Snakes and spiders in El Dorado County, California
El Dorado County has 12 snake and 18 spider species on record, from 518 licensed snake and 144 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in El Dorado County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 43 licensed records, 1% of all California records of it. The western black widow: 4 licensed records, 0% of all California records of it.
What snakes are in El Dorado County?
In all, 12 snake species are on the El Dorado County list. The most recorded are the western terrestrial garter snake (177), the common garter snake (77) and the western aquatic garter snake (58).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 177 | 1% |
| 2 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 77 | 1% |
| 3 | Western aquatic garter snake Thamnophis couchii | 58 | 2% |
| 4 | Sharp-tailed snake Contia tenuis | 53 | 6% |
| 5 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 43 | 1% |
| 6 | Northern rubber boa Charina bottae | 31 | 5% |
| 7 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 26 | 0% |
| 8 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 15 | 1% |
| 9 | California mountain kingsnake Lampropeltis zonata | 9 | 2% |
| 10 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 9 | 1% |
| 11 | California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae | 8 | 0% |
| 12 | Striped racer Masticophis lateralis | 6 | 0% |
When are snakes out in El Dorado County?
Observation records of snakes in El Dorado County run mostly March through September, peaking in May with 20% of them, the same peak as California as a whole.
What spiders are in El Dorado County?
In all, 18 spider species are on the El Dorado County list. The most recorded are the California turret spider (12), Colonus hesperus (9) and Habronattus americanus (7).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California turret spider Atypoides riversi | 12 | 3% |
| 2 | Colonus hesperus | 9 | 1% |
| 3 | Habronattus americanus | 7 | 2% |
| 4 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | 6 | 3% |
| 5 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 6 | 1% |
| 6 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | 5 | 1% |
| 7 | California funnel-web spider Calisoga longitarsis | 4 | 2% |
| 8 | Sixspotted orbweaver Araniella displicata | 4 | 2% |
| 9 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 4 | 0% |
| 10 | Spitting spider Scytodes thoracica | 3 | 25% |
| 11 | Cone-shaped orbweaver Cyclosa conica | 2 | 2% |
| 12 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | 2 | 0% |
| 13 | Sierra dome spider Neriene litigiosa | 2 | 2% |
| 14 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 1 | 1% |
| 15 | California flattened jumping spider Platycryptus californicus | 1 | 1% |
| 16 | Johnny Cash tarantula Aphonopelma johnnycashi | 1 | 3% |
| 17 | Marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei | 1 | 0% |
| 18 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | — | — |
When are spiders out in El Dorado County?
Observation records of spiders in El Dorado County run mostly April through November, peaking in June with 22% of them; across California the peak is April.
Common in California, not on the El Dorado County list
Among the snakes most recorded across California, these do not reach the county list: the aquatic garter snake (3,727 statewide), the sidewinder (1,923 statewide), the two-striped garter snake (1,620 statewide), the western shovel-nosed snake (1,482 statewide) and the glossy snake (1,425 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 California, these do not reach the county list: the bold jumper (2,606 statewide), the half-edged wall jumping spider (2,178 statewide), Steatoda nobilis (1,914 statewide), the false black widow (1,201 statewide), the buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider (825 statewide) and Habronattus pyrrithrix (800 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in El Dorado County
Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the gopher snake. Coral snakes are not on the California list, but GBIF holds 3 coral snake records of any license in California (Sonoran coralsnake 3): treat any snake like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the California mountain kingsnake. 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 desert recluse is on the California list: treat any spider like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the spitting spider.
El Dorado County among California counties
By licensed snake records El Dorado County ranks 31st of 58 California counties with any.
Other California counties with their own page: San Diego County, Lassen County, Shasta County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Humboldt County, Sonoma County and San Mateo County.
The whole state: venomous species in California, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.