Snakes and spiders in Benton County, Oregon
Benton County, home of Corvallis, has 7 snake and 30 spider species on record, from 308 licensed snake and 234 spider records. No venomous snake or spider reaches the county list, but the western rattlesnake and the western black widow are on the Oregon list: treat any snake or spider like them as venomous until identified.
What snakes are in Benton County?
In all, 7 snake species are on the Benton County list. The most recorded are the northwestern garter snake (84), the northern rubber boa (74) and the common garter snake (54). Benton County holds more than half of all Oregon records of the sharp-tailed snake.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Oregon records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern garter snake Thamnophis ordinoides | 84 | 4% |
| 2 | Northern rubber boa Charina bottae | 74 | 27% |
| 3 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 54 | 3% |
| 4 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 34 | 10% |
| 5 | Sharp-tailed snake Contia tenuis | 22 | 56% |
| 6 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 20 | 9% |
| 7 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 9 | 11% |
When are snakes out in Benton County?
Observation records of snakes in Benton County run mostly March through October, peaking in May with 26% of them, the same peak as Oregon as a whole.
What spiders are in Benton County?
In all, 30 spider species are on the Benton County list. The most recorded are the garden spider (36), the bold jumper (23) and the goldenrod crab spider (21).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Oregon records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Garden spider Araneus diadematus | 36 | 10% |
| 2 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 23 | 8% |
| 3 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | 21 | 10% |
| 4 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 8 | 4% |
| 5 | Giant house spider Eratigena duellica | 7 | 9% |
| 6 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | 6 | 10% |
| 7 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 4 | 14% |
| 8 | False black widow Steatoda grossa | 4 | 15% |
| 9 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 3 | 18% |
| 10 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | 3 | 16% |
| 11 | Mouse spider Scotophaeus blackwalli | 3 | 21% |
| 12 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 3 | 5% |
| 13 | Common candy-striped spider Enoplognatha ovata | 2 | 5% |
| 14 | Common foldingdoor spider Antrodiaetus pacificus | 2 | 12% |
| 15 | Nearctic white-striped running crab spider Philodromus rufus | 2 | 14% |
| 16 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | 1 | 3% |
| 17 | Cone-shaped orbweaver Cyclosa conica | 1 | 4% |
| 18 | Eurasian running crab spider Philodromus dispar | 1 | 3% |
| 19 | Hobo spider Eratigena agrestis | 1 | 6% |
| 20 | House jumping spider Pseudeuophrys lanigera | 1 | 25% |
| 21 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | 1 | 2% |
| 22 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 1 | 4% |
| 23 | California flattened jumping spider Platycryptus californicus | — | — |
| 24 | Hirsute paradise spider Habronattus hirsutus | — | — |
| 25 | Metaphidippus manni | — | — |
| 26 | Neriene digna | — | — |
| 27 | Pelegrina aeneola | — | — |
| 28 | Phanias harfordi | — | — |
| 29 | Proszynski's jumping spider Evarcha proszynskii | — | — |
| 30 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | — | — |
When are spiders out in Benton County?
Observation records of spiders in Benton County run mostly April through November, peaking in July with 18% of them; across Oregon the peak is June.
What stands out in Benton County
Species for which Benton County holds a large share of all Oregon records: the sharp-tailed snake, 56% (22 of 39); the northern rubber boa, 27% (74 of 270).
Common in Oregon, not on the Benton County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Oregon, these do not reach the county list: the western terrestrial garter snake (1,814 statewide), the aquatic garter snake (268 statewide), the western rattlesnake (171 statewide), the striped whipsnake (22 statewide) and the western aquatic garter snake (19 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 Oregon, these do not reach the county list: Habronattus amicus (93 statewide), Habronattus ustulatus (60 statewide) and Dysdera crocata (43 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Benton County
No rattlesnakes reach the county list, but the western rattlesnake is on the Oregon list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the gopher snake. No widow spiders reach the county list, but the western black widow is on the Oregon list: treat any spider like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the false black widow and the triangulate bud spider. No recluse spiders reach the county list, and GBIF holds no recluse spider record for Oregon under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the longbodied cellar spider and the hobo spider.
Benton County among Oregon counties
By licensed snake records Benton County ranks 9th of 36 Oregon counties with any.
Other Oregon counties with their own page: Jackson County, Klamath County, Columbia County, Lane County, Curry County and Multnomah County.
The whole state: venomous species in Oregon, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.