Venomous snakes and spiders in Alabama
Alabama has six venomous snake species among the 44 snake species listed there: timber rattlesnake, northern cottonmouth, eastern copperhead, pygmy rattlesnake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake and eastern coral snake. The timber rattlesnake accounts for the most records (245), and venomous species make up 13% of all 5,745 licensed snake records in the state. On the spider side, four species are medically significant: southern black widow, brown recluse, brown widow and northern black widow.
Venomous snakes of Alabama
Alabama's venomous snakes are three rattlesnake species, two copperhead or cottonmouth species and one coral snake species. Together they account for 739 licensed records; the timber rattlesnake alone has 33% of them, and the least recorded, the eastern coral snake, has 21.
Dangerous spiders of Alabama
Three widow species (Southern black widow: 27 records, Brown widow: 15 records, Northern black widow: 4 records) and one recluse species (Brown recluse: 17 records) are on the Alabama list. Widow bites cause muscle pain and cramps; recluse bites can cause a slow-healing wound. Both are rare and seldom fatal.
Are there scorpions in Alabama?
Yes. One scorpion species is recorded in Alabama, from 115 licensed records: Southern unstriped scorpion (112 records). Every scorpion has venom; only the Arizona bark scorpion's sting is medically significant, and it is not on the Alabama list.
Other snakes recorded most in Alabama
These eight account for 44% of all licensed snake records in Alabama; the most recorded, the northern water snake, alone for 16%.
Other spiders recorded most in Alabama
These eight account for 35% of all licensed spider records in Alabama; the most recorded, the magnolia green jumper, alone for 9%.
When venomous snakes are out in Alabama
Observation records of venomous snakes in Alabama run mostly March through October, peaking in May with 18% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 4% of the records.
Season of each venomous snake
| Species | Main season | Peak month | Winter share | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timber rattlesnake | April through October | August | 2% | 115 |
| Northern cottonmouth | March through October | April | 6% | 90 |
| Eastern copperhead | April through September | May | 5% | 37 |
When spiders are most active in Alabama
Observation records of spiders in Alabama run mostly March through November, peaking in May with 15% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 6% of the records.
When scorpions are out in Alabama
Observation records of scorpions in Alabama run mostly March through October, peaking in April with 17% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 5% of the records.
Counties with the most venomous snake records
Lee County has the most records of venomous snakes in Alabama, 101, most of them of the eastern copperhead. Baldwin County and Macon County follow.
| # | County | Records | Most recorded there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lee County | 101 | Eastern copperhead |
| 2 | Baldwin County | 55 | Northern cottonmouth |
| 3 | Macon County | 49 | Timber rattlesnake |
| 4 | Covington County | 40 | Eastern diamondback rattlesnake |
| 5 | Chambers County | 23 | Timber rattlesnake |
| 6 | Barbour County | 21 | Timber rattlesnake |
| 7 | Bullock County | 21 | Timber rattlesnake |
| 8 | Mobile County | 21 | Northern cottonmouth |
| 9 | Tuscaloosa County | 16 | Eastern copperhead |
| 10 | Escambia County | 16 | Eastern copperhead |
Where in Alabama are snakes recorded most?
Lee County leads with 726 records (13%), followed by Baldwin County and Macon County; the top five counties hold 33% of the total. 67 of Alabama's 67 counties have at least one licensed snake record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lee County | 726 | 12.6% |
| 2 | Baldwin County | 351 | 6.1% |
| 3 | Macon County | 337 | 5.9% |
| 4 | Covington County | 269 | 4.7% |
| 5 | Mobile County | 230 | 4.0% |
| 6 | Geneva County | 206 | 3.6% |
| 7 | Escambia County | 177 | 3.1% |
| 8 | Jefferson County | 157 | 2.7% |
| 9 | Barbour County | 154 | 2.7% |
| 10 | Madison County | 152 | 2.6% |
| 11 | DeKalb County | 143 | 2.5% |
| 12 | Shelby County | 140 | 2.4% |
Alabama counties with their own page: Baldwin County, Blount County, Jefferson County, Lee County, Macon County, Mobile County and Tuscaloosa County.
Are there poisonous snakes in Alabama?
Yes. Alabama has six venomous snake species on its list, the kind people usually call poisonous: timber rattlesnake, northern cottonmouth, eastern copperhead, pygmy rattlesnake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake and eastern coral snake. Strictly, snakes are venomous (they inject venom), not poisonous (harmful to eat or touch).
Are there rattlesnakes in Alabama?
Yes. Three species are on the Alabama list: the timber rattlesnake, the pygmy rattlesnake and the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, with 327 licensed records between them. Most licensed records of the timber rattlesnake come from Lee County, Macon County and Bullock County.
Are there copperheads in Alabama?
Yes. One species is on the Alabama list: the eastern copperhead, with 190 licensed records. Most licensed records of the eastern copperhead come from Lee County, Jefferson County and Chambers County.
Are there cottonmouths (water moccasins) in Alabama?
Yes. One species is on the Alabama list: the northern cottonmouth, with 201 licensed records. Most licensed records of the northern cottonmouth come from Baldwin County, Lee County and Mobile County.
Are there coral snakes in Alabama?
Yes. One species is on the Alabama list: the eastern coral snake, with 21 licensed records.
Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
Alabama has 245 licensed records of the timber rattlesnake, which ranks the state 2nd of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Alabama run mostly April through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Lee County, Macon County and Bullock County. Range in other states and photos: Timber rattlesnake profile.
Northern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
Alabama has 201 licensed records of the northern cottonmouth, which ranks the state 8th of the 16 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Alabama run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Baldwin County, Lee County and Mobile County. Range in other states and photos: Northern cottonmouth profile.
Eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
Alabama has 190 licensed records of the eastern copperhead, which ranks the state 8th of the 27 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Alabama run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Lee County, Jefferson County and Chambers County. Range in other states and photos: Eastern copperhead profile.
Pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius)
Alabama has 52 licensed records of the pygmy rattlesnake, which ranks the state 5th of the 11 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Alabama come from Baldwin County, Covington County and Chilton County. Range in other states and photos: Pygmy rattlesnake profile.
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)
Alabama has 30 licensed records of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, which ranks the state 3rd of the 5 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Alabama come from Covington County, Houston County and Escambia County. Range in other states and photos: Eastern diamondback rattlesnake profile.
Eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius)
Alabama has 21 licensed records of the eastern coral snake, which ranks the state 4th of the 5 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Eastern coral snake profile.
Harmless lookalikes in Alabama
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 Alabama.
What looks like a copperhead in Alabama
Copperheads: 190 licensed records in Alabama. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: northern water snake (916), plain-bellied watersnake (205), gray rat snake (169), eastern rat snake (144) and corn snake (110). Together they have 1,646 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 9 times as often.
What looks like a cottonmouth in Alabama
Cottonmouths: 201 licensed records in Alabama. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: northern water snake (916), southern watersnake (252), plain-bellied watersnake (205), diamondback water snake (156) and mud snake (73). Together they have 1,700 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 8 times as often.
What looks like a rattlesnake in Alabama
Rattlesnakes: 327 licensed records in Alabama. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: eastern hog-nosed snake (84) and pine snake (61). Together they have 145 licensed records, and here the venomous species are the more recorded side, 2.3 to 1.
What looks like a coral snake in Alabama
Coral snakes: 21 licensed records in Alabama. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: scarlet snake (102), scarlet kingsnake (25) and eastern milksnake (18). Together they have 145 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 7 times as often.
What looks like a widow spider in Alabama
Widow spiders: 46 licensed records in Alabama. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: triangulate bud spider (21), common house spider (20) and false black widow (6). Together they have 47 licensed records, and the two sides are recorded about equally.
What looks like a recluse spider in Alabama
Recluse spiders: 17 licensed records in Alabama. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: longbodied cellar spider (23), southern house spider (16) and dark-legged grass spider (1). Together they have 40 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 2.4 times as often.
How Alabama compares
By count of venomous snake species, Alabama ranks 8th of 50 states, level with Kansas, Nevada and South Carolina. Nationally, Arizona leads with 14 species; five list none.
Of the four states bordering Alabama, Florida and Georgia list more venomous snake species (Alabama: 6 species; Florida 7, Georgia 7, Mississippi 5, Tennessee 3).
Venomous snakes listed next door but not in Alabama: the Florida cottonmouth (Florida and Georgia). The most widely shared are the eastern copperhead, the northern cottonmouth and the timber rattlesnake, each listed in all four bordering states.
Are there poisonous spiders in Alabama?
Does Alabama have black widows?
Yes. Three widow species are on the Alabama list: the southern black widow (27 records), the brown widow (15 records) and the northern black widow (4 records).
Does Alabama have brown recluse spiders?
Yes. The brown recluse is on the Alabama list, with 17 licensed records.
Southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans)
Alabama has 27 licensed records of the southern black widow, which ranks the state 8th of the 22 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Southern black widow profile.
Brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa)
Alabama has 17 licensed records of the brown recluse, which ranks the state 10th of the 16 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Brown recluse profile.
Brown widow (Latrodectus geometricus)
Alabama has 15 licensed records of the brown widow, which ranks the state 7th of the 11 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Brown widow profile.
Northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus)
Alabama has 4 licensed records of the northern black widow, which ranks the state 20th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Northern black widow profile.
More for Alabama
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.