Snakes and spiders in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Jefferson Parish has 14 snake and 12 spider species on record, from 301 licensed snake and 99 spider records. Venomous species here: the northern cottonmouth.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Jefferson Parish?
Yes. The northern cottonmouth: 19 licensed records, 4% of all Louisiana records of it.
What snakes are in Jefferson Parish?
In all, 14 snake species are on the Jefferson Parish list. The most recorded are the southern watersnake (81), the rough greensnake (57) and the western ribbon snake (50).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Louisiana records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern watersnake Nerodia fasciata | 81 | 12% |
| 2 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 57 | 31% |
| 3 | Western ribbon snake Thamnophis proximus | 50 | 9% |
| 4 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 19 | 4% |
| 5 | Green water snake Nerodia cyclopion | 16 | 4% |
| 6 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 13 | 4% |
| 7 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 9 | 4% |
| 8 | Diamondback water snake Nerodia rhombifer | 9 | 3% |
| 9 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 8 | 4% |
| 10 | Crayfish snake Liodytes rigida | 6 | 9% |
| 11 | Mud snake Farancia abacura | 5 | 5% |
| 12 | Western rat snake Pantherophis obsoletus | 2 | 1% |
| 13 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 1 | 1% |
| 14 | Speckled kingsnake Lampropeltis holbrooki | 1 | 1% |
When are snakes out in Jefferson Parish?
Observation records of snakes in Jefferson Parish run mostly March through November, peaking in April with 36% of them, the same peak as Louisiana as a whole.
What spiders are in Jefferson Parish?
In all, 12 spider species are on the Jefferson Parish list. The most recorded are the American golden orb weaver (23), the black-and-yellow argiope (15) and the spiny-backed orbweaver (11).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Louisiana records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | 23 | 8% |
| 2 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 15 | 7% |
| 3 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 11 | 8% |
| 4 | Leucauge argyrobapta | 8 | 6% |
| 5 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 8 | 9% |
| 6 | Gray wall jumper Menemerus bivittatus | 6 | 3% |
| 7 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 3 | 3% |
| 8 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 2 | 1% |
| 9 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | 2 | 1% |
| 10 | Georgia wolf spider Tigrosa georgicola | 1 | 2% |
| 11 | Pantropical jumper Plexippus paykulli | — | — |
| 12 | Tropical orb weaver Eriophora ravilla | — | — |
When are spiders out in Jefferson Parish?
Observation records of spiders in Jefferson Parish run through most of the year, peaking in August with 18% of them; across Louisiana the peak is April.
What stands out in Jefferson Parish
Species for which Jefferson Parish holds a large share of all Louisiana records: the rough greensnake, 31% (57 of 183).
Common in Louisiana, not on the Jefferson Parish list
Among the snakes most recorded across Louisiana, these do not reach the county list: the eastern copperhead (139 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 Louisiana, these do not reach the county list: the magnolia green jumper (124 statewide), Tigrosa annexa (95 statewide) and the green lynx spider (94 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Jefferson Parish
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead is on the Louisiana list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the plain-bellied watersnake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the southern watersnake, the green water snake, the diamondback water snake and the plain-bellied watersnake.
Jefferson Parish among Louisiana counties
By licensed snake records Jefferson Parish ranks 3rd of 64 Louisiana counties with any.
Other Louisiana counties with their own page: East Baton Rouge Parish and Saint Tammany Parish.
The whole state: venomous species in Louisiana, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.