Are mountain snakes poisonous?

Part of what makes the Great Smoky Mountains National Park so magical is the unbridled access it provides to miles of untamed wilderness. This allows you to hike rugged trails, get up close and personal with nature, and bask in a rustic experience youll only find here in the Smokies. Unfortunately, though, sometimes nature can bite back. The same wild ways that make the Smoky Mountains a premier destination for outdoor activities also come with a few possible threats. Snake bites are very rare in the area but they do occur. Its important to be knowledgable about species of snakes you may encounter and which ones could be dangerous.

Poisonous Snakes In The Smokies

Out of 23 species of snakes youll find in the Smokies, only two are poisonous or venomous: The Northern Copperhead and Timber Rattlesnake. This means that if you spot a snake on your hike or nature walk, chances are very good that it wont hurt you. You can learn more about the snakes in the park here: Reptiles in the Great Smoky Mountains. Still, its helpful to be able to identify a snake so that you can be certain it doesnt pose a threat.

Identifying Poisonous Snakes

The two poisonous snakes youll find if the Smokies are easy to identify. As a general rule, all venomous snakes have triangular-shaped heads with vertical eye slits. Their non-venomous cousins have rounder heads with round pupils. The snakes habitat can also help you make a positive ID: Generally speaking, timber rattlesnakes prefer rocky outcrops and hillsides and copperheads are often found hiding in crevices of rocks along stream banks. Both snakes can also be found around man-made structures, like stone buildings and fences.

Its also important to know about the snakes coloring: Copperheads, as their name suggests, come in a copper hue; timber rattlers are usually brown but can vary from oranges to black depending on season and the individuals molting.

Poisonous Snake Fatalities

There has never been a fatality from a snakebite recorded in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Because so few of the parks snakes are venomous, the chances of running into a poisonous variety are very rare. If youre bitten by a snake and you suspect it was venomous, its important to get to help immediately and stay calm. Dont try to suck the venom out yourself or catch or kill the snake. According to REI, your worst-case scenario chance of dying from a snake bite in the wilderness is about 1 in 10 million.

What To Do If You See A Snake

Should you run into a snake in the Smokies, remember to keep a hands-off approach. Exploring the wilderness of the Great Smoky Mountains comes with inherent risks and your safety is your responsibility. Not only is feeding, touching, teasing or handling wildlife strictly prohibited in the national park, but your safety could depend on it. Its best to continue moving past a snake and not attempt to approach or interact.

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