Snakes and spiders in New Haven County, Connecticut

Yes. The eastern copperhead: 65 licensed records, 79% of all Connecticut records of it. The northern black widow: 1 licensed record, 100% of all Connecticut records of it.

In all, 11 snake species are on the New Haven County list. The most recorded are the common garter snake (98), the ring-necked snake (67) and the eastern copperhead (65). New Haven County holds more than half of all Connecticut records of the ring-necked snake, the eastern copperhead and the eastern wormsnake.

Observation records of snakes in New Haven County run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 26% of them, the same peak as Connecticut as a whole.

In all, 38 spider species are on the New Haven County list. The most recorded are the orchard orbweaver (35), the dark fishing spider (26) and the nursery web spider (20). New Haven County holds more than half of all Connecticut records of the dark fishing spider, the garden spider, the dock spider and the American green crab spider.

Observation records of spiders in New Haven County run mostly April through October, peaking in June with 24% of them, the same peak as Connecticut as a whole.

Species for which New Haven County holds a large share of all Connecticut records: the eastern copperhead, 79% (65 of 82); the eastern wormsnake, 74% (23 of 31); the garden spider, 64% (14 of 22); the dark fishing spider, 54% (26 of 48); the ring-necked snake, 54% (67 of 124); the sixspotted fishing spider, 46% (17 of 37); the eastern hog-nosed snake, 46% (22 of 48); the eastern milksnake, 45% (42 of 94).

Among the snakes most recorded across Connecticut, these do not reach the county list: the timber rattlesnake (64 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.

Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the northern water snake, the eastern milksnake, the eastern hog-nosed snake and the eastern rat snake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, and GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for Connecticut under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the northern water snake. No rattlesnakes reach the county list, but the timber rattlesnake is on the Connecticut list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the eastern hog-nosed snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Connecticut under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the eastern milksnake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the boreal combfoot and the triangulate bud spider. No recluse spiders reach the county list, and GBIF holds no recluse spider record for Connecticut under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the spitting spider and the longbodied cellar spider.

By licensed snake records New Haven County ranks 1st of 8 Connecticut counties with any.

The whole state: venomous species in Connecticut, all snakes, all spiders.