Snakes and spiders in Wake County, North Carolina

Yes. The eastern copperhead: 170 licensed records, 10% of all North Carolina records of it. The northern cottonmouth: 13 licensed records, 2% of all North Carolina records of it. The northern black widow: 7 licensed records, 18% of all North Carolina records of it. The southern black widow: 2 licensed records, 5% of all North Carolina records of it.

In all, 22 snake species are on the Wake County list. The most recorded are the northern water snake (286), the DeKay's brown snake (182) and the eastern copperhead (170).

Observation records of snakes in Wake County run mostly March through October, peaking in May with 20% of them, the same peak as North Carolina as a whole.

In all, 75 spider species are on the Wake County list. The most recorded are the orchard orbweaver (54), the black-and-yellow argiope (51) and the familiar jumping spider (47).

Observation records of spiders in Wake County run mostly April through November, peaking in August with 19% of them; across North Carolina the peak is September.

Species for which Wake County holds a large share of all North Carolina records: the red-femured spotted orbweaver, 32% (36 of 111); the basilica orbweaver, 31% (18 of 59); the smooth earth snake, 27% (63 of 235); the arrowhead orbweaver, 26% (42 of 161); the longbodied cellar spider, 23% (14 of 61); the northern water snake, 22% (286 of 1,281); the rough earthsnake, 22% (156 of 712); the DeKay's brown snake, 20% (182 of 922).

Among the snakes most recorded across North Carolina, these do not reach the county list: the southern watersnake (1,158 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). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.

Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the northern water snake, the eastern rat snake, the plain-bellied watersnake and the eastern hog-nosed snake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: 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. 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. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the false black widow, the triangulate bud spider and the common house spider. 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), 3 of them in Wake County: treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the longbodied cellar spider and the southern house spider.

By licensed snake records Wake County ranks 1st of 100 North Carolina counties with any.

Other North Carolina counties with their own page: Sampson County, Columbus County, Durham County, Moore County, Orange County, Dare County, Brunswick County and Bladen County.

The whole state: venomous species in North Carolina, all snakes, all spiders.