Venomous snakes and spiders in Nebraska

Nebraska's venomous snakes are three rattlesnake species and one copperhead or cottonmouth species. Together they account for 300 licensed records; the prairie rattlesnake alone has 59% of them, and the least recorded, the timber rattlesnake, has 14.

One widow species (Western black widow: 9 records) and one recluse species (Brown recluse: 13 records) are on the Nebraska 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 Nebraska, from 11 licensed records: Striped bark scorpion (9 records). Every scorpion has venom; only the Arizona bark scorpion's sting is medically significant, and it is not on the Nebraska list.

Beyond the main list, one scorpion species is known from Nebraska 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 69% of all licensed snake records in Nebraska; the most recorded, the plains garter snake, alone for 18%.

These eight account for 23% of all licensed spider records in Nebraska; the most recorded, the bold jumper, alone for 5%.

Observation records of venomous snakes in Nebraska run mostly April through September, peaking in September with 24% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so venomous snakes in Nebraska are rarely recorded in winter.

Observation records of spiders in Nebraska run mostly April through October, peaking in September with 19% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so spiders in Nebraska are rarely recorded in winter.

Cherry County has the most records of venomous snakes in Nebraska, 48, most of them of the prairie rattlesnake. Gage County and Dundy County follow.

Gage County leads with 310 records (13%), followed by Dundy County and Cherry County; the top five counties hold 34% of the total. 88 of Nebraska's 93 counties have at least one licensed snake record.

Nebraska county with its own page: Gage County.

Yes. Nebraska has four venomous snake species on its list, the kind people usually call poisonous: prairie rattlesnake, western massasauga, eastern copperhead and timber rattlesnake. Strictly, snakes are venomous (they inject venom), not poisonous (harmful to eat or touch).

Yes. Three species are on the Nebraska list: the prairie rattlesnake, the western massasauga and the timber rattlesnake, with 247 licensed records between them. Most licensed records of the prairie rattlesnake come from Cherry County, Dundy County and Scotts Bluff County.

Yes. One species is on the Nebraska list: the eastern copperhead, with 53 licensed records. Most licensed records of the eastern copperhead come from Gage County, Pawnee County and Richardson County.

No. GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for Nebraska under any license.

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

Nebraska has 176 licensed records of the prairie rattlesnake, which ranks the state 9th of the 14 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Nebraska run mostly May through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Cherry County, Dundy County and Scotts Bluff County. Range in other states and photos: Prairie rattlesnake profile.

Nebraska has 57 licensed records of the western massasauga, which ranks the state 5th of the 8 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Nebraska run mostly April through September, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Jefferson County, Pawnee County and Lancaster County. Range in other states and photos: Western massasauga profile.

Nebraska has 53 licensed records of the eastern copperhead, which ranks the state 20th of the 27 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Nebraska come from Gage County, Pawnee County and Richardson County. Range in other states and photos: Eastern copperhead profile.

Nebraska has 14 licensed records of the timber rattlesnake, which ranks the state 26th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Timber 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 Nebraska.

Copperheads: 53 licensed records in Nebraska. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: northern water snake (82), eastern milksnake (49), eastern hog-nosed snake (22), corn snake (13) and central plains milksnake (11). Together they have 177 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 3 times as often.

No cottonmouths reach the Nebraska list, and GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for Nebraska under any license, so a snake taken for one here is most likely a harmless lookalike. Those recorded in the state: northern water snake (82).

Rattlesnakes: 247 licensed records in Nebraska. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: gopher snake (204), plains hog-nosed snake (109), Great Plains rat snake (25), eastern hog-nosed snake (22) and eastern fox snake (15). Together they have 386 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 1.6 times as often.

No coral snakes reach the Nebraska list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Nebraska under any license, so a snake taken for one here is most likely a harmless lookalike. Those recorded in the state: eastern milksnake (49) and central plains milksnake (11).

Widow spiders: 9 licensed records in Nebraska. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: common house spider (24), boreal combfoot (20) and triangulate bud spider (14). Together they have 58 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 6 times as often.

Recluse spiders: 13 licensed records in Nebraska. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: Pennsylvania grass spider (16) and longbodied cellar spider (6). Together they have 22 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 1.7 times as often.

By count of venomous snake species, Nebraska ranks 18th of 50 states, level with Illinois. Nationally, Arizona leads with 14 species; five list none.

Of the six states bordering Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri list more venomous snake species (Nebraska: 4 species; Kansas 6, Missouri 5, Colorado 3, Iowa 3, Wyoming 2, South Dakota 1).

Venomous snakes listed next door but not in Nebraska: the northern cottonmouth (Kansas and Missouri); the western rattlesnake (Colorado and Wyoming); the broad-banded copperhead (Kansas); the eastern massasauga (Iowa); the pygmy rattlesnake (Missouri). The most widely shared is the prairie rattlesnake, listed in five of the six bordering states.

Yes. One widow species is on the Nebraska list: the western black widow (9 records).

Yes. The brown recluse is on the Nebraska list, with 13 licensed records.

Nebraska has 13 licensed records of the brown recluse, which ranks the state 11th of the 16 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Brown recluse profile.

Nebraska has 9 licensed records of the western black widow, which ranks the state 13th of the 18 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Western black widow profile.