Venomous snakes and spiders in Minnesota
Minnesota has one venomous snake species among the 15 snake species listed there: timber rattlesnake. The timber rattlesnake accounts for the most records (11), and venomous species make up 1% of all 921 licensed snake records in the state. No widow or recluse spider reaches the listing threshold in Minnesota. GBIF holds 8 widow or recluse records of any license in Minnesota (western black widow 2, northern black widow 2, brown recluse 2, brown widow 1, southern black widow 1), fewer than 10 of any one species; such records can be genuine rarities, strays, transported animals or misidentifications. Treat any spider that looks like a widow as venomous. Treat any spider that looks like a recluse as venomous.
Venomous snakes of Minnesota
The only venomous snake on the Minnesota list is the timber rattlesnake, with 11 licensed records, 1% of all snake records in the state.
Dangerous spiders of Minnesota
No widow or recluse spider reaches the Minnesota list, which needs 10 GBIF records of a species, out of 2,990 licensed spider records in all. GBIF holds 8 widow or recluse records of any license in Minnesota (western black widow 2, northern black widow 2, brown recluse 2, brown widow 1, southern black widow 1), fewer than 10 of any one species; such records can be genuine rarities, strays, transported animals or misidentifications. Treat any spider that looks like a widow as venomous. Treat any spider that looks like a recluse as venomous.
Other snakes recorded most in Minnesota
These eight account for 83% of all licensed snake records in Minnesota; the most recorded, the common garter snake, alone for 46%.
Other spiders recorded most in Minnesota
These eight account for 33% of all licensed spider records in Minnesota; the most recorded, the zebra spider, alone for 7%.
All 145 spiders of Minnesota →
When are snakes out in Minnesota?
Observation records of snakes in Minnesota run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 20% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so snakes in Minnesota are rarely recorded in winter. Venomous snakes alone have two observation records with a month in Minnesota, too few for a season of their own.
When spiders are most active in Minnesota
Observation records of spiders in Minnesota run mostly April through September, peaking in August with 23% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 2% of the records.
Where in Minnesota are snakes recorded most?
Hennepin County leads with 132 records (14%), followed by Crow Wing County and Dakota County; the top five counties hold 38% of the total. 74 of Minnesota's 87 counties have at least one licensed snake record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hennepin County | 132 | 14.3% |
| 2 | Crow Wing County | 59 | 6.4% |
| 3 | Dakota County | 57 | 6.2% |
| 4 | Lake County | 53 | 5.8% |
| 5 | Anoka County | 50 | 5.4% |
| 6 | Winona County | 43 | 4.7% |
| 7 | St. Louis County | 34 | 3.7% |
| 8 | Rice County | 33 | 3.6% |
| 9 | Wright County | 26 | 2.8% |
| 10 | Cook County | 25 | 2.7% |
| 11 | Sherburne County | 23 | 2.5% |
| 12 | Washington County | 23 | 2.5% |
Minnesota counties with their own page: Hennepin County, Ramsey County and Stevens County.
Are there poisonous snakes in Minnesota?
Yes. Minnesota has one venomous snake species on its list, the kind people usually call poisonous: timber rattlesnake. Strictly, snakes are venomous (they inject venom), not poisonous (harmful to eat or touch).
Are there rattlesnakes in Minnesota?
Yes. One species is on the Minnesota list: the timber rattlesnake, with 11 licensed records.
Are there copperheads in Minnesota?
Not on our list: GBIF holds 2 copperhead records of any license in Minnesota (broad-banded copperhead 2), fewer than 10 of any one species; such records can be genuine rarities, strays, transported animals or misidentifications. Treat any snake that looks like a copperhead or cottonmouth as venomous.
Are there cottonmouths (water moccasins) in Minnesota?
No. GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for Minnesota under any license.
Are there coral snakes in Minnesota?
Not on our list: GBIF holds 2 coral snake records of any license in Minnesota (Texas coral snake 2), fewer than 10 of any one species; such records can be genuine rarities, strays, transported animals or misidentifications. Treat any snake that looks like a coral snake as venomous.
Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
Minnesota has 11 licensed records of the timber rattlesnake, which ranks the state 29th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Timber rattlesnake profile.
Harmless lookalikes in Minnesota
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 Minnesota.
What looks like a copperhead in Minnesota
Copperheads are not on the Minnesota list, but they are recorded in Minnesota two times (records of any license: broad-banded copperhead 2): treat any snake like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them in the state: eastern hog-nosed snake (25), eastern milksnake (23) and northern water snake (18).
What looks like a cottonmouth in Minnesota
No cottonmouths reach the Minnesota list, and GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for Minnesota under any license, so a snake taken for one here is most likely a harmless lookalike. Those recorded in the state: northern water snake (18).
What looks like a rattlesnake in Minnesota
Rattlesnakes: 11 licensed records in Minnesota. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: gopher snake (31), eastern hog-nosed snake (25), western foxsnake (23), plains hog-nosed snake (14) and eastern fox snake (10). Together they have 103 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 9 times as often.
What looks like a coral snake in Minnesota
Coral snakes are not on the Minnesota list, but they are recorded in Minnesota two times (records of any license: Texas coral snake 2): treat any snake like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them in the state: eastern milksnake (23).
What looks like a widow spider in Minnesota
Widow spiders are not on the Minnesota list, but they are recorded in Minnesota six times (records of any license: western black widow 2, northern black widow 2, brown widow 1, southern black widow 1): treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them in the state: boreal combfoot (60), triangulate bud spider (34) and twospotted cobweb spider (4).
What looks like a recluse spider in Minnesota
Recluse spiders are not on the Minnesota list, but they are recorded in Minnesota two times (records of any license: brown recluse 2): treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them in the state: longbodied cellar spider (17).
How Minnesota compares
By count of venomous snake species, Minnesota ranks 37th of 50 states, level with 8 other states. Nationally, Arizona leads with 14 species; five list none.
Of the four states bordering Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin list more venomous snake species; North Dakota and South Dakota list as many (Minnesota: 1 species; Iowa 3, Wisconsin 2, North Dakota 1, South Dakota 1).
Venomous snakes listed next door but not in Minnesota: the prairie rattlesnake (Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota); the eastern massasauga (Iowa and Wisconsin). The most widely shared is the timber rattlesnake, listed in two of the four bordering states.
Are there poisonous spiders in Minnesota?
Does Minnesota have black widows?
Not on our list: GBIF holds 6 widow spider records of any license in Minnesota (western black widow 2, northern black widow 2, brown widow 1, southern black widow 1), fewer than 10 of any one species; such records can be genuine rarities, strays, transported animals or misidentifications. Treat any spider that looks like a widow as venomous.
Does Minnesota have brown recluse spiders?
Not on our list: GBIF holds 2 brown recluse records of any license in Minnesota (brown recluse 2), fewer than 10 of any one species; such records can be genuine rarities, strays, transported animals or misidentifications. Treat any spider that looks like a recluse as venomous.
Are there scorpions in Minnesota?
No. GBIF holds no scorpion record for Minnesota under any license. Every scorpion has venom; only the Arizona bark scorpion's sting is medically significant, and it is not on the Minnesota list.
More for Minnesota
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.