Snakes and spiders in Essex County, Massachusetts
Essex County, home of Salem, has 8 snake and 42 spider species on record, from 181 licensed snake and 303 spider records. Venomous species here: the northern black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Essex County?
Yes. The northern black widow: 22 licensed records, 14% of all Massachusetts records of it.
What snakes are in Essex County?
In all, 8 snake species are on the Essex County list. The most recorded are the common garter snake (107), the northern water snake (34) and the eastern milksnake (15).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Massachusetts records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 107 | 10% |
| 2 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 34 | 10% |
| 3 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | 15 | 11% |
| 4 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 8 | 11% |
| 5 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 7 | 8% |
| 6 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 4 | 4% |
| 7 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 1 | 2% |
| 8 | Smooth green snake Opheodrys vernalis | 1 | 2% |
When are snakes out in Essex County?
Observation records of snakes in Essex County run mostly March through September, peaking in May with 25% of them, the same peak as Massachusetts as a whole.
What spiders are in Essex County?
In all, 42 spider species are on the Essex County list. The most recorded are the familiar jumping spider (27), the northern black widow (22) and the nursery web spider (22).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Massachusetts records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 27 | 11% |
| 2 | Northern black widow venomous Latrodectus variolus | 22 | 14% |
| 3 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 22 | 8% |
| 4 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 19 | 10% |
| 5 | Garden spider Araneus diadematus | 14 | 12% |
| 6 | Drumming sword wolf spider Gladicosa gulosa | 11 | 13% |
| 7 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 10 | 3% |
| 8 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 10 | 12% |
| 9 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 8 | 8% |
| 10 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 8 | 16% |
| 11 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 7 | 15% |
| 12 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 7 | 11% |
| 13 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 7 | 14% |
| 14 | Dimorphic jumper Maevia inclemens | 6 | 6% |
| 15 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 6 | 10% |
| 16 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | 5 | 6% |
| 17 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 5 | 12% |
| 18 | Common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum | 4 | 6% |
| 19 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | 4 | 29% |
| 20 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | 4 | 12% |
| 21 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | 3 | 9% |
| 22 | Flower crab spider Mecaphesa asperata | 3 | 5% |
| 23 | Grayish jumping spider Phidippus princeps | 3 | 5% |
| 24 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 3 | 5% |
| 25 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 3 | 4% |
| 26 | Wetland giant wolf spider Tigrosa helluo | 3 | 12% |
| 27 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 2 | 8% |
| 28 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | 2 | 3% |
| 29 | Dysdera crocata | 2 | 3% |
| 30 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | 2 | 6% |
| 31 | Two-lined stealthy ground spider Cesonia bilineata | 2 | 18% |
| 32 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 2 | 3% |
| 33 | Broad-faced sac spider Trachelas tranquillus | 1 | 8% |
| 34 | Filmy dome spider Neriene radiata | 1 | 1% |
| 35 | Paraphidippus aurantius | 1 | 3% |
| 36 | Peppered jumper Pelegrina galathea | 1 | 4% |
| 37 | Pseudeuophrys erratica | 1 | 7% |
| 38 | Shoreline wolf spider Arctosa littoralis | 1 | 2% |
| 39 | Geolycosa pikei | — | — |
| 40 | Hakka himeshimensis | — | — |
| 41 | Striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus | — | — |
| 42 | White-jawed jumping spider Hentzia mitrata | — | — |
When are spiders out in Essex County?
Observation records of spiders in Essex County run mostly April through October, peaking in August with 26% of them, the same peak as Massachusetts as a whole.
Common in Massachusetts, not on the Essex County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Massachusetts, these do not reach the county list: the red-bellied snake (32 statewide), the timber rattlesnake (14 statewide), the eastern copperhead (12 statewide) and the eastern hog-nosed snake (12 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Essex County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead is on the Massachusetts list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake and the eastern milksnake. Cottonmouths are not on the Massachusetts list, but GBIF holds 2 cottonmouth records of any license in Massachusetts (northern cottonmouth 2): treat any snake like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake. Coral snakes are not on the Massachusetts list, but GBIF holds 1 coral snake record of any license in Massachusetts (eastern coral snake 1): treat any snake like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the eastern milksnake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the common house spider and the triangulate bud spider. Recluse spiders are not on the Massachusetts list, but GBIF holds 1 recluse spider record of any license in Massachusetts (brown recluse 1): treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the longbodied cellar spider.
Essex County among Massachusetts counties
By licensed snake records Essex County ranks 4th of 14 Massachusetts counties with any.
Other Massachusetts counties with their own page: Middlesex County, Worcester County, Norfolk County, Barnstable County, Plymouth County, Dukes County and Suffolk County.
The whole state: venomous species in Massachusetts, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.