Snakes and spiders in Lee County, Alabama
Lee County, home of Opelika, has 23 snake and 31 spider species on record, from 726 licensed snake and 62 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead, the timber rattlesnake, the northern cottonmouth, the brown widow and the southern black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Lee County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 35 licensed records, 18% of all Alabama records of it. The timber rattlesnake: 32 licensed records, 13% of all Alabama records of it. The northern cottonmouth: 29 licensed records, 14% of all Alabama records of it. The brown widow: 2 licensed records, 13% of all Alabama records of it. The southern black widow: 2 licensed records, 7% of all Alabama records of it.
What snakes are in Lee County?
In all, 23 snake species are on the Lee County list. The most recorded are the northern water snake (88), the DeKay's brown snake (84) and the plain-bellied watersnake (39).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Alabama records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 88 | 10% |
| 2 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 84 | 38% |
| 3 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 39 | 19% |
| 4 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 35 | 18% |
| 5 | Gray rat snake Pantherophis spiloides | 35 | 21% |
| 6 | Timber rattlesnake venomous Crotalus horridus | 32 | 13% |
| 7 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 31 | 13% |
| 8 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 30 | 12% |
| 9 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | 29 | 24% |
| 10 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 29 | 14% |
| 11 | Smooth earth snake Virginia valeriae | 26 | 20% |
| 12 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 25 | 17% |
| 13 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 24 | 31% |
| 14 | Queen snake Regina septemvittata | 20 | 11% |
| 15 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 20 | 20% |
| 16 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | 20 | 25% |
| 17 | Southeastern crown snake Tantilla coronata | 20 | 18% |
| 18 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 19 | 15% |
| 19 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 18 | 21% |
| 20 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 17 | 18% |
| 21 | Scarlet snake Cemophora coccinea | 16 | 16% |
| 22 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | 14 | 13% |
| 23 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 9 | 6% |
When are snakes out in Lee County?
Observation records of snakes in Lee County run mostly March through November, peaking in April with 28% of them; across Alabama the peak is May.
What spiders are in Lee County?
In all, 31 spider species are on the Lee County list. The most recorded are the American golden orb weaver (8), the spiny-backed orbweaver (8) and the black-and-yellow argiope (7).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Alabama records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | 8 | 6% |
| 2 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 8 | 9% |
| 3 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 7 | 4% |
| 4 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 3 | 2% |
| 5 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | 3 | 1% |
| 6 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 2 | 5% |
| 7 | Brown widow venomous introduced Latrodectus geometricus | 2 | 13% |
| 8 | Georgia wolf spider Tigrosa georgicola | 2 | 5% |
| 9 | Southern black widow venomous Latrodectus mactans | 2 | 7% |
| 10 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 2 | 2% |
| 11 | Deadly ground crab spider Xysticus funestus | 1 | 25% |
| 12 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 1 | 1% |
| 13 | Heptagonal orbweaver Gea heptagon | 1 | 7% |
| 14 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 1 | 1% |
| 15 | Red-femured spotted orbweaver Neoscona domiciliorum | 1 | 9% |
| 16 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 1 | 6% |
| 17 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 1 | 1% |
| 18 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | 1 | 0% |
| 19 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | — | — |
| 20 | Banded fishing spider Dolomedes vittatus | — | — |
| 21 | Black-banded crab spider Synema parvulum | — | — |
| 22 | Cribellate spider Metaltella simoni | — | — |
| 23 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | — | — |
| 24 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | — | — |
| 25 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | — | — |
| 26 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | — | — |
| 27 | Putnam's jumper Phidippus putnami | — | — |
| 28 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | — | — |
| 29 | Tigrosa annexa | — | — |
| 30 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | — | — |
| 31 | White-jawed jumping spider Hentzia mitrata | — | — |
When are spiders out in Lee County?
Observation records of spiders in Lee County run mostly May through December, peaking in August with 24% of them; across Alabama the peak is May.
What stands out in Lee County
Species for which Lee County holds a large share of all Alabama records: the DeKay's brown snake, 38% (84 of 223); the coachwhip, 31% (24 of 77); the rough earthsnake, 25% (20 of 80); the eastern kingsnake, 24% (29 of 121); the eastern hog-nosed snake, 21% (18 of 84); the gray rat snake, 21% (35 of 169); the smooth earth snake, 20% (26 of 131); the red-bellied snake, 20% (20 of 101).
Common in Alabama, not on the Lee County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Alabama, these do not reach the county list: the eastern wormsnake (262 statewide) and the southern watersnake (252 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Lee County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the northern water snake, the plain-bellied watersnake, the gray rat snake and the eastern hog-nosed snake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the northern water snake and the plain-bellied watersnake. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the eastern hog-nosed snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, but the eastern coral snake is on the Alabama list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the scarlet snake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the triangulate bud spider. 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 longbodied cellar spider.
Lee County among Alabama counties
By licensed snake records Lee County ranks 1st of 67 Alabama counties with any.
Other Alabama counties with their own page: Baldwin 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.