Snakes and spiders in Hennepin County, Minnesota

In all, 6 snake species are on the Hennepin County list. The most recorded are the common garter snake (89), the northern water snake (10) and the red-bellied snake (8). Hennepin County holds more than half of all Minnesota records of the northern water snake.

Observation records of snakes in Hennepin County run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 22% of them, the same peak as Minnesota as a whole.

In all, 47 spider species are on the Hennepin County list. The most recorded are the zebra spider (62), the Asian wall jumper (61) and the bold jumper (47). Hennepin County holds more than half of all Minnesota records of the familiar jumping spider, the triangulate bud spider, the barn funnel weaver and the white-jawed jumping spider.

Observation records of spiders in Hennepin County run mostly April through September, peaking in August with 21% of them, the same peak as Minnesota as a whole.

Species for which Hennepin County holds a large share of all Minnesota records: the familiar jumping spider, 71% (22 of 31); the barn funnel weaver, 57% (16 of 28); the triangulate bud spider, 50% (17 of 34); the dimorphic jumper, 48% (28 of 58); the spotted orbweaver, 46% (28 of 61); the Asian wall jumper, 41% (61 of 148); the nursery web spider, 38% (27 of 72); the common candy-striped spider, 36% (10 of 28).

Among the snakes most recorded across Minnesota, these do not reach the county list: the DeKay's brown snake (29 statewide), the eastern hog-nosed snake (25 statewide), the ring-necked snake (25 statewide), the eastern milksnake (23 statewide), the smooth green snake (16 statewide) and the plains hog-nosed snake (14 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.

Copperheads are not on the Minnesota list, but GBIF holds 2 copperhead records of any license in Minnesota (broad-banded copperhead 2): treat any snake like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, and GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for Minnesota under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the northern water snake. No rattlesnakes reach the county list, but the timber rattlesnake is on the Minnesota list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the gopher snake and the western foxsnake. Widow spiders are not on the Minnesota list, but 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): treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the triangulate bud spider and the boreal combfoot. Recluse spiders are not on the Minnesota list, but GBIF holds 2 recluse spider records of any license in Minnesota (brown recluse 2): treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the longbodied cellar spider.

By licensed snake records Hennepin County ranks 1st of 74 Minnesota counties with any.

Other Minnesota counties with their own page: Ramsey County and Stevens County.

The whole state: venomous species in Minnesota, all snakes, all spiders.