Snakes and spiders in Napa County, California
Napa County, home of Napa, has 10 snake and 24 spider species on record, from 431 licensed snake and 671 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Napa County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 27 licensed records, 1% of all California records of it. The western black widow: 73 licensed records, 6% of all California records of it.
What snakes are in Napa County?
In all, 10 snake species are on the Napa County list. The most recorded are the aquatic garter snake (111), the gopher snake (67) and the ring-necked snake (63).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aquatic garter snake Thamnophis atratus | 111 | 3% |
| 2 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 67 | 1% |
| 3 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 63 | 4% |
| 4 | Sharp-tailed snake Contia tenuis | 52 | 6% |
| 5 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 27 | 0% |
| 6 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 27 | 1% |
| 7 | California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae | 25 | 1% |
| 8 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 19 | 0% |
| 9 | Striped racer Masticophis lateralis | 16 | 1% |
| 10 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 14 | 1% |
When are snakes out in Napa County?
Observation records of snakes in Napa County run mostly November through May, peaking in April with 35% of them; across California the peak is May.
What spiders are in Napa County?
In all, 24 spider species are on the Napa County list. The most recorded are the false black widow (106), Steatoda nobilis (85) and the western black widow (73).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | False black widow Steatoda grossa | 106 | 9% |
| 2 | Steatoda nobilis | 85 | 4% |
| 3 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 73 | 6% |
| 4 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 62 | 20% |
| 5 | Dysdera crocata | 51 | 8% |
| 6 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | 42 | 5% |
| 7 | Marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei | 33 | 4% |
| 8 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 17 | 2% |
| 9 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | 16 | 2% |
| 10 | Half-edged wall jumping spider Menemerus semilimbatus | 15 | 1% |
| 11 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 15 | 3% |
| 12 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 13 | 0% |
| 13 | Striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus | 11 | 2% |
| 14 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | 9 | 1% |
| 15 | Buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider Sassacus vitis | 8 | 1% |
| 16 | Gray house spider Badumna longinqua | 6 | 2% |
| 17 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 3 | 2% |
| 18 | California turret spider Atypoides riversi | 3 | 1% |
| 19 | Colonus hesperus | 3 | 0% |
| 20 | Garden spider Araneus diadematus | 3 | 1% |
| 21 | Hairy tufted jumping spider Phidippus comatus | 3 | 2% |
| 22 | McCook's split wolf spider Schizocosa mccooki | 3 | 1% |
| 23 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 1 | 0% |
| 24 | California funnel-web spider Calisoga longitarsis | — | — |
When are spiders out in Napa County?
Observation records of spiders in Napa County run through most of the year, peaking in November with 18% of them; across California the peak is April.
What stands out in Napa County
Species for which Napa County holds a large share of all California records: the zebra spider, 20% (62 of 304).
Common in California, not on the Napa County list
Among the snakes most recorded across California, these do not reach the county list: the western aquatic garter snake (3,716 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: 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 Napa 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.
Napa County among California counties
By licensed snake records Napa County ranks 33rd 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.