Snakes and spiders in Ventura County, California
Ventura County, home of Ventura, has 15 snake and 49 spider species on record, from 418 licensed snake and 883 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake, the western black widow and the brown widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Ventura County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 86 licensed records, 2% of all California records of it. The western black widow: 26 licensed records, 2% of all California records of it. The brown widow: 12 licensed records, 2% of all California records of it.
What snakes are in Ventura County?
In all, 15 snake species are on the Ventura County list. The most recorded are the gopher snake (104), the western rattlesnake (86) and the two-striped garter snake (79).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 104 | 1% |
| 2 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 86 | 2% |
| 3 | Two-striped garter snake Thamnophis hammondii | 79 | 5% |
| 4 | Striped racer Masticophis lateralis | 42 | 3% |
| 5 | California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae | 30 | 1% |
| 6 | Western patch-nosed snake Salvadora hexalepis | 12 | 2% |
| 7 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 11 | 1% |
| 8 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 11 | 1% |
| 9 | Western aquatic garter snake Thamnophis couchii | 10 | 0% |
| 10 | California mountain kingsnake Lampropeltis zonata | 6 | 1% |
| 11 | Coast nightsnake Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus | 5 | 2% |
| 12 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 2 | 0% |
| 13 | Western black-headed snake Tantilla planiceps | 2 | 1% |
| 14 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 1 | 0% |
| 15 | Glossy snake Arizona elegans | — | — |
When are snakes out in Ventura County?
Observation records of snakes in Ventura County run mostly February through October, peaking in June with 22% of them; across California the peak is May.
What spiders are in Ventura County?
In all, 49 spider species are on the Ventura County list. The most recorded are the California red jumping spider (35), the western black widow (26) and the banded garden spider (22). Ventura County holds more than half of all California records of Theridion californicum.
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California red jumping spider Phidippus adumbratus | 35 | 21% |
| 2 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 26 | 2% |
| 3 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 22 | 8% |
| 4 | California orbweaver Araneus montereyensis | 22 | 39% |
| 5 | False black widow Steatoda grossa | 22 | 2% |
| 6 | Buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider Sassacus vitis | 20 | 2% |
| 7 | Silver argiope Argiope argentata | 18 | 2% |
| 8 | Steatoda nobilis | 17 | 1% |
| 9 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 16 | 4% |
| 10 | Theridion californicum | 16 | 57% |
| 11 | Anachemmis linsdalei | 15 | 43% |
| 12 | Cyclosa turbinata | 15 | 10% |
| 13 | Cribellate spider Metaltella simoni | 14 | 4% |
| 14 | Araneus andrewsi | 13 | 19% |
| 15 | Dysdera crocata | 13 | 2% |
| 16 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | 13 | 1% |
| 17 | Brown widow venomous introduced Latrodectus geometricus | 12 | 2% |
| 18 | Corner funnel weaver Hololena curta | 10 | 3% |
| 19 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 10 | 3% |
| 20 | Bull-headed sac spider Trachelas pacificus | 9 | 5% |
| 21 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | 9 | 1% |
| 22 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | 9 | 1% |
| 23 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 9 | 45% |
| 24 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 9 | 2% |
| 25 | Cat-faced spider Araneus gemmoides | 7 | 10% |
| 26 | Marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei | 7 | 1% |
| 27 | Shoreline wolf spider Arctosa littoralis | 6 | 7% |
| 28 | Mexigonus minutus | 5 | 6% |
| 29 | Striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus | 5 | 1% |
| 30 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | 4 | 9% |
| 31 | Beach-dwelling jumping spider Terralonus californicus | 4 | 4% |
| 32 | Habronattus pyrrithrix | 4 | 0% |
| 33 | Pecos brown Aphonopelma steindachneri | 4 | 5% |
| 34 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 4 | 0% |
| 35 | Western parson spider Herpyllus propinquus | 4 | 2% |
| 36 | Gem-shaped orbweaver Araneus gemma | 3 | 4% |
| 37 | Hibana incursa | 3 | 4% |
| 38 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 2 | 0% |
| 39 | Colonus hesperus | 2 | 0% |
| 40 | Desert grass spider Agelenopsis aperta | 2 | 3% |
| 41 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 2 | 3% |
| 42 | California ebony tarantula Aphonopelma eutylenum | 1 | 1% |
| 43 | California trapdoor spider Bothriocyrtum californicum | 1 | 1% |
| 44 | McCook's split wolf spider Schizocosa mccooki | 1 | 0% |
| 45 | Ribbon jumping spider Metacyrba taeniola | 1 | 0% |
| 46 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | — | — |
| 47 | Gray house spider Badumna longinqua | — | — |
| 48 | Hogna antelucana | — | — |
| 49 | Salticus palpalis | — | — |
When are spiders out in Ventura County?
Observation records of spiders in Ventura County run mostly March through November, peaking in September with 20% of them; across California the peak is April.
What stands out in Ventura County
Species for which Ventura County holds a large share of all California records: Theridion californicum, 57% (16 of 28); Anachemmis linsdalei, 43% (15 of 35); the California orbweaver, 39% (22 of 57); the California red jumping spider, 21% (35 of 167); Araneus andrewsi, 19% (13 of 68).
Common in California, not on the Ventura County list
Among the snakes most recorded across California, these do not reach the county list: the western terrestrial garter snake (21,830 statewide), the aquatic garter snake (3,727 statewide), the sidewinder (1,923 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 half-edged wall jumping spider (2,178 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Ventura 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. 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.
Ventura County among California counties
By licensed snake records Ventura County ranks 34th 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.