How to Identify the Snakes of West Tennessee
Western Tennessee is home to many species of snakes. The state itself contains over 30 of them. Only four recognized species of snake in the western portion are poisonous, or perhaps more correctly, venomous. They are all members of the family known as pit vipers. This in some ways eases the task of differentiating between them and their less hostile---or at least less harmful---extended relatives. Awareness of these differences is the key to keeping safe.
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Things You'll Need
- Awareness of the different species of snakes, and most importantly, the venomous ones, which are the copperhead, western cottonmouth, timber rattlesnake, and pygmy rattlesnake
- A keen knowledge of the differences in body type, eye structure, skin colors, scalings and noises between harmful and safe varieties of snake
- Pictures of snake species if you feel you are in an area (i.e. waterway or hiking trail) where encountering a snake becomes more probable
- Denim leg wear in potentially dangerous spots
Instructions
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How to Identify Venomous Species
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1
Pay extreme attention to the shape of the snake's eyes! The shape of the eye of a venomous snake in western Tennessee will be elliptical and not round. They will have a vertical pupil as well. Think of this eye appearance as similar to a cat's.
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2
The timber rattlesnake inhabits U.S. states as diverse as Connecticut and Tennessee. Stop and listen. There are two rattlesnakes on our list. If you hear anything even resembling a rattle be on high alert. The pygmy variety may be far more muted and sound more akin to an insect buzz, so be extra careful. The cottonmouth, on the other hand, might offer what has been described as a "sharp hissing display."
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3
Look at the head shape. All of the animals we are discussing are pit vipers, so their heads will always appear triangular. There will also be an appearance the heads are separate from the main portion of their body. Some other nonpoisonous species may be able to flatten their heads to look triangular. This may or may not be accompanied by an appearance of head-body separation. In the end, if the head looks at all triangular, get out of there!
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4
Take note of where you are when you are out in nature. The pygmy can be found in flood plains, "wet prairies" and other wet environments. This is similar to the cottonmouth, which may be in the waterway itself and can bite underwater. Both the timber rattlesnake and the copperhead reside more in forests, under leaf piles, in abandoned piles of debris and in other places with lots of rock, timber and coverage. Any place in the woods where there are lots of rodents for snakes to feed on is not a place you want to be.
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Study the colors of the different species and if they vary given the age of the snake. Copperheads appear with chestnut bands on their backs or "saddles." The western cottonmouth is muted and dark, almost to the point where it could be considered black. When young, however, they can be a lot more colorful. The timber rattlesnake has blackish or brownish bands set over a common mixture of beige, gray or peachlike complexion.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear denim jeans if hiking out in the woods, marshland, swamp, etc. While it is also an extra layer of protection, some studies indicate that denim could actually absorb or deflect a large amount of the venom delivered in a snake bite. You might be a little hotter, but you'll be safer.
Most of these snakes, with the exception of the pygmy, are large and thick. Some are almost 3 feet long, so be aware of that.
You cannot always tell the size or characteristics of a snake if it is coiled up or in water. Always err on the side of caution.
Depending on age, a snake can lose its rattle, so if you see a snake and it is not rattling, that does not mean it isn't a rattlesnake!
References
- Photo Credit rattlesnake image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com close-up of a timber rattlesnake image by Mark Lotterhand from Fotolia.com
