Snakes and spiders in Grant County, New Mexico
Grant County, home of Silver City, has 25 snake and 7 spider species on record, from 454 licensed snake and 36 spider records. Venomous species here: the black-tailed rattlesnake, the prairie rattlesnake, the western diamondback rattlesnake, the rock rattlesnake, the eastern black-tailed rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Grant County?
Yes. The black-tailed rattlesnake: 34 licensed records, 23% of all New Mexico records of it. The prairie rattlesnake: 34 licensed records, 6% of all New Mexico records of it. The western diamondback rattlesnake: 23 licensed records, 3% of all New Mexico records of it. The rock rattlesnake: 18 licensed records, 20% of all New Mexico records of it. The eastern black-tailed rattlesnake: 3 licensed records, 5% of all New Mexico records of it. The western black widow: 1 licensed record, 1% of all New Mexico records of it.
What snakes are in Grant County?
In all, 25 snake species are on the Grant County list. The most recorded are the gopher snake (65), the black-tailed rattlesnake (34) and the blackneck garter snake (34). Grant County holds more than half of all New Mexico records of the Mexican garter snake.
| # | Species | Records | Share of New Mexico records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 65 | 9% |
| 2 | Black-tailed rattlesnake venomous Crotalus molossus | 34 | 23% |
| 3 | Blackneck garter snake Thamnophis cyrtopsis | 34 | 17% |
| 4 | Prairie rattlesnake venomous Crotalus viridis | 34 | 6% |
| 5 | Western diamondback rattlesnake venomous Crotalus atrox | 23 | 3% |
| 6 | Striped whipsnake Masticophis taeniatus | 19 | 15% |
| 7 | Rock rattlesnake venomous Crotalus lepidus | 18 | 20% |
| 8 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 18 | 3% |
| 9 | Eastern patch-nosed snake Salvadora grahamiae | 15 | 19% |
| 10 | Long-nosed snake Rhinocheilus lecontei | 14 | 8% |
| 11 | Glossy snake Arizona elegans | 13 | 4% |
| 12 | Chihuahuan hook-nosed snake Gyalopion canum | 12 | 34% |
| 13 | Sonoran mountain kingsnake Lampropeltis pyromelana | 12 | 35% |
| 14 | Checkered garter snake Thamnophis marcianus | 8 | 6% |
| 15 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 8 | 11% |
| 16 | Texas lyre snake Trimorphodon vilkinsonii | 8 | 44% |
| 17 | Plains hog-nosed snake Heterodon nasicus | 7 | 10% |
| 18 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 6 | 2% |
| 19 | Mexican garter snake Thamnophis eques | 5 | 71% |
| 20 | Big Bend patch-nosed snake Salvadora deserticola | 4 | 8% |
| 21 | Mexican hog-nose snake Heterodon kennerlyi | 4 | 7% |
| 22 | Eastern black-tailed rattlesnake venomous Crotalus ornatus | 3 | 5% |
| 23 | Chihuahuan night snake Hypsiglena jani | 1 | 2% |
| 24 | Desert kingsnake Lampropeltis splendida | — | — |
| 25 | Sonoran lyre snake Trimorphodon lambda | — | — |
When are snakes out in Grant County?
Observation records of snakes in Grant County run mostly May through September, peaking in August with 33% of them, the same peak as New Mexico as a whole.
What spiders are in Grant County?
In all, 7 spider species are on the Grant County list. The most recorded are Habronattus gilaensis (8), Phidippus carneus (3) and the rodeo black (2). Grant County holds more than half of all New Mexico records of Habronattus gilaensis.
Related species: Habronattus pyrrithrix
| # | Species | Records | Share of New Mexico records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Habronattus gilaensis | 8 | 100% |
| 2 | Phidippus carneus | 3 | 6% |
| 3 | Rodeo black Aphonopelma vorhiesi | 2 | 22% |
| 4 | Arizona black Aphonopelma marxi | 1 | 9% |
| 5 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 1 | 1% |
| 6 | Giant crab spider Olios giganteus | — | — |
| 7 | Pelegrina arizonensis | — | — |
What stands out in Grant County
Species for which Grant County holds a large share of all New Mexico records: the Sonoran mountain kingsnake, 35% (12 of 34); the Chihuahuan hook-nosed snake, 34% (12 of 35); the black-tailed rattlesnake, 23% (34 of 150); the rock rattlesnake, 20% (18 of 91); the eastern patch-nosed snake, 19% (15 of 77); the blackneck garter snake, 17% (34 of 206).
Common in New Mexico, not on the Grant County list
Among the snakes most recorded across New Mexico, these do not reach the county list: the Mohave rattlesnake (216 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: the Texas brown tarantula (55 statewide), the hairy tufted jumping spider (48 statewide), the western spotted orbweaver (45 statewide), the bold jumper (41 statewide), Hogna coloradensis (40 statewide) and Habronattus klauseri (32 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Grant County
Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the gopher snake and the plains hog-nosed 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 and the Sonoran mountain kingsnake.
Grant County among New Mexico counties
By licensed snake records Grant County ranks 4th of 33 New Mexico counties with any.
Other New Mexico counties with their own page: Hidalgo County, Eddy County, Doña Ana County and Bernalillo 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.