Venomous snakes and spiders in Mississippi

Mississippi's venomous snakes are three rattlesnake species and two copperhead or cottonmouth species. Together they account for 283 licensed records; the northern cottonmouth alone has 57% of them, and the least recorded, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, has 20.

Also recorded in Mississippi under any license, but fewer than 10 times and so not counted above: the eastern coral snake (6). Such records can be genuine rarities, strays or old misidentifications; see the rare list.

Three widow species (Southern black widow: 24 records, Brown widow: 4 records, Northern black widow: 4 records) and one recluse species (Brown recluse: 5 records) are on the Mississippi 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 Mississippi, listed from records under other licenses: Southern unstriped scorpion (on record). Every scorpion has venom; only the Arizona bark scorpion's sting is medically significant, and it is not on the Mississippi list.

Beyond the main list, one scorpion species is known from Mississippi by only three records of any license. It may be a genuine rarity at the edge of its range, or a stray, a released pet or an old misidentification, so treat it as unconfirmed.

These eight account for 48% of all licensed snake records in Mississippi; the most recorded, the ring-necked snake, alone for 11%.

These eight account for 34% of all licensed spider records in Mississippi; the most recorded, the green lynx spider, alone for 7%.

Observation records of venomous snakes in Mississippi run mostly February through October, peaking in May with 20% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 10% of the records.

Observation records of spiders in Mississippi run mostly March through November, peaking in July with 15% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 8% of the records.

Jackson County has the most records of venomous snakes in Mississippi, 43, most of them of the northern cottonmouth. Lafayette County and Harrison County follow.

Hancock County leads with 280 records (15%), followed by Lafayette County and Harrison County; the top five counties hold 52% of the total. 76 of Mississippi's 82 counties have at least one licensed snake record.

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

Yes. Three species are on the Mississippi list: the timber rattlesnake, the pygmy rattlesnake and the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, with 86 licensed records between them. Most licensed records of the timber rattlesnake come from Oktibbeha County, Adams County and Panola County.

Yes. One species is on the Mississippi list: the eastern copperhead, with 37 licensed records. Most licensed records of the eastern copperhead come from Panola County, Forrest County and Lafayette County.

Yes. One species is on the Mississippi list: the northern cottonmouth, with 160 licensed records. Most licensed records of the northern cottonmouth come from Jackson County, Lafayette County and Harrison County.

Not on the Mississippi list: the eastern coral snake is recorded there only six times (records of any license), too few to list. In all, GBIF holds 7 coral snake records of any license in Mississippi (eastern coral snake 6, Texas coral snake 1). Such records can be genuine rarities, strays, transported animals or misidentifications. Treat any snake that looks like a coral snake as venomous.

Mississippi has 160 licensed records of the northern cottonmouth, which ranks the state 11th of the 16 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Mississippi run through most of the year, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Jackson County, Lafayette County and Harrison County. Range in other states and photos: Northern cottonmouth profile.

Mississippi has 37 licensed records of the eastern copperhead, which ranks the state 23rd of the 27 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Mississippi come from Panola County, Forrest County and Lafayette County. Range in other states and photos: Eastern copperhead profile.

Mississippi has 34 licensed records of the timber rattlesnake, which ranks the state 20th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Mississippi come from Oktibbeha County, Adams County and Panola County. Range in other states and photos: Timber rattlesnake profile.

Mississippi has 32 licensed records of the pygmy rattlesnake, which ranks the state 8th of the 11 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Mississippi come from Harrison County, Hancock County and Jackson County. Range in other states and photos: Pygmy rattlesnake profile.

Mississippi has 20 licensed records of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, which ranks the state 4th of the 5 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Eastern diamondback rattlesnake 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 Mississippi.

Copperheads: 37 licensed records in Mississippi. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: plain-bellied watersnake (95), northern water snake (67), eastern rat snake (60), corn snake (40) and eastern hog-nosed snake (34). Together they have 314 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 8 times as often.

Cottonmouths: 160 licensed records in Mississippi. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: diamondback water snake (115), plain-bellied watersnake (95), southern watersnake (72), northern water snake (67) and green water snake (25). Together they have 398 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 2.5 times as often.

Rattlesnakes: 86 licensed records in Mississippi. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: eastern hog-nosed snake (34) and pine snake (10). Together they have 44 licensed records, and here the venomous species are the more recorded side, 2.0 to 1.

Coral snakes are not on the Mississippi list, but they are recorded in Mississippi seven times (records of any license: eastern coral snake 6, Texas coral snake 1): treat any snake like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them in the state: eastern milksnake (18), scarlet snake (11) and scarlet kingsnake (3).

Widow spiders: 32 licensed records in Mississippi. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: triangulate bud spider (6) and common house spider (5). Together they have 11 licensed records, and here the venomous species are the more recorded side, 2.9 to 1.

Recluse spiders: 5 licensed records in Mississippi. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: southern house spider (7) and longbodied cellar spider (on record). Together they have 7 licensed records, and the two sides are recorded about equally.

By count of venomous snake species, Mississippi ranks 12th of 50 states, level with 5 other states. Nationally, Arizona leads with 14 species; five list none.

Of the four states bordering Mississippi, Alabama lists more venomous snake species; Arkansas and Louisiana list as many (Mississippi: 5 species; Alabama 6, Arkansas 5, Louisiana 5, Tennessee 3).

Venomous snakes listed next door but not in Mississippi: the western diamondback rattlesnake (Arkansas). Listed next door and recorded in Mississippi too, but too few times to list (records of any license): the eastern coral snake, recorded here only six times (listed in Alabama); the Texas coral snake, recorded here only one time (listed in Louisiana). The most widely shared are the eastern copperhead, the northern cottonmouth and the timber rattlesnake, each listed in all four bordering states.

Yes. Three widow species are on the Mississippi list: the southern black widow (24 records), the brown widow (4 records) and the northern black widow (4 records).

Yes. The brown recluse is on the Mississippi list, with 5 licensed records.

Mississippi has 24 licensed records of the southern black widow, which ranks the state 11th of the 22 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Southern black widow profile.

Mississippi has 5 licensed records of the brown recluse, which ranks the state 12th of the 16 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Brown recluse profile.

Mississippi has 4 licensed records of the brown widow, which ranks the state 9th of the 11 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Brown widow profile.

Mississippi has 4 licensed records of the northern black widow, which ranks the state 20th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Northern black widow profile.