Snakes and spiders in Norfolk County, Massachusetts
Norfolk County, home of Dedham, has 8 snake and 47 spider species on record, from 193 licensed snake and 352 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead and the northern black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Norfolk County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 9 licensed records, 75% of all Massachusetts records of it. The northern black widow: 101 licensed records, 62% of all Massachusetts records of it.
What snakes are in Norfolk County?
In all, 8 snake species are on the Norfolk County list. The most recorded are the common garter snake (106), the northern water snake (33) and the eastern milksnake (14). Norfolk County holds more than half of all Massachusetts records of the eastern copperhead.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Massachusetts records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 106 | 10% |
| 2 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 33 | 10% |
| 3 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | 14 | 10% |
| 4 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 9 | 75% |
| 5 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 8 | 10% |
| 6 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 8 | 9% |
| 7 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 7 | 11% |
| 8 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 1 | 1% |
When are snakes out in Norfolk County?
Observation records of snakes in Norfolk County run mostly April through September, peaking in April with 23% of them; across Massachusetts the peak is May.
What spiders are in Norfolk County?
In all, 47 spider species are on the Norfolk County list. The most recorded are the northern black widow (101), the familiar jumping spider (20) and the nursery web spider (19). Norfolk County holds more than half of all Massachusetts records of the northern black widow.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Massachusetts records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern black widow venomous Latrodectus variolus | 101 | 62% |
| 2 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 20 | 8% |
| 3 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 19 | 7% |
| 4 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 16 | 8% |
| 5 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 13 | 4% |
| 6 | Drumming sword wolf spider Gladicosa gulosa | 11 | 13% |
| 7 | Garden spider Araneus diadematus | 11 | 9% |
| 8 | Filmy dome spider Neriene radiata | 10 | 11% |
| 9 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 10 | 15% |
| 10 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 8 | 13% |
| 11 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 8 | 11% |
| 12 | Boreal combfoot Steatoda borealis | 6 | 18% |
| 13 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 6 | 12% |
| 14 | Dimorphic jumper Maevia inclemens | 6 | 6% |
| 15 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | 6 | 7% |
| 16 | Wetland giant wolf spider Tigrosa helluo | 6 | 23% |
| 17 | Flower crab spider Mecaphesa asperata | 5 | 8% |
| 18 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | 4 | 6% |
| 19 | Dysdera crocata | 4 | 7% |
| 20 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 4 | 5% |
| 21 | Cone-shaped orbweaver Cyclosa conica | 3 | 17% |
| 22 | Paraphidippus aurantius | 3 | 9% |
| 23 | Pholcus manueli | 3 | 21% |
| 24 | Broad-faced sac spider Trachelas tranquillus | 2 | 15% |
| 25 | Common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum | 2 | 3% |
| 26 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | 2 | 6% |
| 27 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 2 | 3% |
| 28 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 2 | 5% |
| 29 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 2 | 4% |
| 30 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 1 | 4% |
| 31 | Black laceweaver Amaurobius ferox | 1 | 3% |
| 32 | Black purse-web spider Sphodros niger | 1 | 17% |
| 33 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 1 | 1% |
| 34 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | 1 | 3% |
| 35 | Garden ghost spider Hibana gracilis | 1 | 4% |
| 36 | Grayish jumping spider Phidippus princeps | 1 | 2% |
| 37 | Pseudeuophrys erratica | 1 | 7% |
| 38 | Spitting spider Scytodes thoracica | 1 | 6% |
| 39 | White sac spider Elaver excepta | 1 | 4% |
| 40 | White-jawed jumping spider Hentzia mitrata | 1 | 4% |
| 41 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 1 | 1% |
| 42 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | — | — |
| 43 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | — | — |
| 44 | Pachygnatha tristriata | — | — |
| 45 | Potter's grass spider Agelenopsis potteri | — | — |
| 46 | Sixspotted orbweaver Araniella displicata | — | — |
| 47 | Tuftlegged orbweaver Mangora placida | — | — |
When are spiders out in Norfolk County?
Observation records of spiders in Norfolk County run mostly April through October, peaking in August with 23% of them, the same peak as Massachusetts as a whole.
What stands out in Norfolk County
Species for which Norfolk County holds a large share of all Massachusetts records: the northern black widow, 62% (101 of 162); the sixspotted fishing spider, 15% (10 of 65).
Common in Massachusetts, not on the Norfolk County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Massachusetts, these do not reach the county list: the smooth green snake (41 statewide), the red-bellied snake (32 statewide), the timber rattlesnake (14 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 Norfolk County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: 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), 2 of them in Norfolk County: 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 triangulate bud spider, the boreal combfoot and the common house 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 and the spitting spider.
Norfolk County among Massachusetts counties
By licensed snake records Norfolk County ranks 3rd of 14 Massachusetts counties with any.
Other Massachusetts counties with their own page: Middlesex County, Worcester County, Essex 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.