Venomous snakes and spiders in Kentucky

Kentucky's venomous snakes are two copperhead or cottonmouth species and one rattlesnake species. Together they account for 187 licensed records; the eastern copperhead alone has 55% of them, and the least recorded, the northern cottonmouth, has 39.

Also recorded in Kentucky under any license, but fewer than 10 times and so not counted above: the pygmy rattlesnake (7). Such records can be genuine rarities, strays or old misidentifications; see the rare list.

Two widow species (Northern black widow: 37 records, Southern black widow: 21 records) and one recluse species (Brown recluse: 22 records) are on the Kentucky list. Widow bites cause muscle pain and cramps; recluse bites can cause a slow-healing wound. Both are rare and seldom fatal.

Yes. One scorpion species is recorded in Kentucky, from 48 licensed records: Southern unstriped scorpion (46 records). Every scorpion has venom; only the Arizona bark scorpion's sting is medically significant, and it is not on the Kentucky list.

These eight account for 64% of all licensed snake records in Kentucky; the most recorded, the common garter snake, alone for 16%.

These eight account for 32% of all licensed spider records in Kentucky; the most recorded, the bold jumper, alone for 5%.

Observation records of venomous snakes in Kentucky run mostly April through September, peaking in May with 21% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so venomous snakes in Kentucky are rarely recorded in winter.

Observation records of spiders in Kentucky run mostly March through October, peaking in August with 16% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 3% of the records.

Observation records of scorpions in Kentucky run mostly April through October, peaking in August with 26% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so scorpions in Kentucky are rarely recorded in winter.

Hickman County has the most records of venomous snakes in Kentucky, 26, most of them of the northern cottonmouth. Lyon County and Bullitt County follow.

Madison County leads with 217 records (17%), followed by Fayette County and Trigg County; the top five counties hold 39% of the total. 100 of Kentucky's 120 counties have at least one licensed snake record.

Kentucky county with its own page: Madison County.

Yes. Kentucky has three venomous snake species on its list, the kind people usually call poisonous: eastern copperhead, timber rattlesnake and northern cottonmouth. The pygmy rattlesnake is recorded there too, but only seven times (records of any license), too few to list. Strictly, snakes are venomous (they inject venom), not poisonous (harmful to eat or touch).

Yes. One species is on the Kentucky list: the timber rattlesnake, with 46 licensed records. Most licensed records of the timber rattlesnake come from Bullitt County, McCreary County and Lyon County. The pygmy rattlesnake is recorded there too, but only seven times (records of any license), too few to list.

Yes. One species is on the Kentucky list: the eastern copperhead, with 102 licensed records. Most licensed records of the eastern copperhead come from Madison County, Trigg County and Lyon County.

Yes. One species is on the Kentucky list: the northern cottonmouth, with 39 licensed records. Most licensed records of the northern cottonmouth come from Hickman County, Lyon County and Marshall County.

No. GBIF holds no coral snake record for Kentucky under any license.

Kentucky has 102 licensed records of the eastern copperhead, which ranks the state 15th of the 27 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Kentucky run mostly April through September, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Madison County, Trigg County and Lyon County. Range in other states and photos: Eastern copperhead profile.

Kentucky has 46 licensed records of the timber rattlesnake, which ranks the state 13th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Kentucky come from Bullitt County, McCreary County and Lyon County. Range in other states and photos: Timber rattlesnake profile.

Kentucky has 39 licensed records of the northern cottonmouth, which ranks the state 15th of the 16 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Kentucky come from Hickman County, Lyon County and Marshall County. Range in other states and photos: Northern cottonmouth profile.

Many snakes and spiders taken for venomous ones are harmless species with a similar look. These are the usual confusions, with each species' licensed records in Kentucky.

Copperheads: 102 licensed records in Kentucky. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: eastern rat snake (104), northern water snake (102), eastern milksnake (56), plain-bellied watersnake (21) and eastern hog-nosed snake (10). Together they have 303 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 3 times as often.

Cottonmouths: 39 licensed records in Kentucky. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: northern water snake (102), plain-bellied watersnake (21) and diamondback water snake (4). Together they have 127 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 3 times as often.

Rattlesnakes: 46 licensed records in Kentucky. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: eastern hog-nosed snake (10). It has 10 licensed records, and here the venomous species are the more recorded side, 4.6 to 1.

No coral snakes reach the Kentucky list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Kentucky under any license, so a snake taken for one here is most likely a harmless lookalike. Those recorded in the state: eastern milksnake (56).

Widow spiders: 58 licensed records in Kentucky. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: triangulate bud spider (21), common house spider (14), boreal combfoot (2) and false black widow (on record). Together they have 37 licensed records, and here the venomous species are the more recorded side, 1.6 to 1.

Recluse spiders: 22 licensed records in Kentucky. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: longbodied cellar spider (15) and spitting spider (2). Together they have 17 licensed records, and the two sides are recorded about equally.

By count of venomous snake species, Kentucky ranks 20th of 50 states, level with 8 other states. Nationally, Arizona leads with 14 species; five list none.

Of the seven states bordering Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois list more venomous snake species; Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia list as many (Kentucky: 3 species; Missouri 5, Illinois 4, Indiana 3, Ohio 3, Tennessee 3, Virginia 3, West Virginia 2).

Venomous snakes listed next door but not in Kentucky: the eastern massasauga (Illinois, Indiana and Ohio); the western massasauga (Missouri). Listed next door and recorded in Kentucky too, but too few times to list (records of any license): the pygmy rattlesnake, recorded here only seven times (listed in Missouri). The most widely shared are the eastern copperhead and the timber rattlesnake, each listed in all seven bordering states.

Yes. Two widow species are on the Kentucky list: the northern black widow (37 records) and the southern black widow (21 records).

Yes. The brown recluse is on the Kentucky list, with 22 licensed records.

Kentucky has 37 licensed records of the northern black widow, which ranks the state 4th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Kentucky run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Madison County, Fayette County and Garrard County. Range in other states and photos: Northern black widow profile.

Kentucky has 22 licensed records of the brown recluse, which ranks the state 9th of the 16 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Brown recluse profile.

Kentucky has 21 licensed records of the southern black widow, which ranks the state 13th of the 22 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Southern black widow profile.