What Snakes in Savannah, Tennessee Are Venomous?

Northern Copperheads

• Indigenous to most eastern parts of the U.S., the copperhead is responsible for the most venomous snake bites in Tennessee, although its venom is relatively low so deaths from copperhead bites are extremely uncommon. Northern copperheads are one of two subspecies of copperheads which inhabit the state of Tennessee. Copperheads subsist on a diet of small rodents, birds, cicadas and lizards and are frequently found in populated areas close to water, so the built-up suburbs of Savannah on the banks of the Tennessee River are a prime location for northern copperheads.

Southern Copperheads

• While northern copperheads exist all over the Tennessee, southern copperheads are found only in the southwestern corner of the state. Savannah, on the east bank of the Tennessee River, falls within this zone and therefore southern copperheads do abound in the town. Like their northern cousins, southern copperheads will attack only as a last resort and are much more likely to try to retreat.

Timber Rattlesnake

• Timber rattlesnakes occur all over the state of Tennessee but tend to live away from populated areas, preferring forests and timber areas outside towns. However, the proliferation of rodents in modern towns has led some timber rattlesnakes to venture into conurbations in search of prey. Timber rattlesnakes are very large --- species have been found that measure more than 6 feet in length --- but their coloration makes them difficult to spot. Consequently, they can be very dangerous, particularly during the mating seasons of spring or fall when they are most active.

Western Pygmy Rattlesnake

• The western pygmy rattlesnake is localized to the fertile flood plains of the Tennessee River, putting the town of Savannah right within its habitat. It is in the swamps and marshes of the flood plain that it hunts its favored prey: frogs, salamanders, lizards and small mammals. Possibly due to this limited habitat, the western pygmy rattlesnake is listed among the threatened species of Tennessee. The western pygmy rattlesnake derives its name from its small size --- it is unusual to find a specimen longer than 20 inches --- and is characterized by its rattle, which sounds more like the buzz of an insect than a rattlesnake.