Snakes and spiders in Mono County, California
Mono County, home of Bridgeport, has 11 snake and 7 spider species on record, from 818 licensed snake and 584 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake, the Panamint rattlesnake, the sidewinder and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Mono County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 28 licensed records, 1% of all California records of it. The Panamint rattlesnake: 20 licensed records, 11% of all California records of it. The sidewinder: 7 licensed records, 0% of all California records of it. The western black widow: 3 licensed records, 0% of all California records of it.
What snakes are in Mono County?
In all, 11 snake species are on the Mono County list. The most recorded are the western terrestrial garter snake (547), the gopher snake (88) and the northern rubber boa (40).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 547 | 3% |
| 2 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 88 | 1% |
| 3 | Northern rubber boa Charina bottae | 40 | 6% |
| 4 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 28 | 1% |
| 5 | Striped whipsnake Masticophis taeniatus | 26 | 28% |
| 6 | Panamint rattlesnake venomous Crotalus stephensi | 20 | 11% |
| 7 | Long-nosed snake Rhinocheilus lecontei | 10 | 1% |
| 8 | Sidewinder venomous Crotalus cerastes | 7 | 0% |
| 9 | Western patch-nosed snake Salvadora hexalepis | 7 | 1% |
| 10 | Western aquatic garter snake Thamnophis couchii | 6 | 0% |
| 11 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 5 | 0% |
When are snakes out in Mono County?
Observation records of snakes in Mono County run mostly May through September, peaking in July with 29% of them; across California the peak is May.
What spiders are in Mono County?
In all, 7 spider species are on the Mono County list. The most recorded are the long-jawed orb weaver (70), Habronattus americanus (35) and the cat-faced spider (19). Mono County holds more than half of all California records of the long-jawed orb weaver.
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long-jawed orb weaver Tetragnatha laboriosa | 70 | 73% |
| 2 | Habronattus americanus | 35 | 11% |
| 3 | Cat-faced spider Araneus gemmoides | 19 | 28% |
| 4 | Anyphaena pacifica | 11 | 15% |
| 5 | Shoreline wolf spider Arctosa littoralis | 11 | 13% |
| 6 | Sergiolus montanus | 10 | 17% |
| 7 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 3 | 0% |
When are spiders out in Mono County?
Observation records of spiders in Mono County run mostly May through August, peaking in July with 50% of them; across California the peak is April.
What stands out in Mono County
Species for which Mono County holds a large share of all California records: the long-jawed orb weaver, 73% (70 of 96); the cat-faced spider, 28% (19 of 68); the striped whipsnake, 28% (26 of 94); Sergiolus montanus, 17% (10 of 60); Anyphaena pacifica, 15% (11 of 72).
Common in California, not on the Mono County list
Among the snakes most recorded across California, these do not reach the county list: the common garter snake (5,777 statewide), the aquatic garter snake (3,727 statewide), the California kingsnake (2,675 statewide), the ring-necked snake (1,797 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: 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 western lynx spider (1,123 statewide) and the Koch's wolf spider (1,020 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Mono 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.
Mono County among California counties
By licensed snake records Mono County ranks 23rd 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.