Venomous snakes and spiders in Arkansas

Arkansas's venomous snakes are three rattlesnake species and two copperhead or cottonmouth species. Together they account for 385 licensed records; the northern cottonmouth alone has 49% of them, and the least recorded, the western diamondback rattlesnake, has 8.

Also recorded in Arkansas under any license, but fewer than 10 times and so not counted above: the Texas coral snake (5). Such records can be genuine rarities, strays or old misidentifications; see the rare list.

Two widow species (Southern black widow: 22 records, Northern black widow: 7 records) and one recluse species (Brown recluse: 39 records) are on the Arkansas list. Widow bites cause muscle pain and cramps; recluse bites can cause a slow-healing wound. Both are rare and seldom fatal.

Yes. One scorpion species is recorded in Arkansas, from 56 licensed records: Striped bark scorpion (54 records). Every scorpion has venom; only the Arizona bark scorpion's sting is medically significant, and it is not on the Arkansas list.

These eight account for 78% of all licensed snake records in Arkansas; the most recorded, the diamondback water snake, alone for 58%.

These eight account for 24% of all licensed spider records in Arkansas; the most recorded, the black-and-yellow argiope, alone for 4%.

Observation records of venomous snakes in Arkansas run mostly April through October, peaking in April with 21% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so venomous snakes in Arkansas are rarely recorded in winter.

Observation records of spiders in Arkansas run mostly April through November, peaking in May with 15% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 6% of the records.

Columbia County has the most records of venomous snakes in Arkansas, 70, most of them of the eastern copperhead. Pike County and Polk County follow.

Lonoke County dominates: 60% of the state's licensed snake records come from it alone, and the top five counties hold 75%. 68 of Arkansas's 75 counties have at least one licensed snake record.

Arkansas counties with their own page: Craighead County and Lonoke County.

Yes. Arkansas has five venomous snake species on its list, the kind people usually call poisonous: northern cottonmouth, eastern copperhead, timber rattlesnake, pygmy rattlesnake and western diamondback rattlesnake. The Texas coral snake is recorded there too, but only five times (records of any license), too few to list. Strictly, snakes are venomous (they inject venom), not poisonous (harmful to eat or touch).

Yes. Three species are on the Arkansas list: the timber rattlesnake, the pygmy rattlesnake and the western diamondback rattlesnake, with 65 licensed records between them. Most licensed records of the timber rattlesnake come from Columbia County, Polk County and Crawford County.

Yes. One species is on the Arkansas list: the eastern copperhead, with 130 licensed records. Most licensed records of the eastern copperhead come from Columbia County, Polk County and Washington County.

Yes. One species is on the Arkansas list: the northern cottonmouth, with 190 licensed records. Most licensed records of the northern cottonmouth come from Pike County, Columbia County and Monroe County.

Not on the Arkansas list: the Texas coral snake is recorded there only five times (records of any license), too few to list. Such records can be genuine rarities, strays, transported animals or misidentifications. Treat any snake that looks like a coral snake as venomous.

Arkansas has 190 licensed records of the northern cottonmouth, which ranks the state 9th of the 16 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Arkansas run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Pike County, Columbia County and Monroe County. Range in other states and photos: Northern cottonmouth profile.

Arkansas has 130 licensed records of the eastern copperhead, which ranks the state 14th of the 27 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Arkansas run mostly April through September, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Columbia County, Polk County and Washington County. Range in other states and photos: Eastern copperhead profile.

Arkansas has 46 licensed records of the timber rattlesnake, which ranks the state 13th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Arkansas run mostly April through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Columbia County, Polk County and Crawford County. Range in other states and photos: Timber rattlesnake profile.

Arkansas has 11 licensed records of the pygmy rattlesnake, which ranks the state 10th of the 11 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Pygmy rattlesnake profile.

Arkansas has 8 licensed records of the western diamondback rattlesnake, which ranks the state 7th of the 7 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Western diamondback rattlesnake profile.

Many snakes and spiders taken for venomous ones are harmless species with a similar look. These are the usual confusions, with each species' licensed records in Arkansas.

Copperheads: 130 licensed records in Arkansas. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: plain-bellied watersnake (238), northern water snake (102), eastern hog-nosed snake (24), eastern milksnake (21) and central plains milksnake (14). Together they have 399 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 3 times as often.

Cottonmouths: 190 licensed records in Arkansas. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: diamondback water snake (3,056), plain-bellied watersnake (238), southern watersnake (130), northern water snake (102) and mud snake (18). Together they have 3,556 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 19 times as often.

Rattlesnakes: 65 licensed records in Arkansas. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: eastern hog-nosed snake (24) and Great Plains rat snake (8). Together they have 32 licensed records, and here the venomous species are the more recorded side, 2.0 to 1.

Coral snakes are not on the Arkansas list, but they are recorded in Arkansas five times (records of any license: Texas coral snake 5): treat any snake like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them in the state: eastern milksnake (21), central plains milksnake (14) and scarlet snake (8).

Widow spiders: 29 licensed records in Arkansas. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: triangulate bud spider (11) and common house spider (9). Together they have 20 licensed records, and the two sides are recorded about equally.

Recluse spiders: 39 licensed records in Arkansas. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: longbodied cellar spider (13) and southern house spider (2). Together they have 15 licensed records, and here the venomous species are the more recorded side, 2.6 to 1.

By count of venomous snake species, Arkansas ranks 12th of 50 states, level with 5 other states. Nationally, Arizona leads with 14 species; five list none.

Of the six states bordering Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma list more venomous snake species; Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri list as many (Arkansas: 5 species; Texas 12, Oklahoma 8, Louisiana 5, Mississippi 5, Missouri 5, Tennessee 3).

Venomous snakes listed next door but not in Arkansas: the western massasauga (Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas); the broad-banded copperhead (Oklahoma and Texas); the prairie rattlesnake (Oklahoma and Texas); the eastern black-tailed rattlesnake (Texas); the Mohave rattlesnake (Texas); the rock rattlesnake (Texas). Listed next door and recorded in Arkansas too, but too few times to list (records of any license): the Texas coral snake, recorded here only five times (listed in Louisiana and Texas); the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, recorded here only two times (listed in Mississippi). The most widely shared are the eastern copperhead, the northern cottonmouth and the timber rattlesnake, each listed in all six bordering states.

Yes. Two widow species are on the Arkansas list: the southern black widow (22 records) and the northern black widow (7 records).

Yes. The brown recluse is on the Arkansas list, with 39 licensed records. Most of its licensed records come from Craighead County, Clay County and Washington County.

Arkansas has 39 licensed records of the brown recluse, which ranks the state 7th of the 16 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Arkansas run mostly March through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Craighead County, Clay County and Washington County. Range in other states and photos: Brown recluse profile.

Arkansas has 22 licensed records of the southern black widow, which ranks the state 12th of the 22 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Southern black widow profile.

Arkansas has 7 licensed records of the northern black widow, which ranks the state 15th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Northern black widow profile.