Snakes and spiders in Macon County, North Carolina
Macon County, home of Franklin, has 13 snake and 18 spider species on record, from 481 licensed snake and 371 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead and the timber rattlesnake.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Macon County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 41 licensed records, 3% of all North Carolina records of it. The timber rattlesnake: 9 licensed records, 14% of all North Carolina records of it.
What snakes are in Macon County?
In all, 13 snake species are on the Macon County list. The most recorded are the ring-necked snake (144), the common garter snake (97) and the northern water snake (62).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 144 | 11% |
| 2 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 97 | 7% |
| 3 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 62 | 5% |
| 4 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 41 | 3% |
| 5 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 35 | 2% |
| 6 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | 22 | 13% |
| 7 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | 20 | 2% |
| 8 | Queen snake Regina septemvittata | 16 | 5% |
| 9 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 9 | 1% |
| 10 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 9 | 2% |
| 11 | Timber rattlesnake venomous Crotalus horridus | 9 | 14% |
| 12 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 7 | 1% |
| 13 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 6 | 1% |
When are snakes out in Macon County?
Observation records of snakes in Macon County run mostly April through October, peaking in June with 25% of them; across North Carolina the peak is May.
What spiders are in Macon County?
In all, 18 spider species are on the Macon County list. The most recorded are the Pocock's lampshade-web spider (46), Antrodiaetus microunicolor (17) and the dark fishing spider (4). Macon County holds more than half of all North Carolina records of Antrodiaetus microunicolor.
Related species: Antrodiaetus pacificus
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pocock's lampshade-web spider Hypochilus pococki | 46 | 15% |
| 2 | Antrodiaetus microunicolor | 17 | 100% |
| 3 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 4 | 3% |
| 4 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 4 | 3% |
| 5 | Joro spider Trichonephila clavata | 3 | 6% |
| 6 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | 3 | 2% |
| 7 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 3 | 1% |
| 8 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 3 | 3% |
| 9 | Banded fishing spider Dolomedes vittatus | 2 | 5% |
| 10 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 2 | 1% |
| 11 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 2 | 2% |
| 12 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | 1 | 1% |
| 13 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 1 | 1% |
| 14 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 1 | 0% |
| 15 | Giant lichen orbweaver Araneus bicentenarius | 1 | 8% |
| 16 | Grayish jumping spider Phidippus princeps | 1 | 3% |
| 17 | White micrathena Micrathena mitrata | 1 | 2% |
| 18 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | — | — |
When are spiders out in Macon County?
Observation records of spiders in Macon County run mostly March through October, peaking in August with 26% of them; across North Carolina the peak is September.
What stands out in Macon County
Species for which Macon County holds a large share of all North Carolina records: the Pocock's lampshade-web spider, 15% (46 of 302).
Common in North Carolina, not on the Macon County list
Among the snakes most recorded across North Carolina, these do not reach the county list: the southern watersnake (1,158 statewide), the rough greensnake (868 statewide), the corn snake (740 statewide) and the rough earthsnake (712 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 green lynx spider (220 statewide), the spotted orbweaver (198 statewide), the magnolia green jumper (184 statewide) and the American golden orb weaver (130 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Macon 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. No cottonmouths reach the county list, but the northern cottonmouth is on the North Carolina list: treat any snake like it 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, 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 eastern milksnake.
Macon County among North Carolina counties
By licensed snake records Macon County ranks 12th 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.