Snakes and spiders in Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County, home of Santa Cruz, has 13 snake and 48 spider species on record, from 2,101 licensed snake and 332 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Santa Cruz County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 34 licensed records, 1% of all California records of it. The western black widow: 3 licensed records, 0% of all California records of it.
What snakes are in Santa Cruz County?
In all, 13 snake species are on the Santa Cruz County list. The most recorded are the western terrestrial garter snake (1,017), the aquatic garter snake (689) and the gopher snake (102).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 1,017 | 5% |
| 2 | Aquatic garter snake Thamnophis atratus | 689 | 18% |
| 3 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 102 | 1% |
| 4 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 58 | 3% |
| 5 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 46 | 4% |
| 6 | California mountain kingsnake Lampropeltis zonata | 41 | 8% |
| 7 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 34 | 1% |
| 8 | Forest sharp-tailed snake Contia longicauda | 26 | 24% |
| 9 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 22 | 0% |
| 10 | Northern rubber boa Charina bottae | 21 | 3% |
| 11 | Western aquatic garter snake Thamnophis couchii | 16 | 0% |
| 12 | California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae | 10 | 0% |
| 13 | Sharp-tailed snake Contia tenuis | 7 | 1% |
When are snakes out in Santa Cruz County?
Observation records of snakes in Santa Cruz County run mostly February through October, peaking in April with 20% of them; across California the peak is May.
What spiders are in Santa Cruz County?
In all, 48 spider species are on the Santa Cruz County list. The most recorded are the garden spider (39), Steatoda nobilis (36) and the Johnson jumper (22). Santa Cruz County holds more than half of all California records of the Dolloff cave spider.
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Garden spider Araneus diadematus | 39 | 9% |
| 2 | Steatoda nobilis | 36 | 2% |
| 3 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | 22 | 2% |
| 4 | California turret spider Atypoides riversi | 19 | 5% |
| 5 | False black widow Steatoda grossa | 18 | 1% |
| 6 | California funnel-web spider Calisoga longitarsis | 10 | 6% |
| 7 | Dolloff cave spider Meta dolloff | 9 | 100% |
| 8 | Gray house spider Badumna longinqua | 9 | 3% |
| 9 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | 9 | 1% |
| 10 | Pelegrina aeneola | 9 | 9% |
| 11 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | 8 | 1% |
| 12 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 7 | 1% |
| 13 | Buttonhook leafbeetle jumping spider Sassacus vitis | 5 | 1% |
| 14 | Sixspotted orbweaver Araniella displicata | 5 | 2% |
| 15 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 4 | 3% |
| 16 | Dysdera crocata | 4 | 1% |
| 17 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 3 | 1% |
| 18 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | 3 | 1% |
| 19 | Marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei | 3 | 0% |
| 20 | Nearctic white-striped running crab spider Philodromus rufus | 3 | 23% |
| 21 | Proszynski's jumping spider Evarcha proszynskii | 3 | 7% |
| 22 | Sierra dome spider Neriene litigiosa | 3 | 4% |
| 23 | Striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus | 3 | 0% |
| 24 | Tawny dwarf tarantula Megahexura fulva | 3 | 3% |
| 25 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 3 | 0% |
| 26 | Beach-dwelling jumping spider Terralonus californicus | 2 | 2% |
| 27 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 2 | 0% |
| 28 | Castianeira thalia | 2 | 5% |
| 29 | Cone-shaped orbweaver Cyclosa conica | 2 | 2% |
| 30 | Cyclosa turbinata | 2 | 1% |
| 31 | McCook's split wolf spider Schizocosa mccooki | 2 | 1% |
| 32 | Mexigonus morosus | 2 | 7% |
| 33 | Oregon paradise jumping spider Habronattus oregonensis | 2 | 1% |
| 34 | Phanias albeolus | 2 | 7% |
| 35 | Phanias harfordi | 2 | 5% |
| 36 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 2 | 1% |
| 37 | Araneus andrewsi | 1 | 1% |
| 38 | Diaea livens | 1 | 2% |
| 39 | Gertschanapis shantzi | 1 | 5% |
| 40 | Habronattus klauseri | 1 | 3% |
| 41 | Western parson spider Herpyllus propinquus | 1 | 1% |
| 42 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 1 | 2% |
| 43 | Zoropsid spider Zoropsis spinimana | 1 | 1% |
| 44 | Zygiella x-notata | 1 | 1% |
| 45 | Colonus hesperus | — | — |
| 46 | Metaphidippus manni | — | — |
| 47 | Mexigonus minutus | — | — |
| 48 | Neriene digna | — | — |
When are spiders out in Santa Cruz County?
Observation records of spiders in Santa Cruz County run through most of the year, peaking in April with 16% of them, the same peak as California as a whole.
What stands out in Santa Cruz County
Species for which Santa Cruz County holds a large share of all California records: the forest sharp-tailed snake, 24% (26 of 110); the aquatic garter snake, 18% (689 of 3,727).
Common in California, not on the Santa Cruz County list
Among the snakes most recorded across California, these do not reach the county list: 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 half-edged wall jumping spider (2,178 statewide), Habronattus pyrrithrix (800 statewide) and the brown widow (776 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Santa Cruz 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. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the false black widow. 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 longbodied cellar spider.
Santa Cruz County among California counties
By licensed snake records Santa Cruz County ranks 10th 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.