Snakes and spiders in Trinity County, California
Trinity County, home of Weaverville, has 13 snake and 5 spider species on record, from 404 licensed snake and 49 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Trinity County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 21 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 Trinity County?
In all, 13 snake species are on the Trinity County list. The most recorded are the aquatic garter snake (153), the western aquatic garter snake (95) and the western terrestrial garter snake (33).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aquatic garter snake Thamnophis atratus | 153 | 4% |
| 2 | Western aquatic garter snake Thamnophis couchii | 95 | 3% |
| 3 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 33 | 0% |
| 4 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 28 | 0% |
| 5 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 27 | 2% |
| 6 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 21 | 0% |
| 7 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 15 | 0% |
| 8 | California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae | 8 | 0% |
| 9 | California mountain kingsnake Lampropeltis zonata | 6 | 1% |
| 10 | Northern rubber boa Charina bottae | 4 | 1% |
| 11 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 4 | 0% |
| 12 | Sharp-tailed snake Contia tenuis | 4 | 0% |
| 13 | Striped racer Masticophis lateralis | 4 | 0% |
When are snakes out in Trinity County?
Observation records of snakes in Trinity County run mostly May through September, peaking in June with 40% of them; across California the peak is May.
What spiders are in Trinity County?
In all, 5 spider species are on the Trinity County list. The most recorded are the western lynx spider (4), the California turret spider (3) and the goldenrod crab spider (2).
| # | Species | Records | Share of California records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 4 | 0% |
| 2 | California turret spider Atypoides riversi | 3 | 1% |
| 3 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | 2 | 1% |
| 4 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | 2 | 0% |
| 5 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 1 | 0% |
Common in California, not on the Trinity 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 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 Trinity 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.
Trinity County among California counties
By licensed snake records Trinity County ranks 35th 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.