Snakes of Clarksville, TN

Clarksville snake

Welcome to clarksvillesnakes.com! I am David, a snake enthusiast living in Clarksville, TN. Many people don't know that Clarksville is in fact full of snakes! You just need to know where to find them - they can often be shy and elusive. Some Tennessee snake species are more common outside of the city limits, in different parts of Montgomery County TN, but many types of snakes are indeed common in the more urban parts of Clarksville. This guide is meant to help educate you about the beautiful snakes of Clarksville, and to help you identify the most common snakes of Clarksville, as well as the venomous snakes of Clarksville that you should learn to recognize and avoid. If you want more detail, click here for my complete list of ALL snake species in Clarksville. Remember the following:

  • Most snakes of Clarksville are harmless and don't want to encounter you
  • Venomous snakes exist but are uncommon in Clarksville, Tennessee
  • Snakes eat rats and mice and are a valuable part of the Tennessee ecosystem
  • Never kill a snake - if you leave a snake alone, it will leave you alone.

Common Snake Species in Clarksville

Clarksville snake Eastern kingsnakes: Eastern kingsnakes are large snakes with a shiny black color. They have an average length of three feet to four feet. Their black bodies are adorned with yellow or white bands. The snakes are most active during the day. They are usually active in the morning when they hunt for food. They feed on small animals, mammals, reptiles, rodents, and birds. Although they are non-venomous, they are strong boa constrictors. Eastern kingsnakes are not described as aggressive. Yet, they can bite when they are threatened. The snakes are mostly found in protected areas that have some form of shade.


Clarksville snake Black racer snakes: These non-venomous snakes get their name from the fact that they are very fast, especially when escaping from intruders and predators. Because of the speed they apply when fleeing intruders and predators, they are commonly described as aggressive. However, they will never attack except when they are threatened and have no other choice. Black racer snakes have slender black bodies, with white chins. They could be found around human dwellings. They infest such areas in search of food sources such as lizards, rodents, and insects. They are commonly found on the edges of fields and forests. They may also be found in wetlands.


Clarksville snake Rat snakes: They are non-venomous snakes commonly found in Tennessee, where they can be found around human dwellings. According to their name, they feed on rats and could infest properties and areas in search of food sources, particularly rats. Rat snakes are large snakes, with an average length of three feet to six feet. The bodies of rat snakes are colored black or yellow and striped. Rat snakes could also have gray bodies with dark patches. They are excellent climbers and will apply their climbing skills to access new areas and locations in search of their food, especially rats. Their habitats include terrestrial and aquatic areas as they are found around swamps. They are not aggressive but will bite if they are threatened and have no other choice.
Clarksville snake Water moccasins: The water moccasin is a large and heavy snake with an average length of three feet to four feet. They have a white mouth lining, which they display when they feel threatened. The snakes maintain a peculiar defensive position when they feel threatened. Water moccasins will form tight coils with their heads in the middle of the coil when they are threatened. They bite and release toxic venoms in their bites.





Venomous Snake Species in Clarksville

Clarksville snake Copperheads: These venomous snakes are found in different areas of Tennessee, including Clarksville. They have distinct physical features such as a triangular head that is copper-colored. The bodies of copperheads could be copper-colored or reddish. They are found in protected areas and spend most of their days in hiding. At night, they could hunt for the small animals that they feed on. The average length of copperheads is between two feet and four feet.Copperheads have distinctive hourglass patterns on their backs. They are shy critters and will only attack when they feel threatened. They release venoms in their bites. The bite of copperheads can cause serious consequences and should be treated as medical emergencies.

Clarksville snake Brown snakes: These small snakes are just about 6 to 13 inches long. Their bodies could be colored red, yellow, or grayish brown. They also have dark patches on their backs. The snakes are most active at night and can be encountered as they go about their daily activities, including searching for food sources. Brown snakes are non-venomous and commonly found in shaded or protected areas, with some form of ground cover. They are commonly found in urban areas and may be seen in and around homes. Although they pose no significant threat in regards to the release of venoms, they will bite when they feel threatened.

If you're unsure, you can email me a photo of the snake at info@clarksvillesnakes.com and I will email you back with the snake's species. If you found a snake skin, read my Found a Skin? page, and you can email me a photo of the skin, and I'll identify the snake for you. If you need professional Clarksville snake removal help, click my Get Help page, or see the below website sponsor I found, who provides that service.



Remember, the term is not poisonous snakes of Clarksville, it's venomous snakes of Clarksville. Poison is generally something you eat, and venom is injected into you. That said, dangerous snakes are very rare in Clarksville. The few venomous snakes of Montgomery County are rarely seen. But they are commonly misidentified, so learn about all the snake species of Clarksville in order to correctly identify them. These snakes are usually also found in the surrounding towns of Woodlawn, Cumberland Heights, Woodridge Estates, Sango, Hickory Point, Oakridge, Cunningham, and the surrounding areas.

Read our article about:
Common Habitat of Snakes

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