Snakes and spiders in Carteret County, North Carolina
Carteret County, home of Beaufort, has 16 snake and 11 spider species on record, from 340 licensed snake and 77 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead, the northern cottonmouth and the brown widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Carteret County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 21 licensed records, 1% of all North Carolina records of it. The northern cottonmouth: 14 licensed records, 3% of all North Carolina records of it. The brown widow: on record, no openly licensed records to count.
What snakes are in Carteret County?
In all, 16 snake species are on the Carteret County list. The most recorded are the eastern racer (52), the pine woods snake (26) and the rough earthsnake (26).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 52 | 4% |
| 2 | Pine woods snake Rhadinaea flavilata | 26 | 14% |
| 3 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | 26 | 4% |
| 4 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 22 | 3% |
| 5 | Southern watersnake Nerodia fasciata | 22 | 2% |
| 6 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 21 | 1% |
| 7 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 19 | 2% |
| 8 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 16 | 1% |
| 9 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | 15 | 3% |
| 10 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 14 | 3% |
| 11 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 13 | 1% |
| 12 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | 11 | 1% |
| 13 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 9 | 4% |
| 14 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | 9 | 1% |
| 15 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 5 | 1% |
| 16 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 5 | 1% |
What spiders are in Carteret County?
In all, 11 spider species are on the Carteret County list. The most recorded are the American golden orb weaver (24), the black-and-yellow argiope (6) and the spiny-backed orbweaver (5).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | 24 | 18% |
| 2 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 6 | 1% |
| 3 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 5 | 4% |
| 4 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | 5 | 5% |
| 5 | Leucauge argyrobapta | 4 | 6% |
| 6 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 3 | 1% |
| 7 | Red-femured spotted orbweaver Neoscona domiciliorum | 3 | 3% |
| 8 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 3 | 2% |
| 9 | Southern house spider Kukulcania hibernalis | 1 | 2% |
| 10 | Brown widow venomous introduced Latrodectus geometricus | — | — |
| 11 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | — | — |
When are spiders out in Carteret County?
Observation records of spiders in Carteret County run mostly March through October, peaking in September with 26% of them, the same peak as North Carolina as a whole.
What stands out in Carteret County
Species for which Carteret County holds a large share of all North Carolina records: the American golden orb weaver, 18% (24 of 130).
Common in North Carolina, not on the Carteret County list
Among the snakes most recorded across North Carolina, these do not reach the county list: the common garter snake (1,325 statewide) and the ring-necked snake (1,305 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 magnolia green jumper (184 statewide) and the arrowhead orbweaver (161 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Carteret 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 corn snake and the eastern hog-nosed snake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the southern watersnake, the northern 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. 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.
Carteret County among North Carolina counties
By licensed snake records Carteret County ranks 19th 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 Brunswick 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.