When a Timber rattlesnake sheds its skin, the skin will contain the same pattern. While snakes can be intimidating to Tennessee residents, these creatures are still an important part of the state's natural ecosystem, helping to control rodent and pest populations.

Tennessee man finds 6 1/2 foot demon rattlesnake in his backyard . Stay tuned for more videos! Tennessee is also home to the cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) whose name is derived from the behavior of opening its mouth to show the snowy white buccal mucosa. Tennessee is also the territory of the Timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus. They have triangular shaped heads, but some larger non-venomous snakes appear to have the same head shape. Timber rattlesnakes are considered threatened in Tennessee. Timber rattlesnakes are a protected species so do not attempt to kill or trap one. The timber rattlesnake can use these fangs to inject a high amount of venom quite rapidly. Tennessee's wild critters are busy feeding and raising the next generation. These snakes are between 3 and 5 feet long, with black chevron-shaped crossbands all across its body. Below is a list of snake species native to Tennessee. Spend some time outdoors and see what you can discover before the heat and humidity of summer take hold. The timber rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake in Tennessee.

These fangs are hollow and connected to venom glands. The timber rattlesnake may leave behind one or two puncture marks from its fangs after a bite.

Please take the time to learn more about these interesting and beneficial residents of our state. In fact, it is illegal in Tennessee to kill, harm, or possess any native wild snake without a permit. One of only four venomous species of snake in Tennessee, the timber rattlesnake can reach up to five feet in length. One subspecies, Western Pygmy Rattlesnake (S. m. streckeri), occurs along the western Highland Rim from Stewart County to the southern border.Description: A small, colorful rattlesnake (15.0 to 20.0 inches in length) with vertical pupil, thin tail, and tiny rattle.

They can grow up to almost 5 ft in length and are the second largest venomous snake in the eastern part of the country.

Gary Kimball had just completed a 5-mile hike when he and a friend came upon a 4-foot timber rattlesnake. Mark Kostich, Getty Images/iStockphoto. Some random finds from this week in Northeast Tennessee highlighted by a beautiful pair of Weller's salamanders.

The The timber rattlesnake is one of the more common venomous snakes found in Middle ... the Pygmy Rattlesnake may be found in Tennessee. The school superintendent was out of line, despite the circumstances. The Timber Rattlesnake or (Canebrake Rattlesnake) can on average grow between 35″ and 60″ long. Pit vipers are the group of venomous snakes having a specialized, heat sensing pit on the front of the head. This is the only rattlesnake species in most of the populous northeastern United States and is second only to its cousins to the west, the prairie rattlesnake, as the most northerly distributed venomous snake in North America. Read more.

All of the venomous snakes native to Tennessee belong to the family of snakes called pit vipers. It is also the most dangerous to humans. The timber rattlesnake is one of the most dangerous venomous snakes in the eastern half of the US. If a snake in Tennessee has round pupils, it is nonvenomous.