It’s Copperhead Season: Why You Need to Get Your Yard Cleared ASAP

June 6, 2025

Protect Your Home from Copperheads This Summer

As the weather warms up in Tennessee, homeowners should be aware that copperhead activity increases significantly during late spring and summer. These venomous snakes are among the most common in the region, and they are known for their ability to blend into natural surroundings—particularly brush, wood piles, and yard debris.


Copperheads are not aggressive by nature, but when startled or stepped on, they will bite. Their venom is rarely fatal to humans, but a bite can cause serious pain, swelling, and potential complications, especially in children, pets, or individuals with preexisting health issues. The best way to protect your household is not by eliminating snakes—it’s by making your yard less inviting to them in the first place.


At Quality First Tree Service, we emphasize proactive prevention. One of the most effective steps you can take this season is to clear brush, remove debris, and reclaim overgrown areas where copperheads are most likely to shelter.

Why Copperheads Gravitate Toward Brush and Yard Waste

Copperheads are masters of camouflage. Their coppery, mottled skin blends seamlessly with leaf litter, fallen branches, mulch, and brush piles. During the heat of the day, they seek cool, shaded, and undisturbed areas to rest. These include: 

  • Overgrown landscaping
  • Piles of limbs or firewood
  • Tall grass and weedy patches
  • Old lumber or discarded materials
  • Tree stumps or hollow logs
  • Unused garden beds or compost piles



If your yard contains areas like these, especially near your home or outbuildings, you are increasing the likelihood that copperheads—and potentially other wildlife—will take up residence.

The Importance of Clearing and Land Maintenance

Routine yard maintenance is not just about appearances. In the warmer months, it is also about habitat control. Removing unnecessary ground cover, thinning out overgrowth, and clearing debris eliminates the shaded hiding places snakes rely on. This makes your property less attractive to copperheads without disturbing the natural balance of the surrounding ecosystem.



At Quality First Tree Service, we provide services including tree and stump removal and storm debris cleanup. We always haul away debris, so you never have to worry about yard waste buildup that can attract animals like copperheads.


Whether you need a one-time service or ongoing maintenance, our team ensures your property is clean, safe, and less welcoming to wildlife you do not want near your home.

Respecting Wildlife: Do Not Kill Copperheads

It is important to understand that copperheads, while potentially dangerous, are a native species and an important part of the local ecosystem. They help control populations of rodents, insects, and other pests. Killing snakes indiscriminately disrupts this balance and is often unnecessary.

If you encounter a copperhead on your property:

  • Do not attempt to handle or kill it
  • Keep children and pets away from the area
  • Watch from a safe distance
  • Contact your local wildlife management office or a licensed private wildlife removal service



These professionals can relocate the animal without harm and help you assess whether your property needs additional modifications to reduce future encounters.

Now Is the Time to Act

Waiting until you spot a snake is too late. Once copperheads are comfortable in an area, they may return regularly—or even breed nearby. Clearing your yard now, before peak summer heat, reduces your risk and gives you peace of mind for the season ahead.



If you live in a wooded area, near water, or in a neighborhood with heavy tree cover, the chances of snake activity near your home increase. Homes that have been neglected or unmaintained for even a single season can become magnets for hidden wildlife.

Let Us Help You Reclaim Your Yard

At Quality First Tree Service, we specialize in safe, thorough yard clearing tailored to the unique needs of Tennessee homeowners. Our crews never take shortcuts—and we leave your property cleaner, safer, and easier to maintain moving forward.



Whether they’re standing or fallen, if you need your trees taken care of, contact us today. We will walk your property, provide a free estimate, and help you take control of your land before summer is in full swing.

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