Snakes and spiders in Macon County, Alabama
Macon County, home of Tuskegee, has 20 snake and 8 spider species on record, from 337 licensed snake and 7 spider records. Venomous species here: the timber rattlesnake, the northern cottonmouth and the eastern copperhead.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Macon County?
Yes. The timber rattlesnake: 31 licensed records, 13% of all Alabama records of it. The northern cottonmouth: 12 licensed records, 6% of all Alabama records of it. The eastern copperhead: 6 licensed records, 3% of all Alabama records of it.
What snakes are in Macon County?
In all, 20 snake species are on the Macon County list. The most recorded are the northern water snake (44), the diamondback water snake (34) and the timber rattlesnake (31).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Alabama records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 44 | 5% |
| 2 | Diamondback water snake Nerodia rhombifer | 34 | 22% |
| 3 | Timber rattlesnake venomous Crotalus horridus | 31 | 13% |
| 4 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 20 | 8% |
| 5 | Gray rat snake Pantherophis spiloides | 15 | 9% |
| 6 | Mud snake Farancia abacura | 15 | 21% |
| 7 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 15 | 7% |
| 8 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | 14 | 18% |
| 9 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 12 | 6% |
| 10 | Crayfish snake Liodytes rigida | 11 | 37% |
| 11 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | 11 | 9% |
| 12 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 10 | 4% |
| 13 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 9 | 6% |
| 14 | Smooth earth snake Virginia valeriae | 9 | 7% |
| 15 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 7 | 3% |
| 16 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 7 | 7% |
| 17 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 6 | 3% |
| 18 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | 5 | 5% |
| 19 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 5 | 4% |
| 20 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | — | — |
What spiders are in Macon County?
In all, 8 spider species are on the Macon County list. The most recorded are the American golden orb weaver (2) and the dark fishing spider (1).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Alabama records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | 2 | 1% |
| 2 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 1 | 4% |
| 3 | Georgia wolf spider Tigrosa georgicola | — | — |
| 4 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | — | — |
| 5 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | — | — |
| 6 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | — | — |
| 7 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | — | — |
| 8 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | — | — |
What stands out in Macon County
Species for which Macon County holds a large share of all Alabama records: the crayfish snake, 37% (11 of 30); the diamondback water snake, 22% (34 of 156); the mud snake, 21% (15 of 73); the rough earthsnake, 18% (14 of 80).
Common in Alabama, not on the Macon County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Alabama, these do not reach the county list: the eastern wormsnake (262 statewide), the southern watersnake (252 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 magnolia green jumper (314 statewide), the twin-flagged jumping spider (200 statewide), the black-and-yellow argiope (177 statewide), the green lynx spider (149 statewide), the orchard orbweaver (113 statewide) and the familiar jumping spider (81 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Macon County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the northern water snake, the gray rat snake, the plain-bellied watersnake and the corn snake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the northern water snake, the diamondback water snake, the mud snake and the plain-bellied watersnake.
Macon County among Alabama counties
By licensed snake records Macon County ranks 3rd of 67 Alabama counties with any.
Other Alabama counties with their own page: Lee County, Baldwin 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.