Snakes and spiders in Sacramento County, California
Sacramento County has 10 snake and 36 spider species on record, from 222 licensed snake and 1,626 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Sacramento County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 39 licensed records, 1% of all California records of it. The western black widow: 56 licensed records, 5% of all California records of it.
What snakes are in Sacramento County?
In all, 10 snake species are on the Sacramento County list. The most recorded are the western rattlesnake (39), the gopher snake (36) and the California kingsnake (30).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 39 | 1% |
| 2 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 36 | 1% |
| 3 | California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae | 30 | 1% |
| 4 | Sharp-tailed snake Contia tenuis | 26 | 3% |
| 5 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 25 | 0% |
| 6 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 22 | 0% |
| 7 | Giant garter snake Thamnophis gigas | 17 | 14% |
| 8 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 12 | 1% |
| 9 | Southern watersnake introduced Nerodia fasciata | 11 | 37% |
| 10 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 2 | 0% |
When are snakes out in Sacramento County?
Observation records of snakes in Sacramento County run mostly January through September, peaking in May with 21% of them, the same peak as California as a whole.
What spiders are in Sacramento County?
In all, 36 spider species are on the Sacramento County list. The most recorded are Salticus peckhamae (284), Colonus hesperus (230) and the hirsute paradise spider (107). Sacramento County holds more than half of all California records of Salticus peckhamae, the hirsute paradise spider, the Oregon paradise jumping spider and the hairy tufted jumping spider.
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salticus peckhamae | 284 | 94% |
| 2 | Colonus hesperus | 230 | 31% |
| 3 | Hirsute paradise spider Habronattus hirsutus | 107 | 50% |
| 4 | Buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider Sassacus vitis | 105 | 13% |
| 5 | Half-edged wall jumping spider Menemerus semilimbatus | 103 | 5% |
| 6 | Ribbon jumping spider Metacyrba taeniola | 103 | 43% |
| 7 | Oregon paradise jumping spider Habronattus oregonensis | 79 | 56% |
| 8 | Hairy tufted jumping spider Phidippus comatus | 72 | 56% |
| 9 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 56 | 5% |
| 10 | California flattened jumping spider Platycryptus californicus | 52 | 44% |
| 11 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 47 | 2% |
| 12 | Mecaphesa schlingeri | 35 | 70% |
| 13 | Habronattus pyrrithrix | 33 | 4% |
| 14 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | 28 | 3% |
| 15 | Marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei | 26 | 3% |
| 16 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 26 | 2% |
| 17 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 20 | 4% |
| 18 | Metaphidippus manni | 19 | 24% |
| 19 | Attinella dorsata | 18 | 35% |
| 20 | Minute jumping spider Talavera minuta | 14 | 54% |
| 21 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | 13 | 1% |
| 22 | Dysdera crocata | 8 | 1% |
| 23 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | 8 | 1% |
| 24 | False black widow Steatoda grossa | 7 | 1% |
| 25 | Striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus | 7 | 1% |
| 26 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 5 | 1% |
| 27 | Cone-shaped orbweaver Cyclosa conica | 4 | 4% |
| 28 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 4 | 6% |
| 29 | Uloborus diversus | 3 | 2% |
| 30 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 2 | 1% |
| 31 | Spitting spider Scytodes thoracica | 1 | 8% |
| 32 | Zoropsid spider Zoropsis spinimana | 1 | 1% |
| 33 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | — | — |
| 34 | Bull-headed sac spider Trachelas pacificus | — | — |
| 35 | Cribellate spider Metaltella simoni | — | — |
| 36 | Steatoda nobilis | — | — |
When are spiders out in Sacramento County?
Observation records of spiders in Sacramento County run mostly February through October, peaking in April with 17% of them, the same peak as California as a whole.
What stands out in Sacramento County
Species for which Sacramento County holds a large share of all California records: Salticus peckhamae, 94% (284 of 301); Mecaphesa schlingeri, 70% (35 of 50); the Oregon paradise jumping spider, 56% (79 of 140); the hairy tufted jumping spider, 56% (72 of 128); the minute jumping spider, 54% (14 of 26); the hirsute paradise spider, 50% (107 of 213); the California flattened jumping spider, 44% (52 of 118); the ribbon jumping spider, 43% (103 of 237).
Common in California, not on the Sacramento County list
Among the snakes most recorded across California, these do not reach the county list: the aquatic garter snake (3,727 statewide), 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: 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 Sacramento County
No cottonmouths reach the county list, and GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for California under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the southern watersnake. 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 and 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 longbodied cellar spider and the spitting spider.
Sacramento County among California counties
By licensed snake records Sacramento County ranks 48th 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.