Snakes and spiders in Plumas County, California
Plumas County has 8 snake and 5 spider species on record, from 808 licensed snake and 46 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Plumas County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 16 licensed records, 0% of all California records of it. The western black widow: 1 licensed record, 0% of all California records of it.
What snakes are in Plumas County?
In all, 8 snake species are on the Plumas County list. The most recorded are the western aquatic garter snake (517), the western terrestrial garter snake (115) and the common garter snake (92).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western aquatic garter snake Thamnophis couchii | 517 | 14% |
| 2 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 115 | 1% |
| 3 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 92 | 2% |
| 4 | Northern rubber boa Charina bottae | 22 | 3% |
| 5 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 16 | 0% |
| 6 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 15 | 0% |
| 7 | California mountain kingsnake Lampropeltis zonata | 10 | 2% |
| 8 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 9 | 1% |
When are snakes out in Plumas County?
Observation records of snakes in Plumas County run mostly May through September, peaking in June with 34% of them; across California the peak is May.
What spiders are in Plumas County?
In all, 5 spider species are on the Plumas County list. The most recorded are the Koch's wolf spider (5), the goldenrod crab spider (3) and the California flattened jumping spider (1).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | 5 | 0% |
| 2 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | 3 | 1% |
| 3 | California flattened jumping spider Platycryptus californicus | 1 | 1% |
| 4 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 1 | 0% |
| 5 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 1 | 0% |
Common in California, not on the Plumas County list
Among the snakes most recorded across California, these do not reach the county list: the aquatic garter snake (3,727 statewide), the California kingsnake (2,675 statewide), the sidewinder (1,923 statewide), the ring-necked snake (1,797 statewide), the two-striped garter snake (1,620 statewide) and the western shovel-nosed snake (1,482 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 Johnson jumper (901 statewide) and the buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider (825 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Plumas 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.
Plumas County among California counties
By licensed snake records Plumas County ranks 24th 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.