Snakes and spiders in Escambia County, Florida
Escambia County, home of Pensacola, has 16 snake and 21 spider species on record, from 137 licensed snake and 420 spider records. Venomous species here: the northern cottonmouth, the Florida cottonmouth, the pygmy rattlesnake, the southern black widow and the brown widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Escambia County?
Yes. The northern cottonmouth: 8 licensed records, 3% of all Florida records of it. The Florida cottonmouth: 3 licensed records, 1% of all Florida records of it. The pygmy rattlesnake: 3 licensed records, 1% of all Florida records of it. The southern black widow: 4 licensed records, 8% of all Florida records of it. The brown widow: on record, no openly licensed records to count.
What snakes are in Escambia County?
In all, 16 snake species are on the Escambia County list. The most recorded are the eastern ribbonsnake (20), the brown water snake (17) and the eastern racer (13).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Florida records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 20 | 3% |
| 2 | Brown water snake Nerodia taxispilota | 17 | 5% |
| 3 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 13 | 1% |
| 4 | Green water snake Nerodia cyclopion | 12 | 11% |
| 5 | Southern watersnake Nerodia fasciata | 10 | 1% |
| 6 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 8 | 3% |
| 7 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 6 | 3% |
| 8 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | 4 | 1% |
| 9 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 4 | 3% |
| 10 | Florida cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon conanti | 3 | 1% |
| 11 | Pygmy rattlesnake venomous Sistrurus miliarius | 3 | 1% |
| 12 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 3 | 9% |
| 13 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 3 | 1% |
| 14 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 2 | 0% |
| 15 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 1 | 0% |
| 16 | Scarlet snake Cemophora coccinea | 1 | 0% |
When are snakes out in Escambia County?
Observation records of snakes in Escambia County run through most of the year, peaking in May with 15% of them; across Florida the peak is March.
What spiders are in Escambia County?
In all, 21 spider species are on the Escambia County list. The most recorded are the magnolia green jumper (12), Tigrosa annexa (12) and the American golden orb weaver (10). Escambia County holds more than half of all Florida records of the Santa Rosa wolf spider.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Florida records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | 12 | 4% |
| 2 | Tigrosa annexa | 12 | 10% |
| 3 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | 10 | 1% |
| 4 | Celer crab spider Mecaphesa celer | 10 | 26% |
| 5 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 9 | 18% |
| 6 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 9 | 5% |
| 7 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 8 | 2% |
| 8 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 8 | 7% |
| 9 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | 6 | 3% |
| 10 | Leucauge argyrobapta | 6 | 1% |
| 11 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 5 | 11% |
| 12 | Pantropical jumper Plexippus paykulli | 4 | 11% |
| 13 | Southern black widow venomous Latrodectus mactans | 4 | 8% |
| 14 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 3 | 1% |
| 15 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 3 | 0% |
| 16 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | 3 | 1% |
| 17 | Cribellate spider Metaltella simoni | 2 | 7% |
| 18 | Santa Rosa wolf spider Arctosa sanctaerosae | 2 | 50% |
| 19 | Brown widow venomous introduced Latrodectus geometricus | — | — |
| 20 | Huntsman spider Heteropoda venatoria | — | — |
| 21 | Tropical orb weaver Eriophora ravilla | — | — |
When are spiders out in Escambia County?
Observation records of spiders in Escambia County run mostly February through October, peaking in March with 17% of them; across Florida the peak is April.
What stands out in Escambia County
Species for which Escambia County holds a large share of all Florida records: the celer crab spider, 26% (10 of 39).
Common in Florida, not on the Escambia County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Florida, these do not reach the county list: the Burmese python (8,141 statewide), the black swamp snake (431 statewide), the Florida green water snake (431 statewide) and the eastern diamondback rattlesnake (396 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 Florida, these do not reach the county list: the greater leucauge (514 statewide), the gray wall jumper (392 statewide) and the regal jumper (213 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Escambia County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead is on the Florida list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the corn snake and the eastern rat snake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the brown water snake, the green water snake and the southern watersnake. No coral snakes reach the county list, but the eastern coral snake is on the Florida list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the scarlet snake.
Escambia County among Florida counties
By licensed snake records Escambia County ranks 26th of 67 Florida counties with any.
Other Florida counties with their own page: Miami-Dade County, Collier County, Alachua County, Monroe County, Broward County, Lee County, Orange County and Marion County.
The whole state: venomous species in Florida, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.