Snakes and spiders in Bernalillo County, New Mexico
Bernalillo County, home of Albuquerque, has 20 snake and 38 spider species on record, from 168 licensed snake and 301 spider records. Venomous species here: the prairie rattlesnake, the western diamondback rattlesnake, the western massasauga, the eastern black-tailed rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Bernalillo County?
Yes. The prairie rattlesnake: 20 licensed records, 3% of all New Mexico records of it. The western diamondback rattlesnake: 15 licensed records, 2% of all New Mexico records of it. The western massasauga: 8 licensed records, 17% of all New Mexico records of it. The eastern black-tailed rattlesnake: 1 licensed record, 2% of all New Mexico records of it. The western black widow: 35 licensed records, 26% of all New Mexico records of it.
What snakes are in Bernalillo County?
In all, 20 snake species are on the Bernalillo County list. The most recorded are the gopher snake (46), the prairie rattlesnake (20) and the western diamondback rattlesnake (15).
| # | Species | Records | Share of New Mexico records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 46 | 6% |
| 2 | Prairie rattlesnake venomous Crotalus viridis | 20 | 3% |
| 3 | Western diamondback rattlesnake venomous Crotalus atrox | 15 | 2% |
| 4 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 12 | 18% |
| 5 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 8 | 3% |
| 6 | Western massasauga venomous Sistrurus tergeminus | 8 | 17% |
| 7 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 8 | 1% |
| 8 | Glossy snake Arizona elegans | 7 | 2% |
| 9 | Lined snake Tropidoclonion lineatum | 7 | 10% |
| 10 | Plains black-headed snake Tantilla nigriceps | 7 | 8% |
| 11 | Long-nosed snake Rhinocheilus lecontei | 6 | 4% |
| 12 | Eastern patch-nosed snake Salvadora grahamiae | 3 | 4% |
| 13 | Plains hog-nosed snake Heterodon nasicus | 3 | 4% |
| 14 | Striped whipsnake Masticophis taeniatus | 2 | 2% |
| 15 | Eastern black-tailed rattlesnake venomous Crotalus ornatus | 1 | 2% |
| 16 | Great Plains rat snake Pantherophis emoryi | 1 | 6% |
| 17 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 1 | 1% |
| 18 | Desert kingsnake Lampropeltis splendida | — | — |
| 19 | Plains garter snake Thamnophis radix | — | — |
| 20 | Texas blind snake Rena dulcis | — | — |
When are snakes out in Bernalillo County?
Observation records of snakes in Bernalillo County run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 18% of them; across New Mexico the peak is August.
What spiders are in Bernalillo County?
In all, 38 spider species are on the Bernalillo County list. The most recorded are the western black widow (35), the hairy tufted jumping spider (33) and Phidippus carneus (20). Bernalillo County holds more than half of all New Mexico records of the hairy tufted jumping spider, the false black widow, Habronattus geronimoi and the triangulate bud spider.
| # | Species | Records | Share of New Mexico records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 35 | 26% |
| 2 | Hairy tufted jumping spider Phidippus comatus | 33 | 69% |
| 3 | Phidippus carneus | 20 | 39% |
| 4 | Habronattus klauseri | 15 | 47% |
| 5 | Dysdera crocata | 10 | 48% |
| 6 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 9 | 22% |
| 7 | Varacosa gosiuta | 8 | 40% |
| 8 | False black widow Steatoda grossa | 6 | 60% |
| 9 | Habronattus geronimoi | 6 | 50% |
| 10 | Hogna antelucana | 4 | 33% |
| 11 | Phidippus asotus | 4 | 33% |
| 12 | Texas brown tarantula Aphonopelma hentzi | 4 | 7% |
| 13 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 4 | 9% |
| 14 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 3 | 21% |
| 15 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 2 | 8% |
| 16 | California flattened jumping spider Platycryptus californicus | 2 | 20% |
| 17 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 2 | 29% |
| 18 | Western parson spider Herpyllus propinquus | 2 | 25% |
| 19 | Apache jumping spider Phidippus apacheanus | 1 | 3% |
| 20 | Giant crab spider Olios giganteus | 1 | 8% |
| 21 | Hirsute paradise spider Habronattus hirsutus | 1 | 14% |
| 22 | Physocyclus enaulus | 1 | 11% |
| 23 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 1 | 50% |
| 24 | Arizona black hole spider Kukulcania arizonica | — | — |
| 25 | Barn funnel weaver Tegenaria domestica | — | — |
| 26 | Bowl and doily spider Frontinella pyramitela | — | — |
| 27 | Carolina wolf spider Hogna carolinensis | — | — |
| 28 | Colonus hesperus | — | — |
| 29 | Desert red jumping spider Phidippus ardens | — | — |
| 30 | Geolycosa rafaelana | — | — |
| 31 | Long-jawed orb weaver Tetragnatha laboriosa | — | — |
| 32 | Multicolored bark crab spider Bassaniana versicolor | — | — |
| 33 | Nearctic white-striped running crab spider Philodromus rufus | — | — |
| 34 | Oblong running spider Tibellus oblongus | — | — |
| 35 | Philodromus californicus | — | — |
| 36 | Steatoda grandis | — | — |
| 37 | Trachelas mexicanus | — | — |
| 38 | Yellow sac spider Cheiracanthium inclusum | — | — |
When are spiders out in Bernalillo County?
Observation records of spiders in Bernalillo County run mostly March through November, peaking in September with 13% of them, the same peak as New Mexico as a whole.
What stands out in Bernalillo County
Species for which Bernalillo County holds a large share of all New Mexico records: the hairy tufted jumping spider, 69% (33 of 48); Dysdera crocata, 48% (10 of 21); Habronattus klauseri, 47% (15 of 32); Phidippus carneus, 39% (20 of 51); the western black widow, 26% (35 of 137); the common garter snake, 18% (12 of 67).
Common in New Mexico, not on the Bernalillo County list
Among the snakes most recorded across New Mexico, these do not reach the county list: the Mohave rattlesnake (216 statewide), the blackneck garter snake (206 statewide), the black-tailed rattlesnake (150 statewide) and the checkered garter snake (126 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 New Mexico, these do not reach the county list: Hogna coloradensis (40 statewide), Habronattus clypeatus (24 statewide) and Habronattus conjunctus (24 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Bernalillo County
Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the gopher snake, the plains hog-nosed snake and the Great Plains rat snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, but the Sonoran coralsnake is on the New Mexico list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the long-nosed snake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the false black widow and the triangulate bud spider.
Bernalillo County among New Mexico counties
By licensed snake records Bernalillo County ranks 11th of 33 New Mexico counties with any.
Other New Mexico counties with their own page: Hidalgo County, Eddy County, Doña Ana County and Grant County.
The whole state: venomous species in New Mexico, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.