Venomous snakes in Tennessee
Venomous snakes living in Tennessee
4species, plus 2 with rare records
Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnake, Copperhead, Pygmy rattlesnake. A bite from any of these is a medical emergency.
How to recognize them
CottonmouthDangerous186 records, 17 counties
Timber rattlesnakeDangerous87 records, 24 counties
CopperheadMedically significant278 records, 34 counties
Pygmy rattlesnakeMedically significant9 records, 1 county
Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus
- Heavy, dark olive to black body; bands fade with age
- Broad flat head with a dark stripe through the eye
- Swims with the whole body high on the water
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
Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix
- Copper to tan body with dark hourglass bands: wide on the sides, narrow on the spine
- Plain coppery head with no pattern
- Young snakes have a bright yellow-green tail tip
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
Every venomous snake species known from the US is on this site.
Counties with records
- None recorded
- 1 species
- 2
- 3 to 4
- 5 or more
Active months
Rare records
- Rare records Western diamondback rattlesnake 4 open records, latest 1932
- Rare records Eastern coral snake 1 open record
Harmless snakes people mistake for them
- Cottonmouth vs Water Snake Water snake: harmless
- Copperhead vs Northern Water Snake Northern water snake: harmless
- Cottonmouth vs Banded Water Snake Banded water snake: harmless
- Copperhead vs Corn Snake Corn snake: harmless
- Copperhead vs Rat Snake Rat snake: harmless
- Copperhead vs Milk Snake Milk snake: harmless
- Cottonmouth vs Diamondback Water Snake Diamondback water snake: harmless
- Pygmy Rattlesnake vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake: harmless
- Copperhead vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake: harmless
Water snakeHarmlessHarmless
Northern water snakeHarmlessHarmless
Banded water snakeHarmlessHarmless
Diamondback water snakeHarmlessHarmless
Eastern hognose snakeHarmlessHarmless
Corn snakeHarmlessHarmless
Rat snakeHarmlessHarmless
Milk snakeHarmlessHarmless
Scarlet snakeHarmlessHarmless
Quick answers
- Lives here Are there rattlesnakes in Tennessee?
- Lives here Are there copperheads in Tennessee?
- Lives here Are there cottonmouths in Tennessee?
- Rare records Are there coral snakes in Tennessee?
Questions
How many venomous snakes are in Tennessee?
4 species live in the state: Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnake, Copperhead and Pygmy rattlesnake.
Which venomous snakes in Tennessee are dangerous?
Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnake, Copperhead and Pygmy rattlesnake: a bite is a medical emergency.
When are venomous snakes most active in Tennessee?
Most open records fall in March, June to September.
Which harmless snakes get mistaken for venomous ones in Tennessee?
Water snake, Northern water snake, Banded water snake and Corn snake. See the side-by-side comparisons below.
More for Tennessee
- All venomous animals in Tennessee
- Venomous spiders in Tennessee
- Scorpions in Tennessee
- Centipedes in Tennessee