Snakes and spiders in Ottawa County, Ohio
Ottawa County, home of Port Clinton, has 5 snake and 18 spider species on record, from 357 licensed snake and 133 spider records. No venomous snake or spider reaches the county list, but the eastern copperhead, the eastern massasauga, the timber rattlesnake, the northern black widow and 2 more are on the Ohio list: treat any snake or spider like them as venomous until identified.
What snakes are in Ottawa County?
In all, 5 snake species are on the Ottawa County list. The most recorded are the northern water snake (146), the DeKay's brown snake (125) and the common garter snake (51).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Ohio records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 146 | 11% |
| 2 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 125 | 13% |
| 3 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 51 | 3% |
| 4 | Eastern fox snake Pantherophis vulpinus | 21 | 17% |
| 5 | Butler's garter snake Thamnophis butleri | 2 | 4% |
When are snakes out in Ottawa County?
Observation records of snakes in Ottawa County run mostly March through September, peaking in May with 33% of them, the same peak as Ohio as a whole.
What spiders are in Ottawa County?
In all, 18 spider species are on the Ottawa County list. The most recorded are the common candy-striped spider (56), the white long-legged cobweaver (10) and the arabesque orbweaver (6). Ottawa County holds more than half of all Ohio records of the common candy-striped spider, the white long-legged cobweaver, Theridion glaucescens and the ornamental orbweaver.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Ohio records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Common candy-striped spider Enoplognatha ovata | 56 | 78% |
| 2 | White long-legged cobweaver Theridion albidum | 10 | 77% |
| 3 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | 6 | 12% |
| 4 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 5 | 3% |
| 5 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 5 | 5% |
| 6 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 4 | 1% |
| 7 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | 3 | 3% |
| 8 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 2 | 1% |
| 9 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 2 | 1% |
| 10 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | 2 | 1% |
| 11 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 2 | 1% |
| 12 | Theridion glaucescens | 2 | 100% |
| 13 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 2 | 1% |
| 14 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 1 | 0% |
| 15 | Ornamental orbweaver Larinioides patagiatus | 1 | 50% |
| 16 | Dysdera crocata | — | — |
| 17 | Stone spider Pardosa lapidicina | — | — |
| 18 | Tetragnatha guatemalensis | — | — |
When are spiders out in Ottawa County?
Observation records of spiders in Ottawa County run mostly April through September, peaking in August with 50% of them; across Ohio the peak is June.
What stands out in Ottawa County
Species for which Ottawa County holds a large share of all Ohio records: the common candy-striped spider, 78% (56 of 72); the eastern fox snake, 17% (21 of 127).
Common in Ohio, not on the Ottawa County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Ohio, these do not reach the county list: the queen snake (323 statewide), the eastern rat snake (256 statewide), the eastern milksnake (214 statewide), the ring-necked snake (194 statewide), the eastern racer (154 statewide) and the red-bellied snake (124 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 Ohio, these do not reach the county list: the nursery web spider (199 statewide), Paraphidippus aurantius (190 statewide), the spotted orbweaver (167 statewide) and the wetland giant wolf spider (127 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Ottawa County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead is on the Ohio list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, and GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for Ohio under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the northern water snake. No rattlesnakes reach the county list, but the eastern massasauga and the timber rattlesnake are on the Ohio list: treat any snake like them as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the eastern fox snake.
Ottawa County among Ohio counties
By licensed snake records Ottawa County ranks 2nd of 88 Ohio counties with any.
Other Ohio counties with their own page: Summit County, Erie County, Cuyahoga County, Franklin County, Montgomery County, Hamilton County and Richland County.
The whole state: venomous species in Ohio, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.