How often do you see a snake in urban Knoxville? (houses, home inspector)

[joe_obody999]

We have a serious snake phobia and that is the #1 issue that could keep us from moving to and enjoying Knoxville. So I thought I would ask this question here. I am not asking about how to deal with a snake phobia, but rather, if living in urban Knoxville, in an area where neighbors keep their garbage clean and live maybe 50 yards away, "How often do YOU see a snake in urban Knoxville?" For you, is it a weekly thing, or monthly, or once a year on average? Trying to gauge how often we might see a snake slithering around our driveway (I would put in a snake-proof fence and gate), if even a harmless black rat snake? Especially in summer, prime snake season.

[TheShadow]

Exactly the same amount as you would see a snake in any other city in the U.S. Snakes are no more, and no less, common here than anywhere else.

I've lived here in a far-flung suburb of Knoxville and have seen 2 snakes in my yard in 10 years. One, a beneficial king snake, the second, a harmless corn snake.

[Rsaw7854]

I saw 1 4’ snake this summer. I have wooded commons area behind me and a small pond close by. I live a couple of miles from “The Shadow”.

[TheShadow]

OP, I don't know where you got the impression that snakes are more common in TN. I've lived in various parts of the country (not the far northern states), but I've seen the occasional snake everywhere I've lived. According to Google there are 17 species of snake in Minnesota, including 2 venomous species. In general, if you don't bother them, they won't bother you. It shouldn't be an issue preventing you from moving to TN.

I would assume that the more urban your setting, the fewer snakes you might see. Also, if you keep your yard cleaned up of leaves, woodpiles, rockpiles, or other inviting snake homes, you will attract fewer. And keeping the yard free of small rodent prey like moles, voles, field mice, etc, would help to prevent one from taking up residence

[Barking Spider]

I was a home inspector for 30 years. I was in up to 10 houses a week, all over the Knoxville area. I saw a snake during inspections maybe a half dozen times total. I live in a somewhat rural area of Knoxville, and Ive seen a snake on my property maybe 3 times.

[TheShadow]

So that's 3 Knoxville area residents and you've gotten the following responses:

twice in 10 years
once in several years (however long Rsaw has lived here)
and 6 times in 30 years

So it's just not often that you'll see snakes in the yard here. It's not "never", but it's not much really. Personally, I have no fear of snakes, and I wish I had a resident snake as we have problems with voles in the yard.

[urbancuriosity]

As a suggestion, perhaps visit a zoo or rainforest or some place where they can show you the common snakes in the area and tell you about them and how to interact (or not) with them. Sometimes learning about what you fear can help desensitize you to it.

[Igor Blevin]

Snakes will be more common in Tennessee than Minnesota but this isn't the desert southwest. Urban Knoxville is not teaming with snakes. This isn't Phoenix or El Paso.

You could move to Alaska There are no snakes at all there.

[TheShadow]

If you see a snake in the yard and you want it to go away, just put a nozzle on the garden hose and squirt the snake from a safe distance. The idea being that you need to squirt at it in a direction so that it has some exit route to get away from your yard. They won't like the cold shower, and you don't have to get close to it at all. It is illegal in TN to kill snakes, but you can call a critter relocator and have it removed if you prefer that to ignoring it, moving it yourself, or squirting it.