Are there rattlesnakes in Tennessee?
Western diamondback rattlesnake: Only as rare records. GBIF holds 4 open records of the western diamondback rattlesnake from Tennessee, the latest from 1932, but there is no known population.
Timber rattlesnake: Yes. The timber rattlesnake lives in Tennessee. Open records come from 24 counties.
Pygmy rattlesnake: Yes. The pygmy rattlesnake lives in Tennessee. Open records come from 1 county.
Where in Tennessee
- None recorded
- 1 species
- 2
- 3 to 4
- 5 or more
Rattlesnakes across the US
- Lives here
- Rare records
- Gone
- Not here
How to recognize them
Timber rattlesnake Crotalus horridus
- Dark V- or chevron-shaped bands across the back
- Black tail ending in a rattle
- Yellow, tan or dark phases; some are almost black
Dangerous. Usually calm and slow to strike, but a bite is a medical emergency.
Pygmy rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius
- Small with a thin tail and a tiny rattle that sounds like a buzzing insect
- Gray or tan with dark round blotches
- Often a reddish stripe down the spine
Medically significant. Small venom yield, and deaths are extremely rare, but bites are painful and need medical care.
Often mistaken for rattlesnakes
- Rattlesnake vs Gopher Snake Gopher snake: harmless
- Eastern Diamondback vs Timber Rattlesnake Timber rattlesnake: dangerous, lives in Tennessee
- Timber Rattlesnake vs Copperhead Copperhead: medically significant, lives in Tennessee
- Western Diamondback vs Mojave Rattlesnake Mojave rattlesnake: dangerous
- Pygmy Rattlesnake vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake: harmless, lives in Tennessee
Questions
Are there rattlesnakes in Tennessee?
Yes. 2 species live in Tennessee: Timber rattlesnake and Pygmy rattlesnake.
What do rattlesnakes look like?
Dark diamonds with pale yellow edges down the back. Two pale diagonal stripes on each side of the face. Thick body and a rattle on the tail.