Venomous snakes and spiders in Vermont
Vermont has one venomous snake species among the 9 snake species listed there: timber rattlesnake. The timber rattlesnake accounts for the most records (3), and venomous species make up 0.3% of all 1,133 licensed snake records in the state. On the spider side, one species is medically significant: northern black widow.
Venomous snakes of Vermont
The only venomous snake on the Vermont list is the timber rattlesnake, with 3 licensed records, 0.3% of all snake records in the state.
Dangerous spiders of Vermont
One widow species (Northern black widow: on record, no openly licensed records to count) is on the Vermont list. There is no recluse spider on the Vermont list: no recluse species reaches 10 records in the state. Widow bites cause muscle pain and cramps; recluse bites can cause a slow-healing wound. Both are rare and seldom fatal.
Other snakes recorded most in Vermont
These eight account for 60% of all licensed snake records in Vermont; the most recorded, the common garter snake, alone for 41%.
Other spiders recorded most in Vermont
These eight account for 48% of all licensed spider records in Vermont; the most recorded, the goldenrod crab spider, alone for 15%.
When are snakes out in Vermont?
Observation records of snakes in Vermont run mostly May through October, peaking in June with 24% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so snakes in Vermont are rarely recorded in winter. Venomous snakes alone have no observation records with a month in Vermont, too few for a season of their own.
When spiders are most active in Vermont
Observation records of spiders in Vermont run mostly May through October, peaking in June with 21% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so spiders in Vermont are rarely recorded in winter.
Where in Vermont are snakes recorded most?
Orange County dominates: 44% of the state's licensed snake records come from it alone, and the top five counties hold 81%. 14 of Vermont's 14 counties have at least one licensed snake record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orange County | 498 | 44.0% |
| 2 | Chittenden County | 182 | 16.1% |
| 3 | Rutland County | 91 | 8.0% |
| 4 | Washington County | 75 | 6.6% |
| 5 | Windsor County | 69 | 6.1% |
| 6 | Windham County | 66 | 5.8% |
| 7 | Lamoille County | 42 | 3.7% |
| 8 | Addison County | 40 | 3.5% |
| 9 | Bennington County | 22 | 1.9% |
| 10 | Caledonia County | 11 | 1.0% |
| 11 | Orleans County | 10 | 0.9% |
| 12 | Essex County | 10 | 0.9% |
Vermont county with its own page: Chittenden County.
Are there poisonous snakes in Vermont?
Yes. Vermont has one venomous snake species on its list, the kind people usually call poisonous: timber rattlesnake. Strictly, snakes are venomous (they inject venom), not poisonous (harmful to eat or touch).
Are there rattlesnakes in Vermont?
Yes. One species is on the Vermont list: the timber rattlesnake, with 3 licensed records.
Are there copperheads in Vermont?
No. GBIF holds no copperhead record for Vermont under any license.
Are there cottonmouths (water moccasins) in Vermont?
No. GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for Vermont under any license.
Are there coral snakes in Vermont?
No. GBIF holds no coral snake record for Vermont under any license.
Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
Vermont has 3 licensed records of the timber rattlesnake, which ranks the state 30th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Timber rattlesnake profile.
Harmless lookalikes in Vermont
Many snakes and spiders taken for venomous ones are harmless species with a similar look. These are the usual confusions, with each species' licensed records in Vermont.
What looks like a copperhead in Vermont
No copperheads reach the Vermont list, and GBIF holds no copperhead record for Vermont under any license, so a snake taken for one here is most likely a harmless lookalike. Those recorded in the state: eastern milksnake (74), northern water snake (21) and eastern rat snake (18).
What looks like a cottonmouth in Vermont
No cottonmouths reach the Vermont list, and GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for Vermont under any license, so a snake taken for one here is most likely a harmless lookalike. Those recorded in the state: northern water snake (21).
What looks like a coral snake in Vermont
No coral snakes reach the Vermont list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Vermont under any license, so a snake taken for one here is most likely a harmless lookalike. Those recorded in the state: eastern milksnake (74).
What looks like a widow spider in Vermont
Widow spiders: on the list, no openly licensed records to count in Vermont. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: twospotted cobweb spider (4), triangulate bud spider (3), boreal combfoot (2) and common house spider (2). The venomous species are on the list from records under other licenses, with no openly licensed records to count, so the two sides are not compared.
What looks like a recluse spider in Vermont
No recluse spiders reach the Vermont list, and GBIF holds no recluse spider record for Vermont under any license, so a spider taken for one here is most likely a harmless lookalike. Those recorded in the state: longbodied cellar spider (13).
How Vermont compares
By count of venomous snake species, Vermont ranks 37th of 50 states, level with 8 other states. Nationally, Arizona leads with 14 species; five list none.
Of the three states bordering Vermont, New York and Massachusetts list more venomous snake species (Vermont: 1 species; New York 3, Massachusetts 2, New Hampshire 0).
Venomous snakes listed next door but not in Vermont: the eastern copperhead (Massachusetts and New York); the eastern massasauga (New York). The most widely shared is the timber rattlesnake, listed in two of the three bordering states.
Are there poisonous spiders in Vermont?
Does Vermont have black widows?
Yes. One widow species is on the Vermont list: the northern black widow (on record, no openly licensed records to count).
Does Vermont have brown recluse spiders?
No. GBIF holds no brown recluse record for Vermont under any license.
Northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus)
The northern black widow is on the Vermont list from records under other licenses, with no openly licensed records to count, so the state is not ranked for it. Range in other states and photos: Northern black widow profile.
Are there scorpions in Vermont?
No. GBIF holds no scorpion record for Vermont under any license. Every scorpion has venom; only the Arizona bark scorpion's sting is medically significant, and it is not on the Vermont list.
More for Vermont
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.