Water snakes

[TedTLPN]

Here is a link to a .pdf file from the government that reminds us that snakes are protected in Tennessee:

http://www.esd.ornl.gov/facilities/nerp/copperhead.pdf

[Buffalo Lake]

Thank goodness for that!

[nat1987]

We live in Briceville tennesse and I was wading accross a very shallow creek and there and behold i run into two snakes not sure what they where they where both different little worried one was a copper head. the 1st had a wide mid section and light brown and dark brown splotches on it body didnt see its head. then took a couple more steps about a 3ft light brown snake with dark brown diamonds on it back. Please help me to know what these where??????

[skinem]

Don't really know for sure what you saw nat without seeing them myself.

But, by wide mid-section did you mean a bulge? If so, all it probably meant was that snake and just eaten.

Sounds like maybe were copperheads. To me, the easiest way to determine if a snake is one that is poisonous is by the shape of its head. If the head is triangularly shaped , look out. Non-poisonous snakes around here have heads that are smoother, not wider than their bodies.

I've never wanted to rely 100% on coloration or markings to determine species of snake as I've seen a really wide variety of both within a species.

[Wembley]

The watersnakes in East TN are not venomous. I've fished and waded in many a times and they actually will race the other way if they see you as they are timid. I'd suggest you search online for photos of copperheads and rattlesnakes so you will know the markings as that is the only dangerous snakes in the area. Copperheads I have seen at Melton Hill lake and I have only seen rattlesnakes in Maryville. Check out photos of the brown midlands snake (which is common to Norris area) as we had one in the yard last summer and the neighbor was going to kill it swearing it was a copperhead. Several neighbors seem to think it was, so it might be good for folks to learn the difference in markings before they go have a heart attack and didn't need to.

[SBByaker]

The Common Water Snake or banded Water snake and the Water Moccasin do have some things in common ? Both give live birth and both use the water for their foods (minnows, Frogs, small animals, and birds etc) To many times the Common Water Snake takes the rap for being a Cottonmouth. Norris Lake is good to go as of now.