Snakes and spiders in Utah County, Utah
Utah County, home of Provo, has 11 snake and 24 spider species on record, from 372 licensed snake and 187 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Utah County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 16 licensed records, 4% of all Utah records of it. The western black widow: 18 licensed records, 12% of all Utah records of it.
What snakes are in Utah County?
In all, 11 snake species are on the Utah County list. The most recorded are the western terrestrial garter snake (234), the gopher snake (29) and the eastern racer (20). Utah County holds more than half of all Utah records of the eastern milksnake and the smooth green snake.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Utah records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 234 | 19% |
| 2 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 29 | 6% |
| 3 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 20 | 6% |
| 4 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 16 | 4% |
| 5 | Northern rubber boa Charina bottae | 14 | 29% |
| 6 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | 11 | 50% |
| 7 | Smooth green snake Opheodrys vernalis | 11 | 65% |
| 8 | Desert nightsnake Hypsiglena chlorophaea | 9 | 18% |
| 9 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 7 | 12% |
| 10 | Striped whipsnake Masticophis taeniatus | 6 | 3% |
| 11 | Central plains milksnake Lampropeltis gentilis | 2 | 25% |
When are snakes out in Utah County?
Observation records of snakes in Utah County run mostly April through September, peaking in May with 35% of them, the same peak as Utah as a whole.
What spiders are in Utah County?
In all, 24 spider species are on the Utah County list. The most recorded are the bold jumper (38), the western spotted orbweaver (24) and the western black widow (18). Utah County holds more than half of all Utah records of the buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Utah records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 38 | 19% |
| 2 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 24 | 13% |
| 3 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 18 | 12% |
| 4 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 18 | 15% |
| 5 | Dysdera crocata | 11 | 28% |
| 6 | California flattened jumping spider Platycryptus californicus | 10 | 22% |
| 7 | Habronattus festus | 5 | 11% |
| 8 | Buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider Sassacus vitis | 4 | 100% |
| 9 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | 4 | 16% |
| 10 | Apache jumping spider Phidippus apacheanus | 3 | 19% |
| 11 | Cat-faced spider Araneus gemmoides | 3 | 23% |
| 12 | McCook's split wolf spider Schizocosa mccooki | 3 | 43% |
| 13 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 3 | 8% |
| 14 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 2 | 5% |
| 15 | Barn funnel weaver Tegenaria domestica | 2 | 8% |
| 16 | Hobo spider Eratigena agrestis | 2 | 18% |
| 17 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 2 | 10% |
| 18 | Attulus ammophilus | 1 | 6% |
| 19 | Bay Area blonde Aphonopelma iodius | 1 | 2% |
| 20 | Hairy tufted jumping spider Phidippus comatus | 1 | 11% |
| 21 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | 1 | 5% |
| 22 | Northern yellow sac spider Cheiracanthium mildei | 1 | 33% |
| 23 | Utah crab spider Bassaniana utahensis | 1 | 12% |
| 24 | Carolina wolf spider Hogna carolinensis | — | — |
When are spiders out in Utah County?
Observation records of spiders in Utah County run mostly April through October, peaking in September with 21% of them; across Utah the peak is August.
What stands out in Utah County
Species for which Utah County holds a large share of all Utah records: the eastern milksnake, 50% (11 of 22); the northern rubber boa, 29% (14 of 49); Dysdera crocata, 28% (11 of 39); the California flattened jumping spider, 22% (10 of 46); the western terrestrial garter snake, 19% (234 of 1,224); the bold jumper, 19% (38 of 204).
Common in Utah, not on the Utah County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Utah, these do not reach the county list: the prairie rattlesnake (102 statewide), the California kingsnake (43 statewide), the coachwhip (31 statewide) and the western ground snake (27 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 Utah, these do not reach the county list: Sassacus papenhoei (44 statewide) and Pelegrina aeneola (40 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Utah County
No copperheads reach the county list, and GBIF holds no copperhead record for Utah under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the eastern milksnake and the central plains milksnake. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the gopher snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Utah under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the eastern milksnake and the central plains milksnake. 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 Utah list, but GBIF holds 1 recluse spider record of any license in Utah (desert recluse 1): treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the hobo spider.
Utah County among Utah counties
By licensed snake records Utah County ranks 3rd of 29 Utah counties with any.
Other Utah counties with their own page: Salt Lake County, Washington County and Tooele County.
The whole state: venomous species in Utah, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.