and locals alike. "It’s becoming more visible and worrisome," staff told WFTV, adding that while longtime Floridians are no strangers to wildlife, the sudden spike in snake encounters is raising eyebrows—and heart rates.
For many on the Space Coast, these events are a stark reminder of just how wild "real Florida" can be. The FWC notes that cottonmouths are native to the region and generally stick close to water sources. But when flooding upends their habitat, the snakes have little choice but to venture into unfamiliar territory. And while the FWC has not released data on recent snake bite reports, the agency acknowledges that such displacements can increase the risk of human-snake encounters.
So what does this mean for local residents? In a word: vigilance. People are adjusting their routines, avoiding flooded trails, keeping children close, and watching every step. "Residents are reporting a noticeable increase in snake sightings—particularly at outdoor hotspots like Camp Holly Airboat Rides," reported WFTV. The uncertainty of how long this situation will last only adds to the unease. Authorities have yet to provide a timeline for when the snakes might return to their usual habitats, leaving locals to navigate a landscape that feels just a bit more perilous than usual.
Back at Westgate Mobile Home Park, the challenges extend beyond wildlife. Residents have voiced concerns about the heavy equipment brought in by FDOT to clear ditches and manage water flow. Some worry that the machinery could accidentally strike a gas line, with potentially catastrophic consequences. "I don’t want us to go boom," Martin said, a sentiment echoed by several of her neighbors. When asked about these fears, FDOT acknowledged that a pipe was indeed struck during recent work, though officials could not confirm its purpose. They assured residents that the pipe was not part of the water system and that steps are being taken to investigate and prevent future mishaps.
Still, the sense of unease lingers. The combination of sinking homes, uncertain drainage, and the appearance of venomous snakes has left many feeling caught between a rock and a very wet, very wild place. While FDOT explores potential improvements and local authorities monitor the snake situation, the residents of Cocoa and Brevard County are left to cope as best they can—keeping a wary eye on the sky, the ground, and the shadows where danger might slither.
It’s a vivid, if unsettling, snapshot of life on Florida’s Space Coast in 2025—a place where the boundaries between nature and neighborhood can be washed away overnight, and where resilience is as much a part of the landscape as the palmettos and pines. For now, the community waits for drier days, hoping that both the waters and their unwelcome reptilian guests will soon recede.
