{"id":869465,"date":"2026-10-03T14:42:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T14:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/869465\/"},"modified":"2026-10-03T14:42:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T14:42:09","slug":"its-baby-copperhead-season-tennessee-where-to-spot-them-and-how-to-stay-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/869465\/","title":{"rendered":"It’s baby copperhead season Tennessee: Where to spot them and how to stay safe"},"content":{"rendered":"

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) \u2014 Baby copperhead season is here in Tennessee and FOX 17 News is sharing tips from an expert on how to stay safe as these snakes become more active. <\/p>\n

From October through mid-November is when people are more likely to see baby copperheads out and about. Dustin Thames with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency previously told FOX 17 News<\/a> that is because adult copperheads usually give birth between August and October, making fall the most common season for spotting both adults and their young.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

In the summer, copperheads move around more at night or early in the morning, but during fall, the cooler temperatures bring them out in the daylight as they soak up the sun. Once it starts to get below freezing, these snakes return to their dens for a short winter break.<\/p>\n

Copperheads are found all over Tennessee, but if you are hiking on rocky or wooded hillsides\u2014especially in the western Highland Rim or the mountains in east Tennessee\u2014you might have a higher chance of seeing one. Gardeners and hikers should pay extra attention since copperheads tend to hide under logs, rocks or even flowerpots and you might catch them warming up in the sun or blending into autumn leaves.<\/p>\n

You can spot a baby copperhead by its yellow-green tail tip, but as Thames explains, “Copperheads’ main defense are their camouflage. They’re really hard to see,” said Thames.<\/p>\n

\"Baby<\/p>\n

Baby copperhead season is here in Tennessee and FOX 17 News is sharing tips from an expert on how to stay safe as these snakes become more active. (Photo: Tennessee Valley Authority)<\/p>\n

WILDLIFE NEWS | Over 60 bears euthanized in East Tennessee due to ‘human-bear conflicts’ in 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

If your home sits near a wooded area, Thames suggests doing a few things to help keep copperheads away. The most important is to get rid of any rodents, as these are a main food source for copperheads. He also recommends not feeding outdoor cats or, if you do have one, not leaving their food outside since it can attract wildlife, including snakes.<\/p>\n

Some extra safety tips from Thames include:<\/p>\n

Keep all flower pots off the groundSecure piles of leaves and wood so snakes cannot hide thereKeep trash can lids closed<\/p>\n

When hitting the trails, wear closed-toed shoes, not sandals and keep dogs away from logs or places where snakes could hide. Thames also reminds everyone to stay on paths, since copperheads blend into the leaves making them tough to spot.<\/p>\n

If you see a copperhead, the best thing to do is keep your distance and walk around it, whether on a trail or in your yard. <\/p>\n

“The best thing to do if you approach a baby or adult copperhead is to keep your distance,” Thames says.<\/p>\n

Thames adds it is illegal to kill snakes in Tennessee since they are protected by state law and copperheads actually help control pests like rodents and ticks in the environment.<\/p>\n

Copperheads are one of four venomous snakes in the state, but according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, their venom is not very strong and deaths are “extremely rare.” If you are bitten by a copperhead, however, even if you do not feel symptoms, it is important to get medical attention right away.<\/p>\n

For more information on copperheads, visit this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) \u2014 Baby copperhead season is here in Tennessee and FOX 17 News is sharing tips…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":869466,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[79,201],"class_list":["post-869465","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wildlife","tag-science","tag-wildlife"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/869465","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=869465"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/869465\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/869466"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=869465"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=869465"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=869465"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}