Snakes and spiders in Baldwin County, Alabama
Baldwin County, home of Bay Minette, has 18 snake and 20 spider species on record, from 351 licensed snake and 154 spider records. Venomous species here: the northern cottonmouth, the pygmy rattlesnake, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake and the brown widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Baldwin County?
Yes. The northern cottonmouth: 38 licensed records, 19% of all Alabama records of it. The pygmy rattlesnake: 11 licensed records, 21% of all Alabama records of it. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake: 2 licensed records, 7% of all Alabama records of it. The brown widow: 2 licensed records, 13% of all Alabama records of it.
What snakes are in Baldwin County?
In all, 18 snake species are on the Baldwin County list. The most recorded are the southern watersnake (53), the northern cottonmouth (38) and the diamondback water snake (36). Baldwin County holds more than half of all Alabama records of the green water snake.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Alabama records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern watersnake Nerodia fasciata | 53 | 21% |
| 2 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 38 | 19% |
| 3 | Diamondback water snake Nerodia rhombifer | 36 | 23% |
| 4 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 26 | 10% |
| 5 | Green water snake Nerodia cyclopion | 25 | 83% |
| 6 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 18 | 20% |
| 7 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 17 | 2% |
| 8 | Pygmy rattlesnake venomous Sistrurus miliarius | 11 | 21% |
| 9 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 9 | 6% |
| 10 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | 8 | 7% |
| 11 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 8 | 6% |
| 12 | Southeastern crown snake Tantilla coronata | 8 | 7% |
| 13 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 6 | 4% |
| 14 | Mud snake Farancia abacura | 6 | 8% |
| 15 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 6 | 6% |
| 16 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 5 | 2% |
| 17 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | 4 | 3% |
| 18 | Eastern diamondback rattlesnake venomous Crotalus adamanteus | 2 | 7% |
When are snakes out in Baldwin County?
Observation records of snakes in Baldwin County run mostly February through October, peaking in September with 19% of them; across Alabama the peak is May.
What spiders are in Baldwin County?
In all, 20 spider species are on the Baldwin County list. The most recorded are the American golden orb weaver (21), Leucauge argyrobapta (15) and the black-and-yellow argiope (12). Baldwin County holds more than half of all Alabama records of Leucauge argyrobapta, the tropical orb weaver, the gray wall jumper and the Santa Rosa wolf spider.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Alabama records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | 21 | 15% |
| 2 | Leucauge argyrobapta | 15 | 68% |
| 3 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 12 | 7% |
| 4 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | 9 | 4% |
| 5 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | 7 | 2% |
| 6 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 6 | 4% |
| 7 | Tigrosa annexa | 6 | 12% |
| 8 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 5 | 21% |
| 9 | Pantropical jumper Plexippus paykulli | 4 | 15% |
| 10 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 4 | 4% |
| 11 | Sylvan jumping spider Colonus sylvanus | 4 | 10% |
| 12 | Tropical orb weaver Eriophora ravilla | 3 | 60% |
| 13 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 3 | 3% |
| 14 | Brown widow venomous introduced Latrodectus geometricus | 2 | 13% |
| 15 | Gray wall jumper Menemerus bivittatus | 2 | 50% |
| 16 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 2 | 12% |
| 17 | Santa Rosa wolf spider Arctosa sanctaerosae | 1 | 100% |
| 18 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | — | — |
| 19 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | — | — |
| 20 | Southern house spider Kukulcania hibernalis | — | — |
When are spiders out in Baldwin County?
Observation records of spiders in Baldwin County run mostly April through December, peaking in June with 16% of them; across Alabama the peak is May.
What stands out in Baldwin County
Species for which Baldwin County holds a large share of all Alabama records: the green water snake, 83% (25 of 30); Leucauge argyrobapta, 68% (15 of 22); the diamondback water snake, 23% (36 of 156); the pygmy rattlesnake, 21% (11 of 52); the southern watersnake, 21% (53 of 252); the eastern ribbonsnake, 20% (18 of 92); the northern cottonmouth, 19% (38 of 201); the American golden orb weaver, 15% (21 of 140).
Common in Alabama, not on the Baldwin County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Alabama, these do not reach the county list: the eastern wormsnake (262 statewide), the timber rattlesnake (245 statewide), the DeKay's brown snake (223 statewide), the plain-bellied watersnake (205 statewide), the eastern copperhead (190 statewide) and the queen snake (188 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Among the spiders most recorded across Alabama, these do not reach the county list: the orchard orbweaver (113 statewide), the spotted orbweaver (81 statewide), the nursery web spider (73 statewide) and the arrowhead orbweaver (66 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Baldwin County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead is on the Alabama list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake, the eastern rat snake and the corn snake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the southern watersnake, the diamondback water snake, the green water snake and the northern water snake. No recluse spiders reach the county list, but the brown recluse is on the Alabama list: treat any spider like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the southern house spider.
Baldwin County among Alabama counties
By licensed snake records Baldwin County ranks 2nd of 67 Alabama counties with any.
Other Alabama counties with their own page: Lee County, Macon County, Mobile County, Jefferson County, Tuscaloosa County and Blount County.
The whole state: venomous species in Alabama, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.