King snakes are some species that you are going to find in the state of Tennessee and different parts of North America. It is important to note that most of the snakes there are nonvenomous.
The king snakes inhabit different habitats around the state. Some places that you are going to find them include the forest areas, grasslands, and wetland areas.
With its warm summers and fairly mild winters, Tennessee presents a perfect place for different snake species to thrive. Here are some kingsnakes that you are going to find in Tennessee:
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Eastern kingsnake
The eastern king snake is a common species that you are going to find thriving in the state of Tennessee.
They can grow up to 48 inches long and they come in different colors such as brown, tan, black, grey and with thin yellow and white stripes on their bodies.
There are three species that you will find in Tennessee. The eastern kingsnakes are found in the southeastern parts of the state. Just like some kingsnakes in the region, the eastern kingsnake is known to have resistance to some of the venomous snakes in the region, such as the copperheads, rattlesnakes, and even cottonmouths.
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Since they consume some of the dangerous species in the region, they usually carry a high number of bacteria, which could in turn cause severe side effects on your body.
It is important to note that these snakes can bite as well, therefore, deliver their saliva, which has an anticoagulant. The anticoagulant causes failure of the blood to clot.
Northern Mole Kingsnake
The northern mole kingsnake is some of the species that are common in the state and they are known to grow up to 40 inches long. The northern mole snakes come in different colors, such as light brown, dark brown, gray, or black colored with a few gray or dark brown blotches on their body.
They thrive in different areas, such as in shrub lands, forests, and near water bodies. They usually like to burrow themselves inside the burrows.
They are constrictors in nature, and they will usually asphyxiate their prey before consuming it. These creatures are very dangerous and you should watch out for them during your travel to Tennessee.
While they are nonvenomous, they carry many bacteria. They are quite docile creatures and even though they are not territorial, you should try to avoid these creatures.
Further reading: Dangerous animals in Missouri
Speckled kingsnake
The speckled kingsnake is yet another of king snakes that you are going to find in Tennessee. They are the most common snakes that you will find in the state of Tennessee.
You can find them in the western and the southwestern third of the state of Tennessee.
The speckled kingsnakes can grow up to 4 feet long. You can find them closer to water bodies in different areas. Some of these places where you will find the snakes include rivers, streams, swamps, lakes, ponds, and other wetlands in the region.
Just like other kingsnakes, they usually consume things such as toads, frogs, newts, and salamanders.
Eastern black kingsnake
The eastern black kingsnake is one of the king snakes found in the state of Tennessee. A majority of these snakes can be found in central Tennessee and they are commonly called black kingsnake.
They can grow up to 4 feet long and they can form some of the most dangerous species because they are common around the state. There is a high number of bacteria in these creatures. Therefore, when they bite you, they are likely to transfer the bacteria to you and this can be fatal.
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These snakes come in different colors depending on the region. Some of the regions where you are going to find these snakes include wetlands, forests, and rivers.
They breed during the spring and lay eggs during the early summer season. These snakes consume lots of creatures and you should avoid them during your travel to Tennessee.
Mole Kingsnake
The mole kingsnake is a one of the king snakes that thrive in different areas around Tennessee. They are a subspecies of the yellow-bellied kingsnake in the region.
The snake is named so because of their food preference, as they usually like to consume moles and rats. They come in different colors such as brown, and reddish brown and dark elliptical spots on the back.
The snake is known to grow up to 40 inches long. It is one of the most reclusive snakes that you are going to find in the region. These creatures thrive in different habitats, such as in gardens, and grassland areas.
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You are likely to find them in different habitats and even in your garden or closer to your hotel. You can find them in the eastern parts of Tennessee and they will live underground. Hence, they prefer some of the moist areas and grounds that are soft for them to burrow and hide. These snakes are very important in the ecosystem because they control the rodents in the ecosystem.
Red Milk Snake
The red milk snake is another creature that you are going to find in western Tennessee and they can grow up to 3 feet in length. The snakes can be identified by their dominant red bands which are on their bodies and separated by pale or tan bands.
These snakes consume rats, moles, toads, and frogs. The red milk snake usually consumes other snakes, therefore they are likely to attack whenever they are cornered.
You will find it in different habitats such as grasslands, prairies, open woodlands, forest edge areas, and near rivers or streams. The red milk snakes are known to carry a huge number of bacteria, hence when they bite, they are likely to transfer the dangerous bacteria to your body and cause severe side effects.
Eastern Milk Snake
The eastern milk snake is another species common in the state of Tennessee. This snake is easy to tell because they relate to the scarlet kingsnakes and you can find them in almost all the parts of the States.
The milk snakes are grey, tan, and even cream-colored, with reddish or brown splotches on the back. The distinctive cream-colored triangular marking on their head is what gives them the name.
In addition to this, the creatures usually like to inhabit barns and areas where the cows are usually located. There is folklore that says that the farmers in major fields named the snake so because of their frequency in milking barns. Ideally, they like this place because they accommodate numerous rodents.
Further reading: Dangerous animals in Alabama
You can find the red milk snake in eastern Tennessee, as they prefer the mountainous region. They are harmless to humans; however, they carry many bacteria that cause dangerous infections.
Prairie kingsnake
The prairie kingsnake is one of the most common king snakes in the state of Tennessee. It is mostly found in the central and the western part of the state.
The snake, as the name indicates, favors more places such as the prairies, grassland areas, forests, and places where there are permanent water bodies. The snakes can grow up to 4 feet long. They are more similar to the rat snakes as they consume a wide array of creatures in the region.
The prairie kingsnake is a snake that likes to stay out of sight. Therefore, when exploring the region, you are likely to find them at night and evening. They like to bask on rocks, logs, and other areas.
The prairie kingsnakes usually feed on lizards, toads, frogs, newts, and salamanders. They usually rattle whenever they feel threatened. They have very sharp teeth and even though they are nonvenomous, their saliva is known to have anticoagulant properties.
Scarlet kingsnake
The scarlet kingsnake is a common king snake species that you are going to find in Tennessee and they are commonly called the scarlet milk snake.
The appearance of these snakes will vary depending on the region that you visit. There are some species that you will confuse them for coral snakes because they thrive in different habitats around the state.
The true coral snakes tend to be timid and they avoid biting unless they are cornered or when you have interfered with their habitats. They are ambush predators and you will find them consuming small snakes, lizards, and salamanders among other areas.
