Venomous snakes and spiders in New Mexico
New Mexico has ten venomous snake species among the 56 snake species listed there: western diamondback rattlesnake, prairie rattlesnake, Mohave rattlesnake, black-tailed rattlesnake, rock rattlesnake, eastern black-tailed rattlesnake, western massasauga, ridge-nosed rattlesnake, Sonoran coralsnake and Arizona black rattlesnake. The western diamondback rattlesnake accounts for the most records (684), and venomous species make up 28% of all 6,452 licensed snake records in the state. On the spider side, two species are medically significant: western black widow and Apache recluse.
Venomous snakes of New Mexico
New Mexico's venomous snakes are nine rattlesnake species and one coral snake species. Together they account for 1,837 licensed records; the western diamondback rattlesnake alone has 37% of them, and the least recorded, the Arizona black rattlesnake, has 1.
Dangerous spiders of New Mexico
One widow species (Western black widow: 137 records) and one recluse species (Apache recluse: 22 records) are on the New Mexico list. Widow bites cause muscle pain and cramps; recluse bites can cause a slow-healing wound. Both are rare and seldom fatal.
Are there scorpions in New Mexico?
Yes. Nine scorpion species are recorded in New Mexico, from 253 licensed records, the five most recorded: Lesser stripetail scorpion (79 records), Striped bark scorpion (46 records), Russell's scorpion (30 records), Chihuahuan slendertailed scorpion (17 records), Eastern sand scorpion (17 records). Every scorpion has venom; only the Arizona bark scorpion's sting is medically significant, and it is on the New Mexico list.
Also recorded in New Mexico, fewer than 10 times
Beyond the main list, two scorpion species are known from New Mexico by only 3 to 9 records each. Some are genuine rarities at the edge of their range; others may be strays, released pets or old misidentifications, so treat them as unconfirmed.
Other snakes recorded most in New Mexico
These eight account for 39% of all licensed snake records in New Mexico; the most recorded, the gopher snake, alone for 11%.
Other spiders recorded most in New Mexico
These eight account for 14% of all licensed spider records in New Mexico; the most recorded, the Texas brown tarantula, alone for 2%.
All 247 spiders of New Mexico →
When venomous snakes are out in New Mexico
Observation records of venomous snakes in New Mexico run mostly May through October, peaking in August with 42% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so venomous snakes in New Mexico are rarely recorded in winter.
Season of each venomous snake
| Species | Main season | Peak month | Winter share | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western diamondback rattlesnake | May through October | August | 0% | 349 |
| Prairie rattlesnake | April through September | September | 0% | 122 |
| Mohave rattlesnake | July through September | August | 0% | 103 |
| Eastern black-tailed rattlesnake | May through October | September | 0% | 38 |
When spiders are most active in New Mexico
Observation records of spiders in New Mexico run mostly March through October, peaking in September with 16% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 5% of the records.
When scorpions are out in New Mexico
Observation records of scorpions in New Mexico run mostly March through September, peaking in August with 27% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so scorpions in New Mexico are rarely recorded in winter.
Counties with the most venomous snake records
Hidalgo County has the most records of venomous snakes in New Mexico, 636, most of them of the western diamondback rattlesnake. Doña Ana County and Grant County follow.
| # | County | Records | Most recorded there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hidalgo County | 636 | Western diamondback rattlesnake |
| 2 | Doña Ana County | 241 | Western diamondback rattlesnake |
| 3 | Grant County | 113 | Prairie rattlesnake |
| 4 | Socorro County | 112 | Prairie rattlesnake |
| 5 | Eddy County | 89 | Western diamondback rattlesnake |
| 6 | Otero County | 57 | Western diamondback rattlesnake |
| 7 | Luna County | 50 | Western diamondback rattlesnake |
| 8 | Sierra County | 48 | Western diamondback rattlesnake |
| 9 | Taos County | 39 | Prairie rattlesnake |
| 10 | Catron County | 18 | Black-tailed rattlesnake |
Where in New Mexico are snakes recorded most?
Hidalgo County leads with 1,320 records (20%), followed by Eddy County and Doña Ana County; the top five counties hold 58% of the total. 33 of New Mexico's 33 counties have at least one licensed snake record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hidalgo County | 1,320 | 20.5% |
| 2 | Eddy County | 986 | 15.3% |
| 3 | Doña Ana County | 747 | 11.6% |
| 4 | Grant County | 454 | 7.0% |
| 5 | Socorro County | 267 | 4.1% |
| 6 | Luna County | 262 | 4.1% |
| 7 | Catron County | 250 | 3.9% |
| 8 | Otero County | 240 | 3.7% |
| 9 | Rio Arriba County | 206 | 3.2% |
| 10 | Sierra County | 195 | 3.0% |
| 11 | Lincoln County | 168 | 2.6% |
| 12 | Bernalillo County | 168 | 2.6% |
New Mexico counties with their own page: Bernalillo County, Doña Ana County, Eddy County, Grant County and Hidalgo County.
Are there poisonous snakes in New Mexico?
Yes. New Mexico has ten venomous snake species on its list, the kind people usually call poisonous: western diamondback rattlesnake, prairie rattlesnake, Mohave rattlesnake, black-tailed rattlesnake, rock rattlesnake, eastern black-tailed rattlesnake, western massasauga, ridge-nosed rattlesnake, Sonoran coralsnake and Arizona black rattlesnake. Strictly, snakes are venomous (they inject venom), not poisonous (harmful to eat or touch).
Are there rattlesnakes in New Mexico?
Yes. Nine species are on the New Mexico list: the western diamondback rattlesnake, the prairie rattlesnake, the Mohave rattlesnake, the black-tailed rattlesnake, the rock rattlesnake, the eastern black-tailed rattlesnake, the western massasauga, the ridge-nosed rattlesnake and the Arizona black rattlesnake, with 1,832 licensed records between them. Most licensed records of the western diamondback rattlesnake come from Hidalgo County, Doña Ana County and Eddy County.
Are there copperheads in New Mexico?
No. GBIF holds no copperhead record for New Mexico under any license.
Are there cottonmouths (water moccasins) in New Mexico?
No. GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for New Mexico under any license.
Are there coral snakes in New Mexico?
Yes. One species is on the New Mexico list: the Sonoran coralsnake, with 5 licensed records.
Western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)
New Mexico has 684 licensed records of the western diamondback rattlesnake, which ranks the state 3rd of the 7 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in New Mexico run mostly May through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Hidalgo County, Doña Ana County and Eddy County. Range in other states and photos: Western diamondback rattlesnake profile.
Prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis)
New Mexico has 573 licensed records of the prairie rattlesnake, which ranks the state 3rd of the 14 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in New Mexico run mostly April through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Hidalgo County, Doña Ana County and Socorro County. Range in other states and photos: Prairie rattlesnake profile.
Mohave rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus)
New Mexico has 216 licensed records of the Mohave rattlesnake, which ranks the state 4th of the 6 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in New Mexico run mostly July through September, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Hidalgo County, Otero County and Grant County. Range in other states and photos: Mohave rattlesnake profile.
Black-tailed rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus)
New Mexico has 150 licensed records of the black-tailed rattlesnake, which ranks the state 2nd of the 2 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in New Mexico come from Hidalgo County, Grant County and Catron County. Range in other states and photos: Black-tailed rattlesnake profile.
Rock rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus)
New Mexico has 91 licensed records of the rock rattlesnake, which ranks the state 3rd of the 3 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in New Mexico come from Doña Ana County, Grant County and Hidalgo County. Range in other states and photos: Rock rattlesnake profile.
Eastern black-tailed rattlesnake (Crotalus ornatus)
New Mexico has 65 licensed records of the eastern black-tailed rattlesnake, which ranks the state 2nd of the 2 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in New Mexico run mostly May through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Doña Ana County, Sierra County and Otero County. Range in other states and photos: Eastern black-tailed rattlesnake profile.
Western massasauga (Sistrurus tergeminus)
New Mexico has 46 licensed records of the western massasauga, which ranks the state 6th of the 8 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in New Mexico come from Valencia County, Bernalillo County and Socorro County. Range in other states and photos: Western massasauga profile.
Ridge-nosed rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi)
New Mexico has 6 licensed records of the ridge-nosed rattlesnake, which ranks the state 2nd of the 2 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Ridge-nosed rattlesnake profile.
Sonoran coralsnake (Micruroides euryxanthus)
New Mexico has 5 licensed records of the Sonoran coralsnake, which ranks the state 2nd of the 2 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Sonoran coralsnake profile.
Arizona black rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus)
New Mexico has 1 licensed record of the Arizona black rattlesnake, which ranks the state 2nd of the 2 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Arizona black rattlesnake profile.
Harmless lookalikes in New Mexico
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 Mexico.
What looks like a copperhead in New Mexico
No copperheads reach the New Mexico list, and GBIF holds no copperhead record for New Mexico under any license, so a snake taken for one here is most likely a harmless lookalike. Those recorded in the state: plain-bellied watersnake (23), corn snake (15), central plains milksnake (8) and eastern milksnake (8).
What looks like a cottonmouth in New Mexico
No cottonmouths reach the New Mexico list, and GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for New Mexico under any license, so a snake taken for one here is most likely a harmless lookalike. Those recorded in the state: plain-bellied watersnake (23).
What looks like a rattlesnake in New Mexico
Rattlesnakes: 1,832 licensed records in New Mexico. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: gopher snake (710), plains hog-nosed snake (71) and Great Plains rat snake (18). Together they have 799 licensed records, and here the venomous species are the more recorded side, 2.3 to 1.
What looks like a coral snake in New Mexico
Coral snakes: 5 licensed records in New Mexico. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: long-nosed snake (169), Sonoran mountain kingsnake (34), central plains milksnake (8) and eastern milksnake (8). Together they have 219 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 44 times as often.
What looks like a widow spider in New Mexico
Widow spiders: 137 licensed records in New Mexico. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: false black widow (10) and triangulate bud spider (2). Together they have 12 licensed records, and here the venomous species are the more recorded side, 11.4 to 1.
What looks like a recluse spider in New Mexico
Recluse spiders: 22 licensed records in New Mexico. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: southern house spider (on record). The lookalikes are on the list from records under other licenses, with no openly licensed records to count, so the two sides are not compared.
How New Mexico compares
By count of venomous snake species, New Mexico ranks 3rd of 50 states. Nationally, Arizona leads with 14 species; five list none.
Of the five states bordering New Mexico, Arizona and Texas list more venomous snake species (New Mexico: 10 species; Arizona 14, Texas 12, Oklahoma 8, Utah 5, Colorado 3).
Venomous snakes listed next door but not in New Mexico: the western rattlesnake (Arizona, Colorado and Utah); the broad-banded copperhead (Oklahoma and Texas); the eastern copperhead (Oklahoma and Texas); the northern cottonmouth (Oklahoma and Texas); the pygmy rattlesnake (Oklahoma and Texas); the sidewinder (Arizona and Utah). Listed next door and recorded in New Mexico too, but too few times to list (records of any license): the timber rattlesnake, recorded here only one time (listed in Oklahoma and Texas); the tiger rattlesnake, recorded here only two times (listed in Arizona); the twin-spotted rattlesnake, recorded here only one time (listed in Arizona). The most widely shared is the prairie rattlesnake, listed in all five bordering states.
Are there poisonous spiders in New Mexico?
Does New Mexico have black widows?
Yes. One widow species is on the New Mexico list: the western black widow (137 records).
Does New Mexico have brown recluse spiders?
Not on our list: GBIF holds 6 brown recluse records of any license in New Mexico (brown recluse 6), 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 recluse as venomous. Other recluse species on the New Mexico list: the Apache recluse.
Western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus)
New Mexico has 137 licensed records of the western black widow, which ranks the state 6th of the 18 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in New Mexico run mostly May through November, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Bernalillo County, Doña Ana County and Hidalgo County. Range in other states and photos: Western black widow profile.
Apache recluse (Loxosceles apachea)
New Mexico has 22 licensed records of the Apache recluse, which ranks the state 1st of the 2 states where it reaches our threshold.
More for New Mexico
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.