24-Hour Snake Identification Hotline
Not sure what you're dealing with? Call us anytime.
Found a snake and don't know if it's venomous? Our identification hotline is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by trained wildlife professionals — not an answering service. Describe what you saw or send us a photo and we'll tell you exactly what you're dealing with.
(615) 613-5992Free identification — no service call required
When you need an answer right now.
Snake identification is genuinely difficult. Tennessee has six venomous snake species and dozens of non-venomous ones — and several harmless snakes are commonly mistaken for dangerous ones. Misidentification goes both ways: people panic over harmless water snakes, and people dismiss copperheads as "just a brown snake." Neither outcome is good.
Our hotline exists for exactly this situation. You don't need to book a service call to get an answer. Call us, describe the snake or send a photo, and we'll give you a straight identification and tell you what to do next — whether that's nothing, keeping an eye on it, or getting someone out to you immediately.
How the hotline works.
Call or text anytime
Our hotline is answered 24/7 by trained wildlife professionals. No automated menus, no answering service — a real person who knows snakes picks up.
Describe or send a photo
Tell us what you saw — color, pattern, size, head shape, behavior, and where you found it. Or text a photo directly to the same number. The more detail, the faster and more accurate the identification.
Get a straight answer
We'll identify the species (or narrow it down to the most likely candidates) and tell you whether it poses a risk, whether it's likely to return, and what your options are.
We dispatch if needed
If the situation calls for a removal — venomous snake on the property, snake inside the home, or a situation you're not comfortable handling — we can dispatch a technician immediately from the same call.
Tennessee's venomous snakes.
There are six venomous snake species in Tennessee. These are the ones we get the most calls about in the Nashville area:
Copperhead
High RiskThe most common venomous snake in Middle Tennessee. Tan or pinkish-brown with distinctive hourglass-shaped crossbands. Found in wooded areas, rocky outcrops, mulch beds, and near water. Responsible for the majority of snakebites in Tennessee.
Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin)
High RiskHeavy-bodied, dark-colored water snake with a distinctive white mouth interior. Found near lakes, rivers, ponds, and drainage corridors. Common near Percy Priest Lake, Old Hickory Lake, and area creek systems.
Timber Rattlesnake
High RiskLarge, heavy-bodied rattlesnake with a distinctive rattle. Found in forested hillsides and rocky terrain. Present in wooded areas of Williamson County and other rural areas around Nashville.
Eastern Copperhead
High RiskSame species as the copperhead above — the most frequently encountered venomous snake in the Nashville metro area.
Commonly misidentified snakes.
These non-venomous species are frequently mistaken for dangerous ones — and are among the most common identification calls we receive.
Plain-bellied Water Snake
Often mistaken for CottonmouthHeavy-bodied, often dark, found near water. Frequently misidentified as a cottonmouth. Non-venomous but can be defensive.
Midland Water Snake
Often mistaken for CottonmouthBanded pattern near water. Very commonly called in as a cottonmouth. Completely harmless.
Eastern Milk Snake
Often mistaken for CopperheadReddish-brown blotches on a lighter background. Often mistaken for a copperhead. Non-venomous.
Eastern Hognose Snake
Often mistaken for CopperheadCan flatten its head and neck when threatened, mimicking a venomous snake's defensive posture. Completely harmless.
Common questions.
Is the hotline really answered 24/7?
Yes. Our hotline is answered around the clock by trained wildlife professionals — not a call center or answering service. Snake emergencies don't keep business hours, and neither do we.
Is there a charge for calling the hotline?
Identification calls are free. If you decide you want a technician dispatched, standard service rates apply — but there's no charge just to call and ask what you're looking at.
What if I can't get close enough to describe it?
That's fine — and the right call. Don't approach a snake you can't identify. Tell us what you could see from a safe distance: approximate size, color, whether it had a pattern, and where it was. We can often narrow it down significantly from a partial description.
Can I send a photo?
Yes. Text a photo to the same number. A clear photo — especially of the head and pattern — is usually enough for a definitive identification. If the photo isn't clear enough, we'll ask follow-up questions.
What if it's already gone by the time I call?
Still worth calling. Knowing what species was on your property tells you whether it's likely to return, whether there are habitat conditions attracting it, and whether any preventive measures make sense. We can advise over the phone.
Not sure what you saw? Call us now.
Free identification. Real answers. Available 24 hours a day.