Amy Stewart lives off the grid in Perry County, about two hours southwest of Nashville. Her home and chicken coop are in the woods, often surrounded by snakes.

"I get timber rattlers at my house, copperheads on my property closer to the river," Stewart said.

Both snakes are venomous .

On Sept. 8, one of her hens, Dottie, a one-and-a-half-year-old brown hen, was bitten by a gray snake that was eight inches long. The bite landed on Dottie's wattle, the fleshy red tissue hanging from a chicken's beak that helps regulate body temperature.

Before Stewart could get a look at the snake, Dottie ate it, she said.

Danger is slithering around Tennessee

Tennessee is home to dozens of species of snakes, but there are only four venomous ones that people, and animals like chickens, should watch ou

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