🐍 Snake Removal in Davidson County

Snake Removal in Davidson County, Tennessee

Davidson County's snake call mix is shaped by the urban-suburban-rural gradient that defines the consolidated city. Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) drive the venomous-snake call volume, concentrated in the wooded properties of Belle Meade, Forest Hills, Oak Hill, the Radnor Lake and Warner Parks bluff edges, the Bells Bend and Bellevue hillsides, and the Beaman Park-adjacent Joelton properties — all terrain that produces the rocky, brushy habitat copperheads use. The Eastern rat snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) is the most frequently mis-identified non-venomous species in Davidson and accounts for many of the calls that turn out to be harmless. Northern and brown watersnakes occupy the Cumberland River corridor and the Mill Creek, Stones River, and Percy Priest tributaries, and timber rattlesnakes occur at very low density on the most rugged ridgelines of the western and southern county edges. Species verification before any handling is the rule.

Snake Species You Encounter in Davidson County

Northern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) — the dominant venomous snake call

The northern copperhead is by far the most common venomous snake encountered residentially in Davidson, and the only one most homeowners will ever see. Adults run 24-36 inches with a distinctive copper-orange head and hourglass-shaped chestnut bands across a tan or pinkish body. Their habitat preference is exactly the substrate that defines the affluent old-canopy estates of west Davidson: rocky outcrops, brushy edges, mulch beds, leaf litter, rock retaining walls, and stacked-stone garden features. Copperhead encounters concentrate in Belle Meade, Forest Hills, Oak Hill, the Radnor Lake and Warner Parks bluff-edge properties, the Bells Bend and Bellevue hillsides, and the Beaman Park-adjacent Joelton properties. Bites are uncommon when people stay back from a sighted snake, and copperhead venom is rarely fatal to a healthy adult — but envenomation is a medical emergency requiring antivenom and hospital monitoring.

Eastern rat snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) — the most-mis-identified species

Eastern rat snakes are the most-frequently-misidentified non-venomous snake in Davidson. Adults can exceed 5-6 feet in length, are typically dark with subtle banding, and are often called "black snakes" or mistakenly identified as cottonmouths or copperheads by panicked homeowners. Rat snakes are excellent climbers — they routinely appear in attics, gable vents, garage rafters, and chimneys, where they prey on Norway rats, roof rats, and mice. They are essential to natural rodent control across Davidson, and a licensed contractor will typically relocate rather than destroy a confirmed rat snake.

Watersnakes (Nerodia species)

Northern watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon) and brown watersnakes (Nerodia taxispilota) occur along the Cumberland River corridor, the Mill Creek, Browns Creek, Stones River, and Percy Priest tributaries, and the Old Hickory Lake shoreline. They are non-venomous but can be aggressive when cornered and are frequently mis-identified as cottonmouths (which do not occur in Davidson — true cottonmouth populations begin further south and west of middle Tennessee). Watersnake calls peak in spring and early summer when females are gravid.

Garter snakes and rough green snakes

Common garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) and rough green snakes (Opheodrys aestivus) appear residentially throughout Davidson and are entirely harmless. They feed on amphibians, insects, and earthworms.

Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) — uncommon at residential properties

Timber rattlesnakes are present at very low density on the most rugged ridgeline habitat on the western and southern edges of Davidson — particularly the Bells Bend, Beaman Park, and Joelton wooded ridges. Encounters at residential properties are uncommon, but they do occur, especially on properties immediately adjacent to large undeveloped wooded tracts. A licensed contractor will identify the species before handling — timber rattlesnake handling falls under TWRA species-specific rules and is meaningfully different from copperhead handling.

Where Snake Calls Concentrate in Davidson County

Belle Meade, Forest Hills, Oak Hill, and the Warner Parks corridor

Heaviest copperhead call density in the county. The Warner Parks 3,200-acre forest reserve along the western edge of Belle Meade pushes copperheads directly into the surrounding residential blocks, particularly on hillside properties with rock retaining walls, mulch beds, and the kind of landscaped stone-and-shrub features copperheads use as cover. Encounters peak in spring (April-June) and again in early fall when daytime temperatures drive snakes to bask on warm surfaces.

Radnor Lake State Park bluff edge

The Radnor Lake Class II Natural Area is a strict park-protection zone, and copperheads from the bluff-edge habitat regularly cross into the surrounding south-Nashville residential blocks. Otter Creek and the smaller Radnor tributaries also produce watersnake calls along the residential property edges.

Bells Bend, Bellevue, and the rural west Davidson edge

The rural Cumberland River meander and the surrounding wooded ridges produce both copperhead and (rarely) timber rattlesnake calls. Equestrian properties with stacked-stone walls, hay-storage outbuildings, and the kind of low-maintenance brushy property edges that copperheads use are the dominant call profile.

Beaman Park-adjacent Joelton properties

The rugged northwest Davidson terrain around Beaman Park produces copperhead calls on the surrounding wooded ridge properties. This is also the most likely zone in the county for an occasional timber rattlesnake encounter.

Cumberland River corridor (Shelby Bottoms, Bells Bend, downtown floodplain)

Watersnake calls along the Cumberland are frequent and almost universally non-venomous. The Shelby Bottoms greenway corridor in East Nashville produces particularly frequent watersnake encounters where the floodplain meets residential property edges.

Mill Creek corridor (Antioch, Crieve Hall, southeast Davidson)

Watersnake and occasional copperhead calls along the Mill Creek system. Mill Creek is the only documented habitat in the world for the federally endangered Nashville crayfish — any in-stream or bank work along the creek is subject to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service consultation, including snake-related habitat-modification work.

What to Do When You See a Snake at Your Davidson Property

The procedure is the same regardless of species. Stay back at least 10 feet. Keep pets and children well clear. Do not attempt to handle, kill, or move the snake — most bites in Tennessee occur during attempted handling or relocation. Take a photograph from a safe distance if you can, and call a licensed wildlife contractor for identification and removal. The Eastern rat snake is the most-frequently-mis-identified non-venomous species in the county and accounts for many calls that turn out to be harmless once a contractor IDs the snake. If a bite has occurred — whether you are sure of the species or not — treat it as a medical emergency: call 911, get to a hospital with antivenom availability (Vanderbilt University Medical Center, TriStar Centennial, and Saint Thomas Midtown all stock copperhead antivenom), and do not attempt cut-and-suck treatments, tourniquets, or self-relocation. Photograph the snake from a safe distance if at all possible — accurate species identification helps the treating physician.

Tennessee Wildlife Regulations on Snake Handling

Snake species in Tennessee fall under TWRA jurisdiction. Some species are protected from take or harassment under state regulations. Commercial removal and relocation requires a TWRA Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) certification. Davidson falls under TWRA Region II, headquartered at the Nashville office. The federally listed gray bat and Indiana bat are not snake-related, but if a snake-handling job intersects the Mill Creek corridor — for example, copperhead removal that requires habitat modification along the Mill Creek bank — direct U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service consultation may be required because of the federally endangered Nashville crayfish in the watershed. Inside the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County limits, municipal codes also restrict firearm discharge and certain trapping approaches. A licensed contractor handles all of this and identifies the species before any active intervention.

Our Davidson County Snake Removal Process

A typical Davidson snake call runs as follows: phone-based species pre-screening using a homeowner-supplied photo if possible (the goal is to confirm species before dispatch, since the response is different for venomous vs non-venomous species); on-site species verification and habitat assessment (identifying why the snake is on the property and what cover features are attracting it); safe capture and removal using species-appropriate equipment; relocation per TWRA rules for non-venomous species; species-specific handling for venomous species per TWRA regulations; and habitat-modification recommendations to reduce the likelihood of repeat encounters (rock-pile removal, mulch-bed adjustments, stacked-wall sealing, brushy-edge reduction). Most residential snake calls resolve in a single visit. See our full Davidson County wildlife removal coverage for the broader service area context.

Snake Removal in Davidson County — Service Area Map

Our licensed contractor handles snake removal across the full Davidson County footprint. Tap the map to open directions in Google Maps.

⚠️ Peak Activity Season

This is the most active period of the year for snake activity. Encounters near homes, in garages, and inside structures are most common from late spring through summer.

Snake Removal Cost in Tennessee

$100–$300+

Per snake removal visit. Property inspection and exclusion adds $300–$900+. Pricing varies by contractor, location, and severity. Call for an estimate specific to your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions — Snake Removal in Davidson County