Snakes and spiders in Shasta County, California
Shasta County has 13 snake and 16 spider species on record, from 6,589 licensed snake and 170 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Shasta County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 25 licensed records, 0% of all California records of it. The western black widow: 10 licensed records, 1% of all California records of it.
What snakes are in Shasta County?
In all, 13 snake species are on the Shasta County list. The most recorded are the western terrestrial garter snake (4,014), the common garter snake (1,612) and the western aquatic garter snake (667).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 4,014 | 18% |
| 2 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 1,612 | 28% |
| 3 | Western aquatic garter snake Thamnophis couchii | 667 | 18% |
| 4 | Aquatic garter snake Thamnophis atratus | 93 | 2% |
| 5 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 37 | 3% |
| 6 | Sharp-tailed snake Contia tenuis | 36 | 4% |
| 7 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 35 | 0% |
| 8 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 25 | 0% |
| 9 | California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae | 22 | 1% |
| 10 | Northern rubber boa Charina bottae | 15 | 2% |
| 11 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 12 | 1% |
| 12 | California mountain kingsnake Lampropeltis zonata | 6 | 1% |
| 13 | Striped racer Masticophis lateralis | 4 | 0% |
When are snakes out in Shasta County?
Observation records of snakes in Shasta County run mostly March through August, peaking in May with 31% of them, the same peak as California as a whole.
What spiders are in Shasta County?
In all, 16 spider species are on the Shasta County list. The most recorded are Colonus hesperus (12), the western black widow (10) and the western spotted orbweaver (10).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colonus hesperus | 12 | 2% |
| 2 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 10 | 1% |
| 3 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 10 | 2% |
| 4 | Marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei | 7 | 1% |
| 5 | Giant crab spider Olios giganteus | 6 | 10% |
| 6 | Half-edged wall jumping spider Menemerus semilimbatus | 6 | 0% |
| 7 | Salticus peckhamae | 6 | 2% |
| 8 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 6 | 1% |
| 9 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 5 | 3% |
| 10 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 4 | 0% |
| 11 | Hairy tufted jumping spider Phidippus comatus | 4 | 3% |
| 12 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | 4 | 0% |
| 13 | McCook's split wolf spider Schizocosa mccooki | 4 | 2% |
| 14 | California flattened jumping spider Platycryptus californicus | 3 | 3% |
| 15 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | 3 | 0% |
| 16 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | 1 | 0% |
When are spiders out in Shasta County?
Observation records of spiders in Shasta County run mostly April through September, peaking in June with 23% of them; across California the peak is April.
What stands out in Shasta County
Species for which Shasta County holds a large share of all California records: the common garter snake, 28% (1,612 of 5,777); the western terrestrial garter snake, 18% (4,014 of 21,830); the western aquatic garter snake, 18% (667 of 3,716).
Common in California, not on the Shasta 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: Steatoda nobilis (1,914 statewide), the false black widow (1,201 statewide), the buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider (825 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 Shasta 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 California mountain kingsnake.
Shasta County among California counties
By licensed snake records Shasta County ranks 3rd of 58 California counties with any.
Other California counties with their own page: San Diego County, Lassen County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Humboldt 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.