Does Memphis have venomous snakes? What to know about the four found in Tennessee

Yahoo

27-05-2025

Tennessee is home to some 32 different species of snakes, but only a few are dangerous to humans.
Most snakes in the Memphis area will join Memphians in their quest for fun outdoors as summer approaches. Snakes, which are a part of the reptile family, are most active during the spring and summer months as temperatures increase, according to A-Z Animals.
Only four of the 32 different species of snakes in Tennessee are venomous. Those four snakes are the copperhead, cottonmouth, timber rattlesnake and pygmy rattlesnake.
Here is what to know about them.
The copperhead, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, causes the most bites in Tennessee.
The bites, while venomous, are not very potent and rarely do they cause fatalities, according to the state agency.
There are two subspecies of copperhead snakes found in Tennessee, the southern copperhead occurs in 'extreme West Tennessee,' and the northern copperhead occurs in the rest of the state.
Large, triangular-shaped copper-red head and distinctive dark brown hourglass crossbands give it camouflage in its preferred environment. Its habitat is mainly forested or rocky areas with 'abundant logs, leaf litter, or rocks for cover,' according to the state agency.
The cottonmouth or 'water moccasin' is found mainly in the western part of the state, getting its name from its white mouth. The snake, which is venomous, opens its mouth as a 'defensive posture' when feeling threatened.
The rumor that the cottonmouth is aggressive is 'greatly exaggerated,' the state agency states.
'These snakes generally try to escape if encountered and escape in a random direction, thus occasionally coming at you rather than away,' the agency said on its website.
Cottonmouths are mainly found in swamps, sloughs, wetlands and drainage ditches, but are occasionally found along rivers and lakes. The snakes can swim, so they can be seen swimming above and sometimes below the water or hiding out on the banks and in surrounding vegetation.
The snakes are dark olive-brown, nearly black and the crossbands on their back are sometimes not visible. A wide band could be visible from the snout through the eye and onto the neck of the snake.
Common water snakes are often mistaken for cottonmouths due to their semi-aquatic nature and similar features.
One way to tell if a snake is a harmless water snake or a cottonmouth is by looking at the shape of the head. Cottonmouths have a triangular or flattened head, while many other water snakes' heads are rounded.
The timber rattlesnake is the largest and most dangerous venomous snake in Tennessee.
The snakes have a large triangular head, vertical pupils and have the 'rattle' at the end of the tail. Its coloring is 'highly variable,' the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said, but usually are gray with a black tail. A rust-colored stripe also occurs down the center of the back.
The snakes prefer to hang out in heavily forested areas with rocky hillsides.
The timber rattlesnake populations are declining across Tennessee because of habitat loss, road mortality and 'persecution,' the state agency said.
The pygmy rattlesnake is the smallest venomous snake in Tennessee; they are also the rarest on the list.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation lists the pigmy rattlesnake as rare to very rare and imperiled. The snakes are similar to the timber rattlesnake but much smaller.
The pigmy rattlesnake has a gray or tan body with an orangish-brown mid-dorsal stripe running down its back. It has dark blotches running along its back as well, with one or two rows on each side.
The snakes are found in close proximity to water.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Snakes in Memphis: What to know about Tennessee's venomous reptiles