Snakes and spiders in Fresno County, California
Fresno County has 16 snake and 22 spider species on record, from 640 licensed snake and 179 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake, the western black widow, the brown widow and the desert recluse.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Fresno County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 105 licensed records, 2% of all California records of it. The western black widow: 9 licensed records, 1% of all California records of it. The brown widow: 2 licensed records, 0% of all California records of it. The desert recluse: 1 licensed record, 2% of all California records of it.
What snakes are in Fresno County?
In all, 16 snake species are on the Fresno County list. The most recorded are the gopher snake (135), the western rattlesnake (105) and the western aquatic garter snake (85).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 135 | 2% |
| 2 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 105 | 2% |
| 3 | Western aquatic garter snake Thamnophis couchii | 85 | 2% |
| 4 | Glossy snake Arizona elegans | 54 | 4% |
| 5 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 47 | 0% |
| 6 | California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae | 46 | 2% |
| 7 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 24 | 0% |
| 8 | Northern rubber boa Charina bottae | 22 | 3% |
| 9 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 19 | 2% |
| 10 | Striped racer Masticophis lateralis | 18 | 1% |
| 11 | Long-nosed snake Rhinocheilus lecontei | 15 | 1% |
| 12 | California mountain kingsnake Lampropeltis zonata | 13 | 2% |
| 13 | Sharp-tailed snake Contia tenuis | 11 | 1% |
| 14 | Western black-headed snake Tantilla planiceps | 9 | 5% |
| 15 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 8 | 1% |
| 16 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 4 | 0% |
When are snakes out in Fresno County?
Observation records of snakes in Fresno County run mostly March through September, peaking in May with 21% of them, the same peak as California as a whole.
What spiders are in Fresno County?
In all, 22 spider species are on the Fresno County list. The most recorded are the western black widow (9), the Thevenet's trapdoor spider (8) and the hirsute paradise spider (7).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 9 | 1% |
| 2 | Thevenet's trapdoor spider Hebestatis theveneti | 8 | 15% |
| 3 | Hirsute paradise spider Habronattus hirsutus | 7 | 3% |
| 4 | California flattened jumping spider Platycryptus californicus | 6 | 5% |
| 5 | Colonus hesperus | 5 | 1% |
| 6 | Johnny Cash tarantula Aphonopelma johnnycashi | 5 | 15% |
| 7 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 4 | 0% |
| 8 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | 4 | 0% |
| 9 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 4 | 0% |
| 10 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | 3 | 0% |
| 11 | Brown widow venomous introduced Latrodectus geometricus | 2 | 0% |
| 12 | Half-edged wall jumping spider Menemerus semilimbatus | 2 | 0% |
| 13 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 2 | 0% |
| 14 | Desert recluse venomous Loxosceles deserta | 1 | 2% |
| 15 | Giant crab spider Olios giganteus | 1 | 2% |
| 16 | Habronattus pyrrithrix | 1 | 0% |
| 17 | Marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei | 1 | 0% |
| 18 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 1 | 1% |
| 19 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | — | — |
| 20 | False black widow Steatoda grossa | — | — |
| 21 | Ribbon jumping spider Metacyrba taeniola | — | — |
| 22 | Western parson spider Herpyllus propinquus | — | — |
When are spiders out in Fresno County?
Observation records of spiders in Fresno County run mostly February through October, peaking in May with 22% of them; across California the peak is April.
Common in California, not on the Fresno 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) and the western shovel-nosed snake (1,482 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: Steatoda nobilis (1,914 statewide) and the buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider (825 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Fresno 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 long-nosed snake and the California mountain kingsnake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the triangulate bud spider and the false black widow.
Fresno County among California counties
By licensed snake records Fresno County ranks 26th 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.