Massive Snake Hanging From Tree in Tennessee Park Shocks Mom: 'Longer Than My 5-Year-Old'

A mother of two was shocked to find a large snake, which she described to be "longer than my 5 and 4-year-old," hanging from a tree at a park in Smyrna in Rutherford County, Tennessee.

"Still trying to control my breathing," Courtnie Dunn wrote in a post on Facebook where she shared an image of the snake. The post has had over 500 shares since it was posted on Monday.

"Has anyone else risked their life to take a pic because you just knew your husband wouldn't believe you? Oh that's just me, oh okay," Dunn wrote in the post.

The mom discovered the snake around 3:30 p.m. local time Monday while she was at Gregory Mill Park with her two young children, Dunn told Tennessee's WKRN News 2.

The snake "was longer than my 5 and 4-year-old," she said.

"We were standing by the waterfall on the trail," Dunn wrote on Facebook.

"When I took this pic at Gregory Mills Park in Smyrna, TN, I let my mom know, who works for the city. She notified someone literally an hour after this happened to tell someone to immediately go check out the area," the post said.

At the time of the post, Dunn wrote: "We currently do not have an update, but she [my mom] sent the picture to someone and they said they think judging by the pic, it could possibly be someone's pet they let go."

Spotted next to the water near Gregory Mill Dam, the snake in question is believed to be a female water snake, according to the Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center team, a spokesperson for the city of Smyrna said Tuesday.

Based on the image, the snake does not appear to be venomous, according to the city.

"Our Parks and Recreation staff went to the location to make sure guests were safe and to make sure the snake was not in an area out of its natural habitat that posed a danger to the public," the city said in a statement.

Across the state there are 33 different species of snakes, only a few of which are venomous, such as the cottonmouth, according to Tennessee's Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge, which is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"When alarmed, the cottonmouth, also known as the water moccasin, will open its mouth very wide, showing the bright white tissue inside of its mouth.

"Treat all snakes with respect and view them from a safe distance. It is illegal to kill any snake in the state of Tennessee," Chickasaw NWR says.