Snakes and spiders in Brunswick County, North Carolina
Brunswick County, home of Bolivia, has 25 snake and 17 spider species on record, from 666 licensed snake and 111 spider records. Venomous species here: the northern cottonmouth, the eastern copperhead, the southern black widow and the brown widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Brunswick County?
Yes. The northern cottonmouth: 24 licensed records, 5% of all North Carolina records of it. The eastern copperhead: 22 licensed records, 1% of all North Carolina records of it. The southern black widow: 7 licensed records, 16% of all North Carolina records of it. The brown widow: 1 licensed record, 6% of all North Carolina records of it.
What snakes are in Brunswick County?
In all, 25 snake species are on the Brunswick County list. The most recorded are the southern watersnake (72), the eastern racer (64) and the mud snake (35).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern watersnake Nerodia fasciata | 72 | 6% |
| 2 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 64 | 5% |
| 3 | Mud snake Farancia abacura | 35 | 7% |
| 4 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 34 | 3% |
| 5 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | 33 | 4% |
| 6 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 33 | 2% |
| 7 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 30 | 3% |
| 8 | Crayfish snake Liodytes rigida | 29 | 42% |
| 9 | Scarlet snake Cemophora coccinea | 28 | 8% |
| 10 | Black swamp snake Liodytes pygaea | 25 | 36% |
| 11 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | 25 | 5% |
| 12 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 24 | 5% |
| 13 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 23 | 5% |
| 14 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | 23 | 3% |
| 15 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 23 | 3% |
| 16 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 22 | 1% |
| 17 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 18 | 3% |
| 18 | Pine woods snake Rhadinaea flavilata | 15 | 8% |
| 19 | Brown water snake Nerodia taxispilota | 12 | 3% |
| 20 | Mole kingsnake Lampropeltis rhombomaculata | 12 | 5% |
| 21 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 12 | 1% |
| 22 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 11 | 5% |
| 23 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | 11 | 1% |
| 24 | Southeastern crown snake Tantilla coronata | 9 | 4% |
| 25 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 8 | 2% |
When are snakes out in Brunswick County?
Observation records of snakes in Brunswick County run mostly April through August, peaking in June with 42% of them; across North Carolina the peak is May.
What spiders are in Brunswick County?
In all, 17 spider species are on the Brunswick County list. The most recorded are the American golden orb weaver (19), the black-and-yellow argiope (18) and the green lynx spider (12).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | 19 | 15% |
| 2 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 18 | 4% |
| 3 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 12 | 5% |
| 4 | Southern black widow venomous Latrodectus mactans | 7 | 16% |
| 5 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 6 | 5% |
| 6 | Leucauge argyrobapta | 5 | 8% |
| 7 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 4 | 4% |
| 8 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | 3 | 2% |
| 9 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | 3 | 3% |
| 10 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 3 | 2% |
| 11 | Brown widow venomous introduced Latrodectus geometricus | 1 | 6% |
| 12 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 1 | 0% |
| 13 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 1 | 1% |
| 14 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 1 | 1% |
| 15 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | — | — |
| 16 | Southern house spider Kukulcania hibernalis | — | — |
| 17 | Tigrosa annexa | — | — |
When are spiders out in Brunswick County?
Observation records of spiders in Brunswick County run mostly May through October, peaking in July with 23% of them; across North Carolina the peak is September.
What stands out in Brunswick County
Species for which Brunswick County holds a large share of all North Carolina records: the crayfish snake, 42% (29 of 69); the black swamp snake, 36% (25 of 69).
Common in North Carolina, not on the Brunswick County list
Among the snakes most recorded across North Carolina, these do not reach the county list: the northern water snake (1,281 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Among the spiders most recorded across North Carolina, these do not reach the county list: the Pocock's lampshade-web spider (302 statewide), the orchard orbweaver (300 statewide), the marbled orbweaver (198 statewide), the nursery web spider (188 statewide), the arrowhead orbweaver (161 statewide) and the spined micrathena (133 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Brunswick County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the corn snake, the eastern rat snake, the eastern hog-nosed snake and the plain-bellied watersnake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the southern watersnake, the mud snake, the brown water snake and the plain-bellied watersnake. No rattlesnakes reach the county list, but the timber rattlesnake and the pygmy rattlesnake are on the North Carolina list: treat any snake like them as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the eastern hog-nosed snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, but the eastern coral snake is on the North Carolina list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the scarlet snake. Recluse spiders are not on the North Carolina list, but GBIF holds 25 recluse spider records of any license in North Carolina (brown recluse 25): treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the southern house spider.
Brunswick County among North Carolina counties
By licensed snake records Brunswick County ranks 8th of 100 North Carolina counties with any.
Other North Carolina counties with their own page: Wake County, Sampson County, Columbus County, Durham County, Moore County, Orange County, Dare County and Bladen County.
The whole state: venomous species in North Carolina, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.