Overview
Tennessee has around 34 snake species, and only four of them are venomous. The copperhead is the most commonly encountered venomous snake, while the great majority of snakes you meet — rat snakes, racers, garter and water snakes — are harmless and beneficial.
Always identify from a distance: a photo from several feet away is safer and just as effective as a close look. This guide covers the snakes you are most likely to encounter across Tennessee.
Key Species to Know
Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix
A pit viper with hourglass-shaped chestnut bands over a tan body, blending superbly into leaf litter. Venomous but generally mild; the state's most commonly encountered venomous snake.
Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
A large rattlesnake with dark chevron bands across a tan or gray body and a black tail. Venomous but generally calm; usually gives a clear buzzing warning before anything else.
Western Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus
A thick-bodied semi-aquatic pit viper, dark with a pale-lined face, that gapes to show a white "cotton" mouth when threatened. Venomous; found mainly in wetlands of West Tennessee.
Gray Rat Snake
Pantherophis spiloides
A large, non-venomous constrictor with dark blotches on a gray body, and an excellent climber often found near barns hunting rodents. Harmless but will rattle its tail and bluff when cornered.
Eastern Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
A small, harmless snake with three pale stripes running the length of a dark body. One of the most common yard snakes; gentle and beneficial.
Northern Water Snake
Nerodia sipedon
A non-venomous water snake with dark crossbands, frequently mistaken for a cottonmouth and needlessly killed. May bite defensively when cornered, but is harmless.
Seasonal Guide
- Snakes are most active in spring and fall, and on warm evenings in summer.
- Be cautious around rock outcrops, water edges, and leaf litter, and reach only where you can see.
- Many harmless water snakes are killed out of fear — identify from a distance before assuming the worst.
Safety Reminder
Identify snakes from a safe distance only, and never handle one to get a photo. If someone is bitten, treat it as a medical emergency and contact emergency services immediately — do not wait to identify the snake or attempt folk remedies. App results are reference information, not medical advice.
Identify it instantly
Found something and not sure what it is? Point your camera with Spotter and get a species identification in seconds — with detailed reference info and species notes.