Snakes and spiders in Nevada County, California
Nevada County, home of Nevada City, has 11 snake and 16 spider species on record, from 331 licensed snake and 99 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Nevada County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 16 licensed records, 0% of all California records of it. The western black widow: 7 licensed records, 1% of all California records of it.
What snakes are in Nevada County?
In all, 11 snake species are on the Nevada County list. The most recorded are the western terrestrial garter snake (129), the western aquatic garter snake (69) and the common garter snake (50).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 129 | 1% |
| 2 | Western aquatic garter snake Thamnophis couchii | 69 | 2% |
| 3 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 50 | 1% |
| 4 | Northern rubber boa Charina bottae | 26 | 4% |
| 5 | Sharp-tailed snake Contia tenuis | 17 | 2% |
| 6 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 16 | 0% |
| 7 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 8 | 0% |
| 8 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 4 | 0% |
| 9 | California mountain kingsnake Lampropeltis zonata | 3 | 1% |
| 10 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 3 | 0% |
| 11 | California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae | — | — |
When are snakes out in Nevada County?
Observation records of snakes in Nevada County run mostly May through October, peaking in May with 23% of them, the same peak as California as a whole.
What spiders are in Nevada County?
In all, 16 spider species are on the Nevada County list. The most recorded are Colonus hesperus (14), the Koch's wolf spider (7) and the western black widow (7).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colonus hesperus | 14 | 2% |
| 2 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | 7 | 1% |
| 3 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 7 | 1% |
| 4 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | 6 | 3% |
| 5 | Habronattus americanus | 6 | 2% |
| 6 | California turret spider Atypoides riversi | 4 | 1% |
| 7 | Sixspotted orbweaver Araniella displicata | 4 | 2% |
| 8 | California funnel-web spider Calisoga longitarsis | 3 | 2% |
| 9 | Marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei | 3 | 0% |
| 10 | McCook's split wolf spider Schizocosa mccooki | 2 | 1% |
| 11 | Spitting spider Scytodes thoracica | 2 | 17% |
| 12 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 2 | 0% |
| 13 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 1 | 1% |
| 14 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | 1 | 0% |
| 15 | Western parson spider Herpyllus propinquus | 1 | 1% |
| 16 | California flattened jumping spider Platycryptus californicus | — | — |
When are spiders out in Nevada County?
Observation records of spiders in Nevada County run through most of the year, peaking in June with 20% of them; across California the peak is April.
Common in California, not on the Nevada County list
Among the snakes most recorded across California, these do not reach the county list: the aquatic garter snake (3,727 statewide), the sidewinder (1,923 statewide), the two-striped garter snake (1,620 statewide), the western shovel-nosed snake (1,482 statewide) and the glossy snake (1,425 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 bold jumper (2,606 statewide), the half-edged wall jumping spider (2,178 statewide), Steatoda nobilis (1,914 statewide), the false black widow (1,201 statewide), the buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider (825 statewide) and Habronattus pyrrithrix (800 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Nevada 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 California mountain kingsnake. No recluse spiders reach the county list, but the desert recluse is on the California list: treat any spider like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the spitting spider.
Nevada County among California counties
By licensed snake records Nevada County ranks 40th 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.