Snakes and spiders in Humboldt County, California
Humboldt County, home of Eureka, has 11 snake and 30 spider species on record, from 3,757 licensed snake and 230 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Humboldt County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 19 licensed records, 0% of all California records of it. The western black widow: 2 licensed records, 0% of all California records of it.
What snakes are in Humboldt County?
In all, 11 snake species are on the Humboldt County list. The most recorded are the western terrestrial garter snake (2,828), the common garter snake (409) and the aquatic garter snake (305).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 2,828 | 13% |
| 2 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 409 | 7% |
| 3 | Aquatic garter snake Thamnophis atratus | 305 | 8% |
| 4 | Western aquatic garter snake Thamnophis couchii | 119 | 3% |
| 5 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 19 | 0% |
| 6 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 18 | 1% |
| 7 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 12 | 0% |
| 8 | Forest sharp-tailed snake Contia longicauda | 11 | 10% |
| 9 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 10 | 1% |
| 10 | California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae | 5 | 0% |
| 11 | Northern rubber boa Charina bottae | 5 | 1% |
When are snakes out in Humboldt County?
Observation records of snakes in Humboldt County run mostly April through November, peaking in September with 24% of them; across California the peak is May.
What spiders are in Humboldt County?
In all, 30 spider species are on the Humboldt County list. The most recorded are the Johnson jumper (36), the garden spider (27) and Habronattus amicus (12). Humboldt County holds more than half of all California records of Habronattus ophrys, Dirksia cinctipes and the Miwok trapdoor spider.
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | 36 | 4% |
| 2 | Garden spider Araneus diadematus | 27 | 6% |
| 3 | Habronattus amicus | 12 | 13% |
| 4 | Gray house spider Badumna longinqua | 11 | 3% |
| 5 | Habronattus ophrys | 10 | 59% |
| 6 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 10 | 3% |
| 7 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | 9 | 4% |
| 8 | False black widow Steatoda grossa | 7 | 1% |
| 9 | Steatoda nobilis | 7 | 0% |
| 10 | Shoreline wolf spider Arctosa littoralis | 4 | 5% |
| 11 | Sixspotted orbweaver Araniella displicata | 4 | 2% |
| 12 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 3 | 2% |
| 13 | Nordmann's orbweaver spider Araneus nordmanni | 3 | 33% |
| 14 | California turret spider Atypoides riversi | 2 | 1% |
| 15 | Dirksia cinctipes | 2 | 67% |
| 16 | Shamrock orbweaver Araneus trifolium | 2 | 4% |
| 17 | West coast laceweaver Callobius severus | 2 | 10% |
| 18 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 2 | 0% |
| 19 | Zygiella x-notata | 2 | 3% |
| 20 | Beach-dwelling jumping spider Terralonus californicus | 1 | 1% |
| 21 | Common candy-striped spider Enoplognatha ovata | 1 | 9% |
| 22 | Dysdera crocata | 1 | 0% |
| 23 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | 1 | 0% |
| 24 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | 1 | 0% |
| 25 | Miwok trapdoor spider Aptostichus miwok | 1 | 100% |
| 26 | Phanias albeolus | 1 | 4% |
| 27 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 1 | 0% |
| 28 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | — | — |
| 29 | Colonus hesperus | — | — |
| 30 | Nearctic white-striped running crab spider Philodromus rufus | — | — |
When are spiders out in Humboldt County?
Observation records of spiders in Humboldt County run mostly March through November, peaking in September with 24% of them; across California the peak is April.
Common in California, not on the Humboldt County list
Among the snakes most recorded across California, these do not reach the county list: 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 half-edged wall jumping spider (2,178 statewide), the buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider (825 statewide), the marbled cellar spider (805 statewide), Habronattus pyrrithrix (800 statewide) and the brown widow (776 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Humboldt County
Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the gopher snake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the false black widow. 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 longbodied cellar spider.
Humboldt County among California counties
By licensed snake records Humboldt County ranks 6th 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, Sonoma County, San Mateo County and Los Angeles 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.