FG-0020 · Wildlife · 6 species
Identifying Snakes in Tennessee
By Derek Gauger · Updated
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
FG-0020.01
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.
Habitat: Wooded hillsides, rocky slopes, and suburban edges statewide.
Venomous. Watch where you step and reach in leaf litter and woodpiles.
FG-0020.02
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.
Habitat: Forested ridges, rocky bluffs, and remote woodlands across the state.
Venomous. Keep well back and never try to handle it — give it space to retreat.
FG-0020.03
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.
Habitat: Swamps, sloughs, and slow streams in the western part of the state.
Venomous. Give a wide berth to any thick-bodied snake near water and never handle it.
FG-0020.04
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.
Habitat: Woodlands, farmland, and around buildings throughout Tennessee.
FG-0020.05
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.
Habitat: Gardens, meadows, and damp areas near water statewide.
FG-0020.06
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.
Habitat: Rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams throughout the state.
Through the seasons
- 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.
Questions
- How many venomous snakes are in Tennessee?
- Tennessee has four venomous species: the copperhead, timber rattlesnake, western cottonmouth, and western pygmy rattlesnake. The copperhead is the most commonly encountered.
- What is the best way to identify a snake safely?
- From a distance. Take a photo from several feet away and use an app like Spotter to identify the species — never pick up or corner a snake to get a closer look.
From Field Notes
- Is That a Cottonmouth or a Harmless Water Snake? How to Tell Them Apart Safely
- What Is the Snake That Plays Dead and Flattens Like a Cobra? Meet the Eastern Hognose
- What Is the Big Black Snake in My Yard? Identifying Rat Snakes and Black Racers
- What Is the Striped Snake in My Garden? Identifying the Garter Snake
Not sure what you found?
Take a photo with Spotter for the name, field marks, look-alikes and safety notes in seconds.
In this guide
- Species
- 6
- Region
- Tennessee