Snakes and spiders in San Joaquin County, California
San Joaquin County, home of Stockton, has 12 snake and 14 spider species on record, from 682 licensed snake and 262 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in San Joaquin County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 177 licensed records, 3% of all California records of it. The western black widow: 39 licensed records, 3% of all California records of it.
What snakes are in San Joaquin County?
In all, 12 snake species are on the San Joaquin County list. The most recorded are the gopher snake (248), the western rattlesnake (177) and the western terrestrial garter snake (55).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 248 | 3% |
| 2 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 177 | 3% |
| 3 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 55 | 0% |
| 4 | California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae | 54 | 2% |
| 5 | Glossy snake Arizona elegans | 48 | 3% |
| 6 | Long-nosed snake Rhinocheilus lecontei | 27 | 3% |
| 7 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 15 | 1% |
| 8 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 12 | 0% |
| 9 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 9 | 1% |
| 10 | Western black-headed snake Tantilla planiceps | 9 | 5% |
| 11 | Giant garter snake Thamnophis gigas | 8 | 7% |
| 12 | Coast nightsnake Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus | 3 | 1% |
When are snakes out in San Joaquin County?
Observation records of snakes in San Joaquin County run mostly March through September, peaking in May with 22% of them, the same peak as California as a whole.
What spiders are in San Joaquin County?
In all, 14 spider species are on the San Joaquin County list. The most recorded are the western black widow (39), the bold jumper (32) and the Koch's wolf spider (26).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 39 | 3% |
| 2 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 32 | 1% |
| 3 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | 26 | 3% |
| 4 | Half-edged wall jumping spider Menemerus semilimbatus | 20 | 1% |
| 5 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 19 | 3% |
| 6 | Marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei | 11 | 1% |
| 7 | Dysdera crocata | 10 | 2% |
| 8 | Colonus hesperus | 8 | 1% |
| 9 | False black widow Steatoda grossa | 8 | 1% |
| 10 | Habronattus pyrrithrix | 6 | 1% |
| 11 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 5 | 7% |
| 12 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 3 | 2% |
| 13 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 3 | 0% |
| 14 | Steatoda nobilis | 1 | 0% |
When are spiders out in San Joaquin County?
Observation records of spiders in San Joaquin County run through most of the year, peaking in September with 19% of them; across California the peak is April.
Common in California, not on the San Joaquin 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 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 Johnson jumper (901 statewide), the buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider (825 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 San Joaquin 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. 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.
San Joaquin County among California counties
By licensed snake records San Joaquin County ranks 25th 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.