Venomous snakes and spiders in New Hampshire
No venomous snake species reaches our listing threshold in New Hampshire: none of the 9 snake species listed there is venomous to people, from 584 licensed records. GBIF holds 2 venomous snake records of any license in New Hampshire (timber rattlesnake 2), fewer than 10 of any one species; sensitive species can be withheld from open records. Treat any snake that looks like a rattlesnake as venomous. No widow or recluse spider reaches the listing threshold in New Hampshire. GBIF holds 10 widow or recluse records of any license in New Hampshire (northern black widow 8, red widow 1, brown widow 1), fewer than 10 of any one species; such records can be genuine rarities, strays, transported animals or misidentifications. Treat any spider that looks like a widow as venomous.
Are there venomous snakes in New Hampshire?
Not on our list: GBIF holds 2 venomous snake records of any license in New Hampshire (timber rattlesnake 2), fewer than 10 of any one species; sensitive species can be withheld from open records. Treat any snake that looks like a rattlesnake as venomous.
Dangerous spiders of New Hampshire
No widow or recluse spider reaches the New Hampshire list, which needs 10 GBIF records of a species, out of 1,384 licensed spider records in all. GBIF holds 10 widow or recluse records of any license in New Hampshire (northern black widow 8, red widow 1, brown widow 1), fewer than 10 of any one species; such records can be genuine rarities, strays, transported animals or misidentifications. Treat any spider that looks like a widow as venomous.
Other snakes recorded most in New Hampshire
These eight account for 98% of all licensed snake records in New Hampshire; the most recorded, the common garter snake, alone for 56%.
All 9 snakes of New Hampshire →
Other spiders recorded most in New Hampshire
These eight account for 37% of all licensed spider records in New Hampshire; the most recorded, the nursery web spider, alone for 8%.
All 72 spiders of New Hampshire →
When are snakes out in New Hampshire?
Observation records of snakes in New Hampshire run mostly April through October, peaking in June with 24% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so snakes in New Hampshire are rarely recorded in winter.
When spiders are most active in New Hampshire
Observation records of spiders in New Hampshire run mostly April through September, peaking in July with 26% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so spiders in New Hampshire are rarely recorded in winter.
Where in New Hampshire are snakes recorded most?
Cheshire County leads with 120 records (21%), followed by Hillsborough County and Rockingham County; the top five counties hold 76% of the total. 10 of New Hampshire's 10 counties have at least one licensed snake record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cheshire County | 120 | 20.5% |
| 2 | Hillsborough County | 107 | 18.3% |
| 3 | Rockingham County | 96 | 16.4% |
| 4 | Grafton County | 73 | 12.5% |
| 5 | Sullivan County | 47 | 8.0% |
| 6 | Carroll County | 39 | 6.7% |
| 7 | Coos County | 39 | 6.7% |
| 8 | Belknap County | 27 | 4.6% |
| 9 | Merrimack County | 26 | 4.5% |
| 10 | Strafford County | 10 | 1.7% |
Harmless lookalikes in New Hampshire
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 New Hampshire.
What looks like a copperhead in New Hampshire
No copperheads reach the New Hampshire list, and GBIF holds no copperhead record for New Hampshire under any license, so a snake taken for one here is most likely a harmless lookalike. Those recorded in the state: northern water snake (71) and eastern milksnake (49).
What looks like a cottonmouth in New Hampshire
No cottonmouths reach the New Hampshire list, and GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for New Hampshire under any license, so a snake taken for one here is most likely a harmless lookalike. Those recorded in the state: northern water snake (71).
What looks like a rattlesnake in New Hampshire
Rattlesnakes are not on the New Hampshire list, but they are recorded in New Hampshire two times (records of any license: timber rattlesnake 2): treat any snake like this as venomous until identified.
What looks like a coral snake in New Hampshire
No coral snakes reach the New Hampshire list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for New Hampshire under any license, so a snake taken for one here is most likely a harmless lookalike. Those recorded in the state: eastern milksnake (49).
What looks like a widow spider in New Hampshire
Widow spiders are not on the New Hampshire list, but they are recorded in New Hampshire ten times (records of any license: northern black widow 8, red widow 1, brown widow 1): treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them in the state: common house spider (3) and boreal combfoot (2).
What looks like a recluse spider in New Hampshire
No recluse spiders reach the New Hampshire list, and GBIF holds no recluse spider record for New Hampshire under any license, so a spider taken for one here is most likely a harmless lookalike. Those recorded in the state: longbodied cellar spider (3).
How New Hampshire compares
New Hampshire is one of five states with no venomous snake on the list; the others are Alaska, Hawaii, Maine and Rhode Island. GBIF still holds a few venomous snake records for three of them, too few to list: Hawaii (pelagic sea snake: 5 records), Maine (timber rattlesnake: 3 records) and New Hampshire (timber rattlesnake: 2 records). At the other end, Arizona leads with 14 species.
Of the three states bordering New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont list more venomous snake species; Maine lists as many (New Hampshire: 0 species; Massachusetts 2, Vermont 1, Maine 0).
Venomous snakes listed next door but not in New Hampshire: the eastern copperhead (Massachusetts). Listed next door and recorded in New Hampshire too, but too few times to list (records of any license): the timber rattlesnake, recorded here only two times (listed in Massachusetts and Vermont).
Are there poisonous spiders in New Hampshire?
Does New Hampshire have black widows?
Not on our list: GBIF holds 10 widow spider records of any license in New Hampshire (northern black widow 8, red widow 1, brown widow 1), fewer than 10 of any one species; such records can be genuine rarities, strays, transported animals or misidentifications. Treat any spider that looks like a widow as venomous.
Does New Hampshire have brown recluse spiders?
No. GBIF holds no brown recluse record for New Hampshire under any license.
Are there scorpions in New Hampshire?
No. GBIF holds no scorpion record for New Hampshire under any license. Every scorpion has venom; only the Arizona bark scorpion's sting is medically significant, and it is not on the New Hampshire list.
More for New Hampshire
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.