Snakes and spiders in Watauga County, North Carolina
Watauga County, home of Boone, has 9 snake and 22 spider species on record, from 340 licensed snake and 169 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Watauga County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 12 licensed records, 1% of all North Carolina records of it.
What snakes are in Watauga County?
In all, 9 snake species are on the Watauga County list. The most recorded are the ring-necked snake (79), the common garter snake (70) and the queen snake (52).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 79 | 6% |
| 2 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 70 | 5% |
| 3 | Queen snake Regina septemvittata | 52 | 15% |
| 4 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 49 | 4% |
| 5 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 28 | 1% |
| 6 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | 26 | 15% |
| 7 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 12 | 1% |
| 8 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 9 | 1% |
| 9 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 6 | 3% |
When are snakes out in Watauga County?
Observation records of snakes in Watauga County run mostly April through September, peaking in July with 21% of them; across North Carolina the peak is May.
What spiders are in Watauga County?
In all, 22 spider species are on the Watauga County list. The most recorded are the marbled orbweaver (7), the Pocock's lampshade-web spider (7) and the orchard orbweaver (4).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | 7 | 4% |
| 2 | Pocock's lampshade-web spider Hypochilus pococki | 7 | 2% |
| 3 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 4 | 1% |
| 4 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 3 | 1% |
| 5 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 2 | 7% |
| 6 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 2 | 2% |
| 7 | Dock spider Dolomedes scriptus | 2 | 7% |
| 8 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | 2 | 4% |
| 9 | Nordmann's orbweaver spider Araneus nordmanni | 2 | 18% |
| 10 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 2 | 4% |
| 11 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 1 | 1% |
| 12 | Banded fishing spider Dolomedes vittatus | 1 | 2% |
| 13 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 1 | 1% |
| 14 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 1 | 0% |
| 15 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 1 | 1% |
| 16 | Paraphidippus aurantius | 1 | 1% |
| 17 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | — | — |
| 18 | Grayish jumping spider Phidippus princeps | — | — |
| 19 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | — | — |
| 20 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | — | — |
| 21 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | — | — |
| 22 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | — | — |
When are spiders out in Watauga County?
Observation records of spiders in Watauga County run mostly May through October, peaking in July with 36% of them; across North Carolina the peak is September.
What stands out in Watauga County
Species for which Watauga County holds a large share of all North Carolina records: the queen snake, 15% (52 of 341); the eastern milksnake, 15% (26 of 172).
Common in North Carolina, not on the Watauga County list
Among the snakes most recorded across North Carolina, these do not reach the county list: the southern watersnake (1,158 statewide), the eastern wormsnake (975 statewide), the DeKay's brown snake (922 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 magnolia green jumper (184 statewide), the arrowhead orbweaver (161 statewide), the spined micrathena (133 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 Watauga County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the northern water snake, the eastern rat snake and the eastern milksnake. 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. 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.
Watauga County among North Carolina counties
By licensed snake records Watauga 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.