Snakes and spiders in Brewster County, Texas

Yes. The western diamondback rattlesnake: 200 licensed records, 7% of all Texas records of it. The Mohave rattlesnake: 101 licensed records, 35% of all Texas records of it. The eastern black-tailed rattlesnake: 90 licensed records, 23% of all Texas records of it. The rock rattlesnake: 28 licensed records, 11% of all Texas records of it. The prairie rattlesnake: 19 licensed records, 4% of all Texas records of it. The broad-banded copperhead: 2 licensed records, 1% of all Texas records of it. The western black widow: 20 licensed records, 12% of all Texas records of it. The Big Bend recluse: 2 licensed records, 14% of all Texas records of it. The southern black widow: on record, no openly licensed records to count.

In all, 36 snake species are on the Brewster County list. The most recorded are the western diamondback rattlesnake (200), the Chihuahuan night snake (137) and the coachwhip (122). Brewster County holds more than half of all Texas records of the western patch-nosed snake.

Observation records of snakes in Brewster County run mostly April through October, peaking in June with 31% of them; across Texas the peak is April.

In all, 25 spider species are on the Brewster County list. The most recorded are the Texas brown tarantula (59), the western black widow (20) and the giant crab spider (15). Brewster County holds more than half of all Texas records of the Chiricahuan gray tarantula, the Chihuahuan antcolony spider and Habronattus conjunctus.

Observation records of spiders in Brewster County run mostly April through October, peaking in July with 18% of them; across Texas the peak is April.

Species for which Brewster County holds a large share of all Texas records: the Chiricahuan gray tarantula, 70% (14 of 20); the Big Bend patch-nosed snake, 41% (24 of 59); the Mohave rattlesnake, 35% (101 of 290); the giant crab spider, 25% (15 of 59); the Trans-Pecos rat snake, 24% (90 of 373); the Chihuahuan night snake, 23% (137 of 589); the Mexican hog-nose snake, 23% (10 of 43); the eastern black-tailed rattlesnake, 23% (90 of 394).

Among the snakes most recorded across Texas, these do not reach the county list: the western ribbon snake (2,587 statewide), the western rat snake (1,769 statewide), the diamondback water snake (1,612 statewide), the rough earthsnake (1,448 statewide), the eastern copperhead (1,188 statewide) and the DeKay's brown snake (1,037 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 Texas, these do not reach the county list: the black-and-yellow argiope (1,979 statewide), the rabid wolf spider (1,048 statewide), the spiny-backed orbweaver (751 statewide), the twin-flagged jumping spider (669 statewide), the striped lynx spider (579 statewide) and the familiar jumping spider (518 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.

Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the plain-bellied watersnake and the central plains milksnake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, but the northern cottonmouth is on the Texas list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the plain-bellied watersnake. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the gopher snake and the Great Plains rat snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, but the Texas coral snake is on the Texas list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the long-nosed snake and the central plains milksnake.

By licensed snake records Brewster County ranks 2nd of 254 Texas counties with any.

Other Texas counties with their own page: Travis County, Harris County, Brazos County, El Paso County, Jeff Davis County, Val Verde County, Bexar County and Hudspeth County.

The whole state: venomous species in Texas, all snakes, all spiders.