Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm in an online argu....uh, discussion with a friend who says that copperheads are rare in Tennessee. I beg to differ. I think copperheads are common in Tennessee. I thought I'd ask here... is he right or am I right?

And yes I am seriously asking this question.

THANKS!

DJ

DJ

I have lived in East Tennessee for almost 20 years, and have encountered (approximately) the following large native snakes:

# Snake
4 Black Kingsnake
1 Milksnake
4 Corn Snake.
6 Black Rat Snake
12 Watersnakes
6 Queensnake
5 Black Racer
2 Copperhead
9 Eastern Pinesnake
0 Timber Rattlesnake
38 Total
5% Copperheads

This is off-the-top-of-my-head, and skewed by my personal experience, preferences, and ability at finding snakes (or lack thereof), but it should give you a feel for how common these snakes are. It suggests to me that Copperheads are not uncommon or rare, although perhaps not as common as some colubrids.

Hope this helps

John D
-----
I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"
0.1 Black Rat (WV Rescue) "Roberta"

I found that there was at least one typo in my "life-list" of larger E. TN snakes. Corrections in bold below:

# Snake
4 Black Kingsnake
1 Milksnake
4 Corn Snake.
6 Black Rat Snake
12 Watersnakes (at least)
6 Queensnake
5 Black Racer
2 Copperhead
0 Eastern Pinesnake
0 Timber Rattlesnake
40 Total
5% Copperheads

LOL - I wish I had kept meticulous records! This is strictly from memory, so take it with a grain of salt.
-----
I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"
0.1 Black Rat (WV Rescue) "Roberta"

I haven't kept as good of records as the other responder here, but I have personally encountered at least 5 copperheads in east tennessee. They are fairly common here in the smokey mountain area, tho they are often exaggerated in their size I've only encountered 2 timber rattlers, and to be honest, I think it was the same snake, only I was fortunate enough to see him twice in a three day period.

I can't help but chuckle when someone reports seeing a copperhead that "must have been at least five feet long!" The other good laugh is when people claim that cottonmouths are common in this area.

Bill

In West Tennessee copperheads are common; especially in rural areas. However, there is a small established population in Memphis (large park area) that is urban. Fortunately for the snakes, they are secretive and their existence is not well known to people living in the vicinity--unless you consider the herp savvy folks who took me herping to find them!

rgds,
althea

I live in East Tn. near english mountain. I have seen plenty of copperheads. You are right about the size, lol, I know several people that swear they have seen 5 foot copperheads. And the ones that say, "I'm pretty sure it was a copperhead". There is no mistaking one when you see them. I think these people are seeing big cornsnakes and big red rat snakes. I have seen one timber rattler here. Someone killed it on a jobsite I was on. 42" long, 5 rattles and 2 buttons.