Snakes and spiders in Inyo County, California
Inyo County, home of Independence, has 20 snake and 16 spider species on record, from 1,099 licensed snake and 465 spider records. Venomous species here: the sidewinder, the Panamint rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Inyo County?
Yes. The sidewinder: 148 licensed records, 8% of all California records of it. The Panamint rattlesnake: 143 licensed records, 80% of all California records of it. The western black widow: 12 licensed records, 1% of all California records of it.
What snakes are in Inyo County?
In all, 20 snake species are on the Inyo County list. The most recorded are the gopher snake (151), the sidewinder (148) and the Panamint rattlesnake (143). Inyo County holds more than half of all California records of the Panamint rattlesnake.
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 151 | 2% |
| 2 | Sidewinder venomous Crotalus cerastes | 148 | 8% |
| 3 | Panamint rattlesnake venomous Crotalus stephensi | 143 | 80% |
| 4 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 80 | 7% |
| 5 | Western shovel-nosed snake Sonora occipitalis | 68 | 5% |
| 6 | Spotted leaf-nosed snake Phyllorhynchus decurtatus | 57 | 4% |
| 7 | Western patch-nosed snake Salvadora hexalepis | 52 | 8% |
| 8 | California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae | 47 | 2% |
| 9 | Long-nosed snake Rhinocheilus lecontei | 45 | 4% |
| 10 | Western threadsnake Rena humilis | 31 | 5% |
| 11 | Western ground snake Sonora semiannulata | 28 | 9% |
| 12 | Striped whipsnake Masticophis taeniatus | 24 | 26% |
| 13 | Glossy snake Arizona elegans | 20 | 1% |
| 14 | Southwestern blackhead snake Tantilla hobartsmithi | 18 | 35% |
| 15 | Western aquatic garter snake Thamnophis couchii | 17 | 0% |
| 16 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 15 | 0% |
| 17 | Desert nightsnake Hypsiglena chlorophaea | 13 | 12% |
| 18 | Rosy boa Lichanura trivirgata | 11 | 3% |
| 19 | Baja California lyre snake Trimorphodon lyrophanes | 9 | 5% |
| 20 | Northern three-lined boa Lichanura orcutti | 1 | 1% |
When are snakes out in Inyo County?
Observation records of snakes in Inyo County run mostly March through August, peaking in May with 36% of them, the same peak as California as a whole.
What spiders are in Inyo County?
In all, 16 spider species are on the Inyo County list. The most recorded are Habronattus signatus (63), Habronattus tarsalis (43) and Habronattus americanus (20).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Habronattus signatus | 63 | 39% |
| 2 | Habronattus tarsalis | 43 | 19% |
| 3 | Habronattus americanus | 20 | 6% |
| 4 | Drassyllus insularis | 16 | 8% |
| 5 | Bay Area blonde Aphonopelma iodius | 15 | 5% |
| 6 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 12 | 1% |
| 7 | Hirsute paradise spider Habronattus hirsutus | 9 | 4% |
| 8 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | 5 | 1% |
| 9 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 4 | 1% |
| 10 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 3 | 0% |
| 11 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | 3 | 0% |
| 12 | Syspira longipes | 3 | 7% |
| 13 | Hogna antelucana | 2 | 10% |
| 14 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 2 | 0% |
| 15 | Colonus hesperus | 1 | 0% |
| 16 | Phidippus californicus | 1 | 4% |
When are spiders out in Inyo County?
Observation records of spiders in Inyo County run through most of the year, peaking in March with 23% of them; across California the peak is April.
What stands out in Inyo County
Species for which Inyo County holds a large share of all California records: the Panamint rattlesnake, 80% (143 of 178); Habronattus signatus, 39% (63 of 162); the southwestern blackhead snake, 35% (18 of 51); the striped whipsnake, 26% (24 of 94); Habronattus tarsalis, 19% (43 of 227).
Common in California, not on the Inyo County list
Among the snakes most recorded across California, these do not reach the county list: the common garter snake (5,777 statewide), the western rattlesnake (5,224 statewide), the aquatic garter snake (3,727 statewide), the ring-necked snake (1,797 statewide) and the two-striped garter snake (1,620 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 California, these do not reach the county list: the half-edged wall jumping spider (2,178 statewide), Steatoda nobilis (1,914 statewide), the false black widow (1,201 statewide), the western lynx spider (1,123 statewide), the buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider (825 statewide) and the marbled cellar spider (805 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Inyo County
Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the gopher snake. Coral snakes are not on the California list, but GBIF holds 3 coral snake records of any license in California (Sonoran coralsnake 3): treat any snake like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the long-nosed snake.
Inyo County among California counties
By licensed snake records Inyo County ranks 22nd of 58 California counties with any.
Other California counties with their own page: San Diego County, Lassen County, Shasta County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Humboldt County, Sonoma County and San Mateo County.
The whole state: venomous species in California, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.