Snakes of Scott County

Following is a list of snakes that are native to Scott County. Of the four species of venomous snakes found in Tennessee, only two are native to Scott County: The timber rattlesnake and the northern copperhead. Contrary to popular misconception, cottonmouths (also known as water moccasins) are not native to Scott County or anywhere else in East Tennessee, though the harmless northern water snake is often mistaken as a cottonmouth.

Copperhead

The copperhead is the most common of the two venomous snake species found in Scott County. It is a pit viper that occurs across the entire state of Tennessee. The species that is found on the Cumberland Plateau is the Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen). The copperhead is a heavy-bodied snake that — like other venomous pit vipers — is distinguishable by its large, triangular-shaped head, vertical pupils and the facial pits between its eye and nostril. They’re also distinguishable by the coppery-red color of their head and the dark brown “hourglass” crossbones on their back. Although the pattern is not completely dissimilar to several species of nonvenomous snakes, copperheads are the only snake with the distinctive hourglass figure.

Copperheads prefer forested areas and aren’t often found in open fields or pastures. They’re more often found on rocky, wooded hillsides with an abundance of logs, rocks and other cover. They’re occasionally found near stream edges. They feed primarily on mice but also feast on insects — especially cicadas — as well as amphibians, small birds and even other snakes.

Juvenile copperheads look much like their adult counterparts, except their tails have a bright yellow tip, which they wiggle to lure prey to within striking distance.

It is estimated that more than 2,900 people are bitten by copperheads each year in the U.S., and the case-fatality ratio is only about 0.01%. The last person to die of a copperhead bite in Tennessee was a 26-year-old man who died in Chattanooga in 2011. He was reportedly handling the snake in an attempt to determine its sex when he was bitten. He had previously been bitten by a copperhead, which may have made him hypersensitive to the snake’s venom.

Timber Rattler

The Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) is the largest and most dangerous of the four venomous snakes found in Tennessee (two of the four, pygmy rattlesnakes and cottonmouths, are not found in East Tennessee). The timber rattler is a large, heavy-bodied snake that is usually at least three feet in length and can grow up to five feet in length with a large, triangular-shaped head, vertical pupils, facial pits, and the characteristic rattle at the end of the tail, which the snake will shake vigorously to warn off predators — including humans.

Timber rattlers prefer forested areas, especially mature, heavily-wooded forests with rocky, south-facing hillsides. Locally, they’re most often found in the mountains of eastern Scott County, though they can also be found in the Big South Fork and other parts of Scott County — often around bluffs or rock ledges. They primarily feed on small rodents like mice, rats, chipmunks and squirrels.

A cool fact to know about rattlesnakes: a newborn — female timber rattlers give birth to a litter of five to 14 young in the late summer or early fall of every other year — has a single segment to their rattle, called a “button.” Every time the snake sheds its skin, it adds a new segment to its rattle (although the rattles sometimes break off, making counting the segments an inaccurate way of determining the snake’s age).

The last person to die of a rattlesnake bite in Tennessee was a man who was hiking at Savage Gulf State Park in Grundy County in August 2025. He picked up a timber rattler and was bitten on the hand. That was the first-ever recorded fatality from a rattlesnake bite in the wild in Tennessee. Prior to that, there had been six fatalities from rattlesnakes in Tennessee, all from bites suffered during religious services (including one in LaFollette in 2000).

Gartersnake

The Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is a medium-sized snake ranging from 18 to 26 inches in length that may very well be the most common snake found anywhere in Tennessee. The gartersnake’s coloration and pattern is highly variable, causing it to present with different looks. However, it typically has three light stripes, which can be white, yellow, blue, brown or green and run the length of the snake’s body. Typically, one stripe will run down the center of the snake’s back, while the other stripes will run along its sides. Not all gartersnakes have stripes, however.

Gartersnakes can be found almost anywhere, but they’re especially common near water. That’s because they feed primarily on frogs, toads, tadpoles, salamanders and fish. They’re commonly caught as pets. Females give birth in the late summer or early fall, and can have as many as 100 young.

Red-Bellied Snake

The Northern Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata) is a small snake, usually less than 10 inches in length, that occurs across most of the state. The Northern Red-bellied snake has three light spots on the nape of its neck. The snake is usually gray or reddish-brown, and may have four narrow stripes along the length of its body. The belly is usually red, but can also be yellow or orange. The head is usually darker than the body.

Red-bellied snakes eat slugs, snails, earthworms and other soft insects, and are usually found in moist woodland areas, under leaf litter, inside rotten logs or beneath rocks. They’re not especially common in Scott County. But where they are found, they’re usually found in abundance because they’re successful breeders. Females give birth to an average of seven or eight young (up to 21) during the late summer or early autumn.

Queen Snake

The Queen Snake (Regina septemvittata) is found across the eastern two-thirds of Tennessee, although it is not found in eastern Kentucky. It is a medium-sized snake that can grow up to two feet in length, with a creamy white or pale yellow stripe along the lower sides of its body. The body itself is usually light brown or gray. The snake has a yellow belly with four brown stripes.

The queen snake is an aquatic snake that prefers cool, rocky streams and rivers, and can usually be found beneath rocks or logs around bodies of water. The snake mostly eats crayfish but sometimes eats fish and tadpoles, as well. If there’s an absence of crayfish, there will generally be an absence of queen snakes. Females give birth to up to two dozen young in the late summer or fall.

Pinesnake

The Northern Pinesnake (Pituophis melanoleucus) is a large constrictor snake that can grow nearly six feet in length and has a light-colored body with dark brown to reddish blotches on the sides and back. The blotches usually resemble a saddle pattern.

Pinesnakes are usually found in well-drained, sandy soils, particularly in pine forests. They feed mainly on small rodents, as well as ground-nesting birds and their eggs. Females lay up to 12 large eggs (the largest of any North American snake) in the summer, and sometimes use communal nests. The young can be as much as a foot long when they hatch. Pinesnakes are secretive and not often seen, but they produce a loud hissing noise when they’re encountered. The Pinesnake is not particularly common in Tennessee; its status is listed as “threatened” by the TN Wildlife Resources Agency. The TN Dept. of Environment & Conservation considers it a rare snake.

Greensnake

The Northern Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys aestivusaestivus) is a very distinctive snake in Tennessee because it’s the only green snake found in the state. There are no other snakes here that can be mistaken for it. The green snake is a moderately-long but slender snake that can grow nearly three feet in length. It is light green with a white, yellow or pale green belly.

Greensnakes, which are also called vine snakes, are usually found in dense vegetation, especially near bodies of water, and are often found in overhanging limbs. They feed primarily on insects like grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, dragonflies and spiders. Females nest in leaves or rotting logs and lay up to 10 elongated eggs in the summer. Greensnakes are quite common, but aren’t often seen because they camouflage so well in the dense vegetation and because they hide out in the trees above ground.

Northern Watersnake

The Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis) is one of the most commonly misidentified snakes found on the Cumberland Plateau. It is a large, heavy-bodied snake that can grow up to four feet in length, and while its coloration is highly variable, it can look remarkably like a copperhead or cottonmouth — especially a cottonmouth. However, if you’re close enough to examine the snake, you’ll notice its lack of a triangular head, slanted pupils or facial pits. Unlike the copperhead and the cottonmouth, water snakes are completely harmless.

Watersnakes are usually found in quiet waters, like ponds and lakes. But they are also found in more quickly-moving bodies of water, like creeks and rivers, and are commonly found in the Big South Fork River. They primarily feed on fish and amphibians. Females give birth to as many as 60 live young in the late summer or early fall. Watersnakes are extremely common in Scott County. They are quite aggressive when captured, and also discharge a foul-smelling musk from glands at the base of their tail to ward off predators.

Milksnake

One of the prettiest and most distinctive snakes found on the Cumberland Plateau is the Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum). This slender, medium-sized snake can grow up to three feet in length and has bright colors and a strong pattern. It typically has a gray or tan body with irregular brown or reddish-brown blotches with black borders.

The Milksnake prefers rocky forests and often live under rocks or logs. They feed on mice and other small rodents, as well as lizards, birds, eggs and even other snakes. Females lay a clutch of as many as 17 eggs in the summer. Milksnakes are relatively common in Tennessee, but they’re a secretive snake and not often seen. A fun fact to know about the milksnake is that its name comes from an old wives tale, which thought the snakes could milk cows.

Kingsnake

The Eastern Black Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula) is one of several black-bodied snakes found on the Cumberland Plateau. It is found throughout Tennessee and is a shiny black constrictor that can grow up to four feet in length with yellow or white bands or speckles.

The kingsnake is found just about anywhere, including forests or fields, shrubby areas or heavily wooded areas, wetlands or urban areas. You can find one climbing in a barn just as easily as you can find one on a stream bank deep in the forest. The snake feeds on rodents, rabbits and a variety of other creatures. They’re especially beneficial because they’re one of the few snakes that will prey on venomous snakes. Females lay a clutch of eggs that can include more than two dozen. The snakes are very commonly found.

Hog-Nosed Snake

There is no snake that looks any more fierce, yet is more harmless, than the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos). Not only does the hog-nosed snake look scary, but it has the most elaborate defensive behavior of any snake found in Tennessee. This medium-sized snake grows up to three feet and has widely variable coloration and patterns, but is easily distinguished by its upturned snout. Some hognose snakes are nearly completely black, others have a lot of gray. Females are generally bigger than males, and juvenile hog-nosed snakes are more colorful than adults.

The hog-nosed snake prefers sandy or loose soil for burrowing, and can be found around farms, old fields, open woods and rocky hillsides — in other words, just about anywhere. They feed primarily on frogs and toads, as well as salamanders, lizards, and small mammals. Females lay up to five dozen white eggs in sandy soils during the summer. When approached, a hog-nosed snake will flatten its head and neck, hiss loudly and strike. It will also raise its upper body, roll over to play dead, even regurgitate and defecate to ward off prey. Because of its elaborate defensive behavior, hog-nosed snakes are often mistaken as a venomous snake and killed.

Gray Rat Snake

Also called a “chicken snake,” the Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides) is a large snake that grows up to six feet in length with a variable color pattern. Usually, the snake is gray or otherwise light colored with blotches of brown or darker gray on its back. The belly is usually white, fading to a black checkerboard pattern near the tail.

The gray rat snake lives in a variety of habitats, but prefers woodlands, field edges and can often be found around farms or near streams. They live in woodpiles, hollow trees, barns and abandoned houses. They feed on small mammals and birds, using constriction, and will eat bird eggs. Females lay up to 30 eggs, usually under an old log, stump or rock. Gray rat snakes are very common locally and across all of Tennessee. They’re excellent climbers and can often be found in trees.

Black Rat Snake

The Eastern Black Ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) is one of the largest snakes found in Tennessee, growing up to six feet in length (the largest ever discovered was a whopping 101 inches long). The body is usually uniformly black in adults, but faint black stripes on a gray-black body can sometimes be found.

The black ratsnake can be found in just about any habitat, including farmland, hardwood forests, wetlands and urban woodlots. They’re typically found in back yards and other suburban settings. They’re frequently found in barns and old buildings because they feed on mice and other small rodents and frequent areas where these animals can be found in abundance. They also feed on small birds and their eggs. They’re particularly active just after sunset. Females lay a clutch of up to 19 eggs. Black ratsnakes are very commonly found in Scott County; in fact, they’re the most common large snake found here. A fun fact about ratsnakes: There’s an old myth that they cross-breed with copperheads and produce venomous offspring. There’s no truth to that old wives tale, however.

Red Corn Snake

The Red Cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus) is usually found south of the northern Cumberland Plateau, but can sometimes be found here, as well. It’s a long, slender snake reaching up to four feet in length with quite a lot of variation in its colorization and pattern. However, it often has red blotches outlined in black, with a gray to orange background. Its belly is a black and white checkerboard pattern, and the corn snake is one of the more distinctive snakes found in Scott County.

Corn snakes can be found in a variety of habitat, including woodland areas, agricultural areas, and on rocky hillsides. They’re most abundant in habitats with pine trees. They feed primarily on small rodents, as well as tree frogs, lizards, small birds and bats. Females lay up to 30 eggs in the summer. These snakes are relatively common, but seldom seen because of their reclusiveness.

Northern Ring-Necked Snake

The Northern Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii) is perhaps the single most common snake found in Scott County. It’s a small snake, reaching up to 15 inches in length, with a black or dark grey body and a distinctive yellow or orange band around its neck. It has a bright, yellow belly.

Ring-necked snakes prefer moist areas and spend much of their time underground or hidden beneath logs, rocks or leaf litter. They feed on earthworms, insect larvae, salamanders and even small snakes and lizards. Females lay only a few eggs each year. These are secretive snakes that often remain hidden, but they’re so common that they’re seen fairly often, especially when moving piles of cinderblocks, sheet tin and other items that trap moisture and create good hiding places.

Northern Black Racer

The Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor) is one of two black racers found in Tennessee, and it occurs throughout East Tennessee. It is a large, slender snake that can reach up to five feet in length, with smooth scales and a body color that is usually black with a dark gray or dark blue belly.

The black racer is usually found in open areas, such as old fields, pastures and forest edges, and they’re known for their ability to speed away from the threat of harm. They feed primarily on insects, frogs, birds, other snakes, small rodents and bird eggs. Females lay up to 36 eggs in the summer. These snakes are commonly found in Scott County.

Midwestern Wormsnake

The Midwestern Wormsnake (Carphophis amoenus helenae) is found across much of the western two-thirds of Tennessee, including the Cumberland Plateau. It is a small, shiny, smooth snake that looks much like a worm. It is generally less than a foot in length, with a small head and tiny eyes.

Wormsnakes prefer to hide out under rocks, old logs, leaf litter or other debris, and are usually found in hardwood forests. They eat earthworms, grubs and other small insects. They’re common, but seldom seen because they’re very secretive and spend much of their life underground. Females lay up to 12 eggs each summer.

Other Snakes

Other snakes that you might encounter in Scott County that aren’t described above include the Northern Scarletsnake, which looks much like a milksnake but is very secretive and less frequently seen; the Yellow-Bellied Kingsnake, which is not often found on the Cumberland Plateau but can be found in the valley locations of Tennessee; the Midland Brownsnake, a small snake that is usually brown with black spots; and the Earthsnake, which is very similar to the wormsnake both in terms of its appearance and its secretive nature.