How big a deal are snakes and spiders? (house, camping)

[ALauver]

I have been reading about the number of spiders and snakes in TN and am wondering from a local's standpoint, how big a deal are they? Is it really that bad? Do people get bit frequently, and if so, how big a concern is it? We have 3 young children, under 6 years old, and the idea of them being bitten just pulling a shirt or sneaker on or running through our yard has me freaked out. Any advice or perspective???

[lae60]

Might help if you said what area your interested in. I imagine that rural vs. city vs. lakes and water nearby vs. acreage vs. city type lots may influence the response.

Personally I do not think that they would be an issue except in a real rural area with lots of natural habitat acreage.

[jabogitlu]

I played outside my whole childhood and didn't get a snake bite. Spiders are spiders. I guess it happens. The really dangerous ones (brown recluse etc.) mostly occur if you're working in hay barns, in old piles of brush etc.

Bees and Mosquitos always bothered me more than anything. Those dang hornets and waspers hurt like the dickens.

[Jumeby]

I've seen more deadlier snakes (rattler snake) and spiders (black widow) in Los Angeles suburbs.

Although ... I was a little surprised to see snakes swimming in the local lake

I agree that hornets are a pain sometimes ... especially when you mow over their nest

[kamoshika]

I grew up in East Tennessee and practically lived in the woods behind our house. Never got a snake or spider bite but brought home a few snakes much to Mom's chagrin. The odds that you or your kids would encounter a venomous snake are extremely low.

Venomous spiders are in practically every state and no more prevalent in Tenn. than in many/most other states.

Ticks are a more legitimate concern but still nothing to get freaked out about. We didn't have DEET or permethrin products way back then to ward off the little buggers.

[skelaki]

Originally Posted by ALauver

I have been reading about the number of spiders and snakes in TN and am wondering from a local's standpoint, how big a deal are they? Is it really that bad? Do people get bit frequently, and if so, how big a concern is it? We have 3 young children, under 6 years old, and the idea of them being bitten just pulling a shirt or sneaker on or running through our yard has me freaked out. Any advice or perspective???

I wouldn't over-worry about it. Use good sense and teach your kids to avoid snakes. Teach them to respect the snakes without teaching them to be afraid of them. I grew up in CA with lots of rattle snakes (the hill behind our house was called "Rattle Snake Mountain"), played all over the hills and was never bit even though I did carry a snake bite kit back then, mainly because I knew to not walk or put hands where I couldn't see. My niece, who grew up in MT and CO knew at age 2 to shake her shoes before putting them on when the family went camping (or the shoes had been left out).

My point is your kids will learn to deal with any snakes or other things like spiders and hornets. Oh! btw, if there are hornets and/or wasps in the area do not plant rhubarb. They are very attracted to that plant. LOL

[DubbleT]

Agreed, not a big deal. Know of just a few people that talked about spider bites and only one that had a brown recluse bite. Never personally heard of anyone snakebit.
Raised two kids in west TN in the city, they spent summers in the country and did a lot of camping, never any issues. Like Kamoshika says ticks are much more likely, tick inspections need to be a part of the routine if you go into areas where there are a lot of them

[An Einnseanair]

It isn't a big deal at all. Neither snakes or spiders. The number of deaths due to snake bites in the state is in the single digits per decade, and those are usually self inflicted (i.e., some drunk idiot playing with a venomous snake). The last one was actually by a copperhead in 2011 (show-off was holding a wild snake trying to determine the sex), and the cause of death was anaphylactic shock because the guy had been bitten before and had developed an allergy. Copperhead bites are almost never fatal.

The only really dangerous snakes in Tennessee are water moccasins (a.k.a. cottonmouths), and those only live in the south-west corner.

If a spider is in your shoe you will crush it when you stick your foot in. It would not be able to bite you.

[Vacanegro]

Don't crush spiders or kill snakes. They are vital parts of the ecosystem and eat many creatures you would describe as pests - mosquitoes, rats, mice, ants, etc.

The majority of snakes and spiders in the US are harmless. It would be rare to even encounter a rattler, copperhead, cotton-mouth, black widow or a Brown Recluse - I know I go in the wood and to lakes often. Even in Australia it is rare to end up in the hospital because of a poisonous spider or snake.

Live and let Live

[danielj72]

snakes and spiders are not worth worrying about. Yes there are a few poison snake species, most common is copperheads. However rattle snakes and cottonmouths are also out there. Even if you get bit your not likely to die if you seek medical attention. This is the Southern US not Africa.