Snakes and spiders in Berkeley County, South Carolina
Berkeley County, home of Moncks Corner, has 24 snake and 19 spider species on record, from 460 licensed snake and 38 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead, the northern cottonmouth, the timber rattlesnake, the southern black widow and the brown widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Berkeley County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 27 licensed records, 15% of all South Carolina records of it. The northern cottonmouth: 27 licensed records, 15% of all South Carolina records of it. The timber rattlesnake: 4 licensed records, 6% of all South Carolina records of it. The southern black widow: 3 licensed records, 12% of all South Carolina records of it. The brown widow: 1 licensed record, 7% of all South Carolina records of it.
What snakes are in Berkeley County?
In all, 24 snake species are on the Berkeley County list. The most recorded are the southern watersnake (42), the eastern copperhead (27) and the northern cottonmouth (27). Berkeley County holds more than half of all South Carolina records of the pine woods snake.
| # | Species | Records | Share of South Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern watersnake Nerodia fasciata | 42 | 19% |
| 2 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 27 | 15% |
| 3 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 27 | 15% |
| 4 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 27 | 15% |
| 5 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 26 | 12% |
| 6 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 26 | 27% |
| 7 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 22 | 20% |
| 8 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 22 | 16% |
| 9 | Rainbow snake Farancia erytrogramma | 21 | 24% |
| 10 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 20 | 22% |
| 11 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | 20 | 32% |
| 12 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | 19 | 20% |
| 13 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 16 | 10% |
| 14 | Mud snake Farancia abacura | 16 | 15% |
| 15 | Pine woods snake Rhadinaea flavilata | 14 | 54% |
| 16 | Black swamp snake Liodytes pygaea | 12 | 17% |
| 17 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | 12 | 11% |
| 18 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | 10 | 7% |
| 19 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 10 | 11% |
| 20 | Scarlet kingsnake Lampropeltis elapsoides | 10 | 24% |
| 21 | Southeastern crown snake Tantilla coronata | 9 | 19% |
| 22 | Brown water snake Nerodia taxispilota | 7 | 3% |
| 23 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 5 | 4% |
| 24 | Timber rattlesnake venomous Crotalus horridus | 4 | 6% |
When are snakes out in Berkeley County?
Observation records of snakes in Berkeley County run mostly March through September, peaking in May with 44% of them; across South Carolina the peak is April.
What spiders are in Berkeley County?
In all, 19 spider species are on the Berkeley County list. The most recorded are the American golden orb weaver (5), the black-and-yellow argiope (4) and the spiny-backed orbweaver (4).
| # | Species | Records | Share of South Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | 5 | 3% |
| 2 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 4 | 3% |
| 3 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 4 | 4% |
| 4 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | 4 | 4% |
| 5 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 3 | 5% |
| 6 | Southern black widow venomous Latrodectus mactans | 3 | 12% |
| 7 | Brown widow venomous introduced Latrodectus geometricus | 1 | 7% |
| 8 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 1 | 3% |
| 9 | Leucauge argyrobapta | 1 | 2% |
| 10 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | 1 | 1% |
| 11 | Red-femured spotted orbweaver Neoscona domiciliorum | 1 | 2% |
| 12 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 1 | 3% |
| 13 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 1 | 9% |
| 14 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 1 | 2% |
| 15 | Cribellate spider Metaltella simoni | — | — |
| 16 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | — | — |
| 17 | Pantropical jumper Plexippus paykulli | — | — |
| 18 | Southern house spider Kukulcania hibernalis | — | — |
| 19 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | — | — |
When are spiders out in Berkeley County?
Observation records of spiders in Berkeley County run mostly February through September, peaking in August with 32% of them; across South Carolina the peak is July.
What stands out in Berkeley County
Species for which Berkeley County holds a large share of all South Carolina records: the pine woods snake, 54% (14 of 26); the rough earthsnake, 32% (20 of 62); the red-bellied snake, 27% (26 of 98); the rainbow snake, 24% (21 of 86); the scarlet kingsnake, 24% (10 of 42); the eastern ribbonsnake, 22% (20 of 93); the plain-bellied watersnake, 20% (22 of 110); the eastern wormsnake, 20% (19 of 97).
Common in South Carolina, not on the Berkeley County list
Among the snakes most recorded across South Carolina, these do not reach the county list: the crayfish snake (128 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 South Carolina, these do not reach the county list: the Joro spider (173 statewide), the marbled orbweaver (47 statewide) and the orchard orbweaver (45 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Berkeley County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the plain-bellied watersnake, the eastern rat snake, the corn snake and the eastern hog-nosed snake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the southern watersnake, the plain-bellied watersnake, the mud snake and the brown water snake. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the eastern hog-nosed snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, but the eastern coral snake is on the South Carolina list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the scarlet kingsnake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the triangulate bud spider. Recluse spiders are not on the South Carolina list, but GBIF holds 2 recluse spider records of any license in South Carolina (brown recluse 2): treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the southern house spider.
Berkeley County among South Carolina counties
By licensed snake records Berkeley County ranks 2nd of 46 South Carolina counties with any.
Other South Carolina counties with their own page: Charleston County.
The whole state: venomous species in South Carolina, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.