Does Memphis have a poisonous snake? What do you know about the four found in Tennessee

There are about 32 different species of snakes in Tennessa, but only a few people are dangerous to humans.

Most of the snakes in the Memphis district will join the Memphis in search of fun in the field, approaching the summer. AZ animals say snakes that are part of the reptile family are the most active in the spring and summer months, when the temperature increases.

Only four of the 32 different types of snakes are poisonous. Those four snakes are Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Timber Rattlenake and Pygmy Rattlenake.

That’s what to know about them.

Copper head

Copperhead, according to Tennessee’s Wildlife Agency, causes the most bites in Tennesse.

According to the state agency, the poison, though poisonous, is not very strong and rarely causes deaths.

There are two copper -headed snake subspecies in Tennessee, the southern copper head is in the “Extreme Western Tennessee State” and the northern copper head occurs in the rest of the country.

The large triangular copper red head and the peculiar dark brown’s cross -watches crosses give it a camouflage in its desired environment. According to the state agency, its registered office is mainly a wooded or rocky area with “abundant logs, leaf litter or rock”.

Cottonmouth

Cottonmouth or Mokasin is mainly found in the western part of the state, receiving its name from white mouth. The snake, which is poisonous, opens the mouth as a “defensive pose” when it feels threatened.

Rumors that Cottonmouth is aggressive is “very exaggerated,” says the state agency.

“These snakes usually try to escape if they encounter and run away in random direction, so occasionally come to you, not from afar,” the agency said on his website.

Cottonmouths are mainly found in swamps, slippers, swamps and sewer ditches, but are occasionally found near rivers and lakes. Snakes can swim, so they can be seen swimming above and sometimes below the water or hiding on the shores and the surrounding vegetation.

Snakes are dark olive brown, almost black, and cross -bars on the back are sometimes not visible. A wide tape could be seen from the muzzle through the eye and on the snake neck.

Because of their semi -nerve nature and similar properties, regular aquatic snakes often make mistakes because of cotton.

One way to say whether the snake is a harmless water snake or cotton is looking at the shape of the head. Cottonmouth have a triangular or flattened head, and many other snakes of the aquatic snake are rounded.

Wooden rattlesnake

Wood rattle is the largest and most dangerous toxic snake in Tennesse.

Snakes have a large triangular head, vertical disciples and are “rattlesnake” at the back of the tail. Its painting is “very variable,” said the Tennessee Wildlife Agency, but is usually gray with a black tail. Rust color ribbon also occurs in the center of the back.

Snakes prefer to choose in very wooded places with rocky hills.

Wood rattlesnake populations are decreasing throughout Tennesse due to loss of habitat, mortality routes and “persecution”, – said the state agency.

Pygmy rattlesnake

The Pygmy rattle is the smallest toxic snake in Tennesse; They are also the rarest list.

In the Department of Environmental and Conservation, Pigmy rattles in the Department of Environment and Conservation provide rare or very rare and damaged. Snakes are similar to wood rattles, but much smaller.

The Pigmy Rattlenake has a gray or tanning body with an or more orraft brown medium virtue ribbon walking down. It also has dark spots passing along the back, with one or two rows on both sides.

Snakes are found close to water.

This article initially appeared in a Memphis commercial appeal: Snake Memphis: What to know about toxic Tennessee reptiles