Snakes and spiders in Atoka County, Oklahoma
Atoka County, home of Atoka, has 18 snake and 2 spider species on record, from 375 licensed snake and 9 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead, the northern cottonmouth, the western diamondback rattlesnake and the timber rattlesnake.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Atoka County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 45 licensed records, 14% of all Oklahoma records of it. The northern cottonmouth: 41 licensed records, 10% of all Oklahoma records of it. The western diamondback rattlesnake: 12 licensed records, 3% of all Oklahoma records of it. The timber rattlesnake: 7 licensed records, 6% of all Oklahoma records of it.
What snakes are in Atoka County?
In all, 18 snake species are on the Atoka County list. The most recorded are the eastern copperhead (45), the northern cottonmouth (41) and the flathead snake (26).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Oklahoma records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 45 | 14% |
| 2 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 41 | 10% |
| 3 | Flathead snake Tantilla gracilis | 26 | 2% |
| 4 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 24 | 3% |
| 5 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 18 | 2% |
| 6 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | 18 | 6% |
| 7 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 17 | 3% |
| 8 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 17 | 3% |
| 9 | Great Plains rat snake Pantherophis emoryi | 17 | 20% |
| 10 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 16 | 5% |
| 11 | Speckled kingsnake Lampropeltis holbrooki | 14 | 5% |
| 12 | Western diamondback rattlesnake venomous Crotalus atrox | 12 | 3% |
| 13 | Central plains milksnake Lampropeltis gentilis | 10 | 16% |
| 14 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 10 | 3% |
| 15 | Diamondback water snake Nerodia rhombifer | 9 | 2% |
| 16 | Western rat snake Pantherophis obsoletus | 9 | 2% |
| 17 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 7 | 3% |
| 18 | Timber rattlesnake venomous Crotalus horridus | 7 | 6% |
What stands out in Atoka County
Species for which Atoka County holds a large share of all Oklahoma records: the Great Plains rat snake, 20% (17 of 83); the central plains milksnake, 16% (10 of 64).
Common in Oklahoma, not on the Atoka County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Oklahoma, these do not reach the county list: the western ground snake (1,354 statewide), the western ribbon snake (589 statewide) and the lined snake (480 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Atoka County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the plain-bellied watersnake, the central plains milksnake and the eastern hog-nosed snake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the plain-bellied watersnake and the diamondback water snake. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the Great Plains rat snake and the eastern hog-nosed snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Oklahoma under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the central plains milksnake.
Atoka County among Oklahoma counties
By licensed snake records Atoka County ranks 9th of 77 Oklahoma counties with any.
Other Oklahoma counties with their own page: Tulsa County, Comanche County, LeFlore County, Cleveland County, McCurtain County, Okmulgee County, Marshall County and Rogers County.
The whole state: venomous species in Oklahoma, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.