Snakes and spiders in Ulster County, New York
Ulster County, home of Kingston, has 13 snake and 31 spider species on record, from 1,788 licensed snake and 133 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead and the timber rattlesnake.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Ulster County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 224 licensed records, 94% of all New York records of it. The timber rattlesnake: 132 licensed records, 64% of all New York records of it.
What snakes are in Ulster County?
In all, 13 snake species are on the Ulster County list. The most recorded are the common garter snake (522), the northern water snake (263) and the eastern copperhead (224). Ulster County holds more than half of all New York records of the eastern copperhead, the timber rattlesnake and the eastern racer.
| # | Species | Records | Share of New York records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 522 | 22% |
| 2 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 263 | 29% |
| 3 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 224 | 94% |
| 4 | Timber rattlesnake venomous Crotalus horridus | 132 | 64% |
| 5 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 95 | 56% |
| 6 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 65 | 43% |
| 7 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 49 | 18% |
| 8 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | 38 | 12% |
| 9 | Smooth green snake Opheodrys vernalis | 15 | 11% |
| 10 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 9 | 3% |
| 11 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 9 | 3% |
| 12 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 3 | 3% |
| 13 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 1 | 4% |
When are snakes out in Ulster County?
Observation records of snakes in Ulster County run mostly April through October, peaking in June with 23% of them, the same peak as New York as a whole.
What spiders are in Ulster County?
In all, 31 spider species are on the Ulster County list. The most recorded are the dark fishing spider (23), the spined micrathena (12) and the orchard orbweaver (7).
| # | Species | Records | Share of New York records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 23 | 11% |
| 2 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 12 | 7% |
| 3 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 7 | 2% |
| 4 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 4 | 3% |
| 5 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 4 | 1% |
| 6 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | 4 | 2% |
| 7 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 4 | 2% |
| 8 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | 4 | 3% |
| 9 | Sixspotted orbweaver Araniella displicata | 4 | 3% |
| 10 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 4 | 1% |
| 11 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 3 | 4% |
| 12 | Banded fishing spider Dolomedes vittatus | 3 | 27% |
| 13 | Filmy dome spider Neriene radiata | 3 | 5% |
| 14 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 3 | 1% |
| 15 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 3 | 15% |
| 16 | Dock spider Dolomedes scriptus | 2 | 2% |
| 17 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | 2 | 5% |
| 18 | Paraphidippus aurantius | 2 | 1% |
| 19 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 2 | 2% |
| 20 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 2 | 3% |
| 21 | Wetland giant wolf spider Tigrosa helluo | 2 | 1% |
| 22 | Bowl and doily spider Frontinella pyramitela | 1 | 4% |
| 23 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | 1 | 4% |
| 24 | Drumming sword wolf spider Gladicosa gulosa | 1 | 2% |
| 25 | Featherlegged orbweaver Uloborus glomosus | 1 | 7% |
| 26 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 1 | 2% |
| 27 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | — | — |
| 28 | Dimorphic jumper Maevia inclemens | — | — |
| 29 | Dysdera crocata | — | — |
| 30 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | — | — |
| 31 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | — | — |
When are spiders out in Ulster County?
Observation records of spiders in Ulster County run mostly May through October, peaking in July with 20% of them; across New York the peak is August.
What stands out in Ulster County
Species for which Ulster County holds a large share of all New York records: the eastern copperhead, 94% (224 of 238); the timber rattlesnake, 64% (132 of 207); the eastern racer, 56% (95 of 171); the eastern rat snake, 43% (65 of 151); the northern water snake, 29% (263 of 903); the common garter snake, 22% (522 of 2,347); the ring-necked snake, 18% (49 of 276).
Harmless lookalikes in Ulster County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the northern water snake, the eastern rat snake, the eastern milksnake and the eastern hog-nosed snake. Cottonmouths are not on the New York list, but GBIF holds 1 cottonmouth record of any license in New York (northern cottonmouth 1): treat any snake like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the eastern hog-nosed snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for New York under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the eastern milksnake. No widow spiders reach the county list, but the northern black widow is on the New York list: treat any spider like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the triangulate bud spider.
Ulster County among New York counties
By licensed snake records Ulster County ranks 1st of 61 New York counties with any.
Other New York counties with their own page: Tompkins County, Onondaga County, Suffolk County, Rockland County, Westchester County and Nassau County.
The whole state: venomous species in New York, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.