NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Temperatures are warming up outside and that means more snakes are coming out of hibernation.
The majority of snake bites take place between April and October -- 85% of those occur below the knee.
In general, snakebites are rare in the U.S. In Tennessee the snake most responsible for bites is the copperhead. The Tennessee Herpetological Society says to also be careful around the cottonmouth, timber rattlesnake and pigmy rattlesnake.
Most snakes in the Volunteer State have pretty mild venom and the good news is they're generally heavy bodied and are not very good climbers.
The herpetological society says the most common snakes we have are shy and lethargic, but when they are disturbed they will vibrate their tail which can make a rattling noise. Experts also say 50% of snake bites are 'dry' bites where the snake has not injected any venom.
