Snakes and spiders in Charlton County, Georgia
Charlton County, home of Folkston, has 16 snake and 8 spider species on record, from 383 licensed snake and 53 spider records. Venomous species here: the northern cottonmouth, the pygmy rattlesnake, the timber rattlesnake and the Florida cottonmouth.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Charlton County?
Yes. The northern cottonmouth: 26 licensed records, 27% of all Georgia records of it. The pygmy rattlesnake: 17 licensed records, 47% of all Georgia records of it. The timber rattlesnake: 7 licensed records, 4% of all Georgia records of it. The Florida cottonmouth: on record, no openly licensed records to count.
What snakes are in Charlton County?
In all, 16 snake species are on the Charlton County list. The most recorded are the eastern hog-nosed snake (52), the southern watersnake (47) and the common garter snake (29).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Georgia records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 52 | 48% |
| 2 | Southern watersnake Nerodia fasciata | 47 | 30% |
| 3 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 29 | 14% |
| 4 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 29 | 14% |
| 5 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 26 | 27% |
| 6 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | 24 | 18% |
| 7 | Brown water snake Nerodia taxispilota | 18 | 1% |
| 8 | Pygmy rattlesnake venomous Sistrurus miliarius | 17 | 47% |
| 9 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 12 | 23% |
| 10 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 10 | 8% |
| 11 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 9 | 3% |
| 12 | Scarlet kingsnake Lampropeltis elapsoides | 9 | 45% |
| 13 | Crayfish snake Liodytes rigida | 8 | 40% |
| 14 | Timber rattlesnake venomous Crotalus horridus | 7 | 4% |
| 15 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | 5 | 6% |
| 16 | Florida cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon conanti | — | — |
What spiders are in Charlton County?
In all, 8 spider species are on the Charlton County list. The most recorded are the sixspotted fishing spider (10), the black-and-yellow argiope (6) and the American golden orb weaver (5).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Georgia records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 10 | 12% |
| 2 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 6 | 2% |
| 3 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | 5 | 3% |
| 4 | Pantropical jumper Plexippus paykulli | 5 | 18% |
| 5 | Red-femured spotted orbweaver Neoscona domiciliorum | 5 | 5% |
| 6 | Leucauge argyrobapta | 3 | 5% |
| 7 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 3 | 2% |
| 8 | Southern house spider Kukulcania hibernalis | 2 | 4% |
When are spiders out in Charlton County?
Observation records of spiders in Charlton County run mostly March through November, peaking in October with 22% of them; across Georgia the peak is August.
What stands out in Charlton County
Species for which Charlton County holds a large share of all Georgia records: the eastern hog-nosed snake, 48% (52 of 109); the pygmy rattlesnake, 47% (17 of 36); the southern watersnake, 30% (47 of 155); the northern cottonmouth, 27% (26 of 97); the eastern ribbonsnake, 23% (12 of 52); the eastern kingsnake, 18% (24 of 136).
Common in Georgia, not on the Charlton County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Georgia, these do not reach the county list: the DeKay's brown snake (218 statewide), the northern water snake (204 statewide), the eastern rat snake (203 statewide) and the eastern copperhead (131 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 Georgia, these do not reach the county list: the Joro spider (565 statewide), the magnolia green jumper (383 statewide), the green lynx spider (309 statewide), the twin-flagged jumping spider (254 statewide), the orchard orbweaver (152 statewide) and the Putnam's jumper (145 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Charlton County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead is on the Georgia list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the eastern hog-nosed snake and the corn snake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the southern watersnake and the brown water snake. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the eastern hog-nosed snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, but the eastern coral snake is on the Georgia list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the scarlet kingsnake. No recluse spiders reach the county list, but the brown recluse is on the Georgia list: treat any spider like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the southern house spider.
Charlton County among Georgia counties
By licensed snake records Charlton County ranks 2nd of 153 Georgia counties with any.
Other Georgia counties with their own page: Clarke County, Cobb County, DeKalb County and Gwinnett County.
The whole state: venomous species in Georgia, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.