Snakes and spiders in Franklin County, Florida
Franklin County, home of Apalachicola, has 22 snake and 10 spider species on record, from 319 licensed snake and 99 spider records. Venomous species here: the pygmy rattlesnake, the Florida cottonmouth, the northern cottonmouth and the eastern diamondback rattlesnake.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Franklin County?
Yes. The pygmy rattlesnake: 24 licensed records, 5% of all Florida records of it. The Florida cottonmouth: 22 licensed records, 5% of all Florida records of it. The northern cottonmouth: 16 licensed records, 6% of all Florida records of it. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake: 14 licensed records, 4% of all Florida records of it.
What snakes are in Franklin County?
In all, 22 snake species are on the Franklin County list. The most recorded are the brown water snake (33), the corn snake (29) and the southern watersnake (27).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Florida records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brown water snake Nerodia taxispilota | 33 | 9% |
| 2 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | 29 | 4% |
| 3 | Southern watersnake Nerodia fasciata | 27 | 2% |
| 4 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 26 | 2% |
| 5 | Pygmy rattlesnake venomous Sistrurus miliarius | 24 | 5% |
| 6 | Florida cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon conanti | 22 | 5% |
| 7 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 20 | 3% |
| 8 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 16 | 6% |
| 9 | Eastern diamondback rattlesnake venomous Crotalus adamanteus | 14 | 4% |
| 10 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 12 | 6% |
| 11 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 11 | 2% |
| 12 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 8 | 4% |
| 13 | Crayfish snake Liodytes rigida | 8 | 17% |
| 14 | Mud snake Farancia abacura | 8 | 4% |
| 15 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | 6 | 43% |
| 16 | Scarlet snake Cemophora coccinea | 6 | 3% |
| 17 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | 3 | 2% |
| 18 | Florida green water snake Nerodia floridana | 3 | 1% |
| 19 | Salt marsh snake Nerodia clarkii | 3 | 1% |
| 20 | Rainbow snake Farancia erytrogramma | 2 | 11% |
| 21 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | — | — |
| 22 | Scarlet kingsnake Lampropeltis elapsoides | — | — |
When are snakes out in Franklin County?
Observation records of snakes in Franklin County run mostly March through November, peaking in March with 19% of them, the same peak as Florida as a whole.
What spiders are in Franklin County?
In all, 10 spider species are on the Franklin County list. The most recorded are the sixspotted fishing spider (17), the green lynx spider (8) and the black-and-yellow argiope (6).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Florida records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 17 | 9% |
| 2 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 8 | 2% |
| 3 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 6 | 2% |
| 4 | Southern house spider Kukulcania hibernalis | 6 | 9% |
| 5 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | 3 | 0% |
| 6 | Florida garden spider Argiope florida | 3 | 6% |
| 7 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 3 | 3% |
| 8 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 3 | 6% |
| 9 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | 1 | 0% |
| 10 | Leucauge argyrobapta | — | — |
When are spiders out in Franklin County?
Observation records of spiders in Franklin County run mostly March through November, peaking in September with 24% of them; across Florida the peak is April.
Common in Florida, not on the Franklin County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Florida, these do not reach the county list: the Burmese python (8,141 statewide) and the black swamp snake (431 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 Florida, these do not reach the county list: the spiny-backed orbweaver (864 statewide), the greater leucauge (514 statewide), the gray wall jumper (392 statewide), the magnolia green jumper (341 statewide), the tropical orb weaver (309 statewide) and the regal jumper (213 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Franklin County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead is on the Florida list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the corn snake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the brown water snake, the southern watersnake, the mud snake and the Florida green water snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, but the eastern coral snake is on the Florida list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the scarlet snake and the scarlet kingsnake. Recluse spiders are not on the Florida list, but GBIF holds 1 recluse spider record of any license in Florida (brown recluse 1): treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the southern house spider.
Franklin County among Florida counties
By licensed snake records Franklin County ranks 12th of 67 Florida counties with any.
Other Florida counties with their own page: Miami-Dade County, Collier County, Alachua County, Monroe County, Broward County, Lee County, Orange County and Marion County.
The whole state: venomous species in Florida, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.