Venomous snakes and spiders in Georgia
Georgia has seven venomous snake species among the 44 snake species listed there: timber rattlesnake, eastern copperhead, northern cottonmouth, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, pygmy rattlesnake, eastern coral snake and Florida cottonmouth. The timber rattlesnake accounts for the most records (166), and venomous species make up 9% of all 6,181 licensed snake records in the state. On the spider side, four species are medically significant: brown widow, southern black widow, northern black widow and brown recluse.
Venomous snakes of Georgia
Georgia's venomous snakes are three rattlesnake species, three copperhead or cottonmouth species and one coral snake species. Together they account for 531 licensed records; the timber rattlesnake alone has 31% of them, and the least recorded, the Florida cottonmouth, has 7.
Dangerous spiders of Georgia
Three widow species (Brown widow: 42 records, Southern black widow: 40 records, Northern black widow: 7 records) and one recluse species (Brown recluse: 3 records) are on the Georgia list. Widow bites cause muscle pain and cramps; recluse bites can cause a slow-healing wound. Both are rare and seldom fatal.
Are there scorpions in Georgia?
Yes. Two scorpion species are recorded in Georgia, from 103 licensed records: Southern unstriped scorpion (92 records), Hentz striped scorpion (10 records). Every scorpion has venom; only the Arizona bark scorpion's sting is medically significant, and it is not on the Georgia list.
Other snakes recorded most in Georgia
These eight account for 70% of all licensed snake records in Georgia; the most recorded, the brown water snake, alone for 45%.
Other spiders recorded most in Georgia
These eight account for 35% of all licensed spider records in Georgia; the most recorded, the Joro spider, alone for 8%.
When venomous snakes are out in Georgia
Observation records of venomous snakes in Georgia run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 23% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 3% of the records.
Season of each venomous snake
| Species | Main season | Peak month | Winter share | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timber rattlesnake | April through October | May | 0% | 60 |
| Eastern copperhead | April through October | April | 1% | 79 |
| Northern cottonmouth | March through November | May | 7% | 45 |
When spiders are most active in Georgia
Observation records of spiders in Georgia run mostly March through October, peaking in August with 16% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 5% of the records.
When scorpions are out in Georgia
Observation records of scorpions in Georgia run mostly February through October, peaking in May with 13% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 16% of the records.
Counties with the most venomous snake records
Baker County has the most records of venomous snakes in Georgia, 58, most of them of the timber rattlesnake. Charlton County and Harris County follow.
| # | County | Records | Most recorded there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baker County | 58 | Timber rattlesnake |
| 2 | Charlton County | 54 | Northern cottonmouth |
| 3 | Harris County | 22 | Timber rattlesnake |
| 4 | Grady County | 17 | Eastern diamondback rattlesnake |
| 5 | Glynn County | 16 | Eastern diamondback rattlesnake |
| 6 | Jones County | 15 | Northern cottonmouth |
| 7 | Chatham County | 15 | Eastern copperhead |
| 8 | Columbia County | 15 | Northern cottonmouth |
| 9 | Rabun County | 9 | Timber rattlesnake |
| 10 | Union County | 9 | Eastern copperhead |
Where in Georgia are snakes recorded most?
Burke County dominates: 42% of the state's licensed snake records come from it alone, and the top five counties hold 55%. 153 of Georgia's 159 counties have at least one licensed snake record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burke County | 2,572 | 41.6% |
| 2 | Charlton County | 383 | 6.2% |
| 3 | Chatham County | 157 | 2.5% |
| 4 | Clarke County | 152 | 2.5% |
| 5 | Columbia County | 130 | 2.1% |
| 6 | Cobb County | 125 | 2.0% |
| 7 | DeKalb County | 124 | 2.0% |
| 8 | Baker County | 118 | 1.9% |
| 9 | Rabun County | 114 | 1.8% |
| 10 | Richmond County | 108 | 1.7% |
| 11 | Ware County | 90 | 1.5% |
| 12 | Bryan County | 70 | 1.1% |
Georgia counties with their own page: Charlton County, Clarke County, Cobb County, DeKalb County and Gwinnett County.
Are there poisonous snakes in Georgia?
Yes. Georgia has seven venomous snake species on its list, the kind people usually call poisonous: timber rattlesnake, eastern copperhead, northern cottonmouth, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, pygmy rattlesnake, eastern coral snake and Florida cottonmouth. Strictly, snakes are venomous (they inject venom), not poisonous (harmful to eat or touch).
Are there rattlesnakes in Georgia?
Yes. Three species are on the Georgia list: the timber rattlesnake, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake and the pygmy rattlesnake, with 276 licensed records between them. Most licensed records of the timber rattlesnake come from Baker County, Harris County and Charlton County.
Are there copperheads in Georgia?
Yes. One species is on the Georgia list: the eastern copperhead, with 131 licensed records. Most licensed records of the eastern copperhead come from Chatham County, Baker County and DeKalb County.
Are there cottonmouths (water moccasins) in Georgia?
Yes. Two species are on the Georgia list: the northern cottonmouth and the Florida cottonmouth, with 104 licensed records between them. Most licensed records of the northern cottonmouth come from Charlton County, Columbia County and Jones County.
Are there coral snakes in Georgia?
Yes. One species is on the Georgia list: the eastern coral snake, with 20 licensed records.
Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
Georgia has 166 licensed records of the timber rattlesnake, which ranks the state 7th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Georgia run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Baker County, Harris County and Charlton County. Range in other states and photos: Timber rattlesnake profile.
Eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
Georgia has 131 licensed records of the eastern copperhead, which ranks the state 13th of the 27 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Georgia run mostly April through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Chatham County, Baker County and DeKalb County. Range in other states and photos: Eastern copperhead profile.
Northern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
Georgia has 97 licensed records of the northern cottonmouth, which ranks the state 13th of the 16 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Georgia run mostly March through November, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Charlton County, Columbia County and Jones County. Range in other states and photos: Northern cottonmouth profile.
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)
Georgia has 74 licensed records of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, which ranks the state 2nd of the 5 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Georgia come from Grady County, Glynn County and Baker County. Range in other states and photos: Eastern diamondback rattlesnake profile.
Pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius)
Georgia has 36 licensed records of the pygmy rattlesnake, which ranks the state 6th of the 11 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Georgia come from Charlton County, Ware County and Berrien County. Range in other states and photos: Pygmy rattlesnake profile.
Eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius)
Georgia has 20 licensed records of the eastern coral snake, which ranks the state 5th of the 5 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Eastern coral snake profile.
Florida cottonmouth (Agkistrodon conanti)
Georgia has 7 licensed records of the Florida cottonmouth, which ranks the state 2nd of the 2 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Florida cottonmouth profile.
Harmless lookalikes in Georgia
Many snakes and spiders taken for venomous ones are harmless species with a similar look. These are the usual confusions, with each species' licensed records in Georgia.
What looks like a copperhead in Georgia
Copperheads: 131 licensed records in Georgia. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: northern water snake (204), eastern rat snake (203), eastern hog-nosed snake (109), corn snake (78) and plain-bellied watersnake (77). Together they have 692 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 5 times as often.
What looks like a cottonmouth in Georgia
Cottonmouths: 104 licensed records in Georgia. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: brown water snake (2,808), northern water snake (204), southern watersnake (155), plain-bellied watersnake (77) and mud snake (39). Together they have 3,288 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 32 times as often.
What looks like a rattlesnake in Georgia
Rattlesnakes: 276 licensed records in Georgia. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: eastern hog-nosed snake (109) and pine snake (13). Together they have 122 licensed records, and here the venomous species are the more recorded side, 2.3 to 1.
What looks like a coral snake in Georgia
Coral snakes: 20 licensed records in Georgia. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: scarlet snake (34), scarlet kingsnake (20) and eastern milksnake (13). Together they have 67 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 3 times as often.
What looks like a widow spider in Georgia
Widow spiders: 89 licensed records in Georgia. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: common house spider (18), triangulate bud spider (17) and false black widow (12). Together they have 47 licensed records, and here the venomous species are the more recorded side, 1.9 to 1.
What looks like a recluse spider in Georgia
Recluse spiders: 3 licensed records in Georgia. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: southern house spider (48), longbodied cellar spider (20) and dark-legged grass spider (on record). Together they have 68 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 23 times as often.
How Georgia compares
By count of venomous snake species, Georgia ranks 5th of 50 states, level with California and Florida. Nationally, Arizona leads with 14 species; five list none.
Georgia lists as many venomous snake species as Florida, and more than any other state it borders (Georgia: 7 species; Florida 7, Alabama 6, South Carolina 6, North Carolina 5, Tennessee 3).
Every venomous snake listed in a neighboring state is also on the Georgia list. The most widely shared are the eastern copperhead, the northern cottonmouth and the timber rattlesnake, each listed in all five bordering states.
Are there poisonous spiders in Georgia?
Does Georgia have black widows?
Yes. Three widow species are on the Georgia list: the brown widow (42 records), the southern black widow (40 records) and the northern black widow (7 records).
Does Georgia have brown recluse spiders?
Yes. The brown recluse is on the Georgia list, with 3 licensed records.
Brown widow (Latrodectus geometricus)
Georgia has 42 licensed records of the brown widow, which ranks the state 4th of the 11 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Georgia run through most of the year, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Chatham County, Clarke County and Bryan County. Range in other states and photos: Brown widow profile.
Southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans)
Georgia has 40 licensed records of the southern black widow, which ranks the state 7th of the 22 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Georgia run mostly January through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Clarke County, Bryan County and Floyd County. Range in other states and photos: Southern black widow profile.
Northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus)
Georgia has 7 licensed records of the northern black widow, which ranks the state 15th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Northern black widow profile.
Brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa)
Georgia has 3 licensed records of the brown recluse, which ranks the state 14th of the 16 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Brown recluse profile.
More for Georgia
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.