Snakes and spiders in Washoe County, Nevada
Washoe County, home of Reno, has 13 snake and 14 spider species on record, from 637 licensed snake and 62 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Washoe County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 222 licensed records, 48% of all Nevada records of it. The western black widow: 6 licensed records, 15% of all Nevada records of it.
What snakes are in Washoe County?
In all, 13 snake species are on the Washoe County list. The most recorded are the western rattlesnake (222), the western terrestrial garter snake (158) and the gopher snake (114). Washoe County holds more than half of all Nevada records of the common garter snake.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Nevada records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 222 | 48% |
| 2 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 158 | 28% |
| 3 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 114 | 17% |
| 4 | Striped whipsnake Masticophis taeniatus | 32 | 22% |
| 5 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 23 | 37% |
| 6 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 20 | 56% |
| 7 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 18 | 6% |
| 8 | Northern rubber boa Charina bottae | 11 | 27% |
| 9 | Western patch-nosed snake Salvadora hexalepis | 9 | 7% |
| 10 | California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae | 8 | 7% |
| 11 | Western ground snake Sonora semiannulata | 8 | 10% |
| 12 | Long-nosed snake Rhinocheilus lecontei | 6 | 2% |
| 13 | Western aquatic garter snake Thamnophis couchii | 6 | 43% |
When are snakes out in Washoe County?
Observation records of snakes in Washoe County run mostly May through October, peaking in May with 51% of them, the same peak as Nevada as a whole.
What spiders are in Washoe County?
In all, 14 spider species are on the Washoe County list. The most recorded are the California flattened jumping spider (7), the western black widow (6) and Dysdera crocata (4). Washoe County holds more than half of all Nevada records of Dysdera crocata, the bold jumper and the McCook's split wolf spider.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Nevada records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California flattened jumping spider Platycryptus californicus | 7 | 47% |
| 2 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 6 | 15% |
| 3 | Dysdera crocata | 4 | 67% |
| 4 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 3 | 100% |
| 5 | McCook's split wolf spider Schizocosa mccooki | 3 | 50% |
| 6 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 2 | 11% |
| 7 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | 2 | 22% |
| 8 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | 2 | 33% |
| 9 | Hairy tufted jumping spider Phidippus comatus | 1 | 33% |
| 10 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 1 | 25% |
| 11 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 1 | 5% |
| 12 | Bay Area blonde Aphonopelma iodius | — | — |
| 13 | Phidippus nikites | — | — |
| 14 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | — | — |
When are spiders out in Washoe County?
Observation records of spiders in Washoe County run mostly May through November, peaking in July with 26% of them; across Nevada the peak is June.
What stands out in Washoe County
Species for which Washoe County holds a large share of all Nevada records: the common garter snake, 56% (20 of 36); the western rattlesnake, 48% (222 of 461); the eastern racer, 37% (23 of 63); the western terrestrial garter snake, 28% (158 of 557); the northern rubber boa, 27% (11 of 41); the striped whipsnake, 22% (32 of 145); the gopher snake, 17% (114 of 673).
Common in Nevada, not on the Washoe County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Nevada, these do not reach the county list: the sidewinder (305 statewide), the spotted leaf-nosed snake (163 statewide), the western shovel-nosed snake (109 statewide) and the Panamint rattlesnake (108 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Among the spiders most recorded across Nevada, these do not reach the county list: Habronattus tarsalis (56 statewide), Phidippus californicus (24 statewide), the hirsute paradise spider (21 statewide), Plexippoides flavescens (20 statewide), Habronattus americanus (14 statewide) and Habronattus signatus (13 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Washoe County
Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the gopher snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Nevada under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the long-nosed snake.
Washoe County among Nevada counties
By licensed snake records Washoe County ranks 3rd of 17 Nevada counties with any.
Other Nevada counties with their own page: Clark County and Nye County.
The whole state: venomous species in Nevada, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.