Snakes and spiders in Frederick County, Maryland
Frederick County, home of Frederick, has 12 snake and 58 spider species on record, from 229 licensed snake and 647 spider records. Venomous species here: the timber rattlesnake, the eastern copperhead, the northern black widow and the southern black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Frederick County?
Yes. The timber rattlesnake: 17 licensed records, 53% of all Maryland records of it. The eastern copperhead: 8 licensed records, 6% of all Maryland records of it. The northern black widow: 5 licensed records, 14% of all Maryland records of it. The southern black widow: 1 licensed record, 4% of all Maryland records of it.
What snakes are in Frederick County?
In all, 12 snake species are on the Frederick County list. The most recorded are the eastern rat snake (52), the common garter snake (46) and the northern water snake (42). Frederick County holds more than half of all Maryland records of the timber rattlesnake.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Maryland records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 52 | 9% |
| 2 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 46 | 9% |
| 3 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 42 | 7% |
| 4 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 31 | 12% |
| 5 | Timber rattlesnake venomous Crotalus horridus | 17 | 53% |
| 6 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | 9 | 8% |
| 7 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 8 | 6% |
| 8 | Queen snake Regina septemvittata | 8 | 14% |
| 9 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | 6 | 2% |
| 10 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 3 | 1% |
| 11 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 1 | 3% |
| 12 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | — | — |
When are snakes out in Frederick County?
Observation records of snakes in Frederick County run mostly March through September, peaking in May with 27% of them, the same peak as Maryland as a whole.
What spiders are in Frederick County?
In all, 58 spider species are on the Frederick County list. The most recorded are the orchard orbweaver (49), the bold jumper (47) and the familiar jumping spider (43). Frederick County holds more than half of all Maryland records of the dimorphic jumper and the filmy dome spider.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Maryland records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 49 | 13% |
| 2 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 47 | 17% |
| 3 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 43 | 17% |
| 4 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | 33 | 22% |
| 5 | Dimorphic jumper Maevia inclemens | 32 | 68% |
| 6 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 26 | 12% |
| 7 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 22 | 13% |
| 8 | Paraphidippus aurantius | 21 | 13% |
| 9 | Putnam's jumper Phidippus putnami | 19 | 24% |
| 10 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 19 | 10% |
| 11 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | 15 | 26% |
| 12 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 15 | 23% |
| 13 | Sylvan jumping spider Colonus sylvanus | 15 | 17% |
| 14 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 14 | 13% |
| 15 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | 13 | 8% |
| 16 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 12 | 5% |
| 17 | Cone-shaped orbweaver Cyclosa conica | 11 | 33% |
| 18 | Filmy dome spider Neriene radiata | 11 | 61% |
| 19 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | 10 | 14% |
| 20 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | 10 | 10% |
| 21 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 10 | 8% |
| 22 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 7 | 25% |
| 23 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | 6 | 9% |
| 24 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 6 | 22% |
| 25 | Bowl and doily spider Frontinella pyramitela | 6 | 12% |
| 26 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | 6 | 11% |
| 27 | White-jawed jumping spider Hentzia mitrata | 6 | 11% |
| 28 | Blacktailed red sheetweaver Florinda coccinea | 5 | 31% |
| 29 | Flower crab spider Mecaphesa asperata | 5 | 28% |
| 30 | Heptagonal orbweaver Gea heptagon | 5 | 26% |
| 31 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | 5 | 23% |
| 32 | Northern black widow venomous Latrodectus variolus | 5 | 14% |
| 33 | White micrathena Micrathena mitrata | 5 | 12% |
| 34 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 5 | 8% |
| 35 | Asian wall jumper Attulus fasciger | 4 | 21% |
| 36 | Boreal combfoot Steatoda borealis | 4 | 12% |
| 37 | Dock spider Dolomedes scriptus | 4 | 19% |
| 38 | Grayish jumping spider Phidippus princeps | 4 | 8% |
| 39 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 4 | 8% |
| 40 | Spintharus flavidus | 4 | 44% |
| 41 | Wetland giant wolf spider Tigrosa helluo | 4 | 7% |
| 42 | Banded fishing spider Dolomedes vittatus | 3 | 11% |
| 43 | Black-banded crab spider Synema parvulum | 3 | 9% |
| 44 | Butterfly orbweaver Araneus pegnia | 3 | 6% |
| 45 | Dysdera crocata | 3 | 8% |
| 46 | Labyrinth orbweaver Metepeira labyrinthea | 3 | 5% |
| 47 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | 2 | 4% |
| 48 | Basilica orbweaver Mecynogea lemniscata | 2 | 3% |
| 49 | Pisaurina dubia | 2 | 11% |
| 50 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 2 | 4% |
| 51 | Sixspotted orbweaver Araniella displicata | 2 | 9% |
| 52 | Slender ant mimicking jumping spider Synemosyna formica | 2 | 13% |
| 53 | Broad-faced sac spider Trachelas tranquillus | 1 | 3% |
| 54 | Peppered jumper Pelegrina galathea | 1 | 2% |
| 55 | Southern black widow venomous Latrodectus mactans | 1 | 4% |
| 56 | Striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus | 1 | 4% |
| 57 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 1 | 2% |
| 58 | Whitman's jumping spider Phidippus whitmani | 1 | 8% |
When are spiders out in Frederick County?
Observation records of spiders in Frederick County run mostly April through October, peaking in June with 19% of them; across Maryland the peak is August.
What stands out in Frederick County
Species for which Frederick County holds a large share of all Maryland records: the dimorphic jumper, 68% (32 of 47); the timber rattlesnake, 53% (17 of 32); the cone-shaped orbweaver, 33% (11 of 33); the furrow orbweaver, 26% (15 of 57); the Putnam's jumper, 24% (19 of 80); the rabid wolf spider, 23% (15 of 66); the bronze jumper, 22% (33 of 149); the sylvan jumping spider, 17% (15 of 87).
Common in Maryland, not on the Frederick County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Maryland, these do not reach the county list: the rough greensnake (152 statewide), the eastern hog-nosed snake (102 statewide) and the smooth earth snake (86 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Frederick County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the eastern rat snake, the northern water snake and the eastern milksnake. Cottonmouths are not on the Maryland list, but GBIF holds 1 cottonmouth record of any license in Maryland (northern cottonmouth 1): treat any snake like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Maryland 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. Recluse spiders are not on the Maryland list, but GBIF holds 8 recluse spider records of any license in Maryland (brown recluse 8): treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the longbodied cellar spider.
Frederick County among Maryland counties
By licensed snake records Frederick County ranks 6th of 23 Maryland counties with any.
Other Maryland counties with their own page: Prince George's County, Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Howard County and Harford County.
The whole state: venomous species in Maryland, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.