Snakes and spiders in Hidalgo County, New Mexico
Hidalgo County, home of Lordsburg, has 32 snake and 5 spider species on record, from 1,320 licensed snake and 175 spider records. Venomous species here: the western diamondback rattlesnake, the Mohave rattlesnake, the prairie rattlesnake, the black-tailed rattlesnake, the rock rattlesnake, the ridge-nosed rattlesnake, the eastern black-tailed rattlesnake, the Sonoran coralsnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Hidalgo County?
Yes. The western diamondback rattlesnake: 260 licensed records, 38% of all New Mexico records of it. The Mohave rattlesnake: 208 licensed records, 96% of all New Mexico records of it. The prairie rattlesnake: 104 licensed records, 18% of all New Mexico records of it. The black-tailed rattlesnake: 43 licensed records, 29% of all New Mexico records of it. The rock rattlesnake: 18 licensed records, 20% of all New Mexico records of it. The ridge-nosed rattlesnake: 6 licensed records, 100% of all New Mexico records of it. The eastern black-tailed rattlesnake: 3 licensed records, 5% of all New Mexico records of it. The Sonoran coralsnake: 1 licensed record, 20% of all New Mexico records of it. The western black widow: 8 licensed records, 6% of all New Mexico records of it.
What snakes are in Hidalgo County?
In all, 32 snake species are on the Hidalgo County list. The most recorded are the western diamondback rattlesnake (260), the Mohave rattlesnake (208) and the gopher snake (125). Hidalgo County holds more than half of all New Mexico records of the Mohave rattlesnake, the desert kingsnake, the western patch-nosed snake and the Sonoran whipsnake.
| # | Species | Records | Share of New Mexico records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western diamondback rattlesnake venomous Crotalus atrox | 260 | 38% |
| 2 | Mohave rattlesnake venomous Crotalus scutulatus | 208 | 96% |
| 3 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 125 | 18% |
| 4 | Prairie rattlesnake venomous Crotalus viridis | 104 | 18% |
| 5 | Long-nosed snake Rhinocheilus lecontei | 62 | 37% |
| 6 | Black-tailed rattlesnake venomous Crotalus molossus | 43 | 29% |
| 7 | Blackneck garter snake Thamnophis cyrtopsis | 43 | 21% |
| 8 | Desert kingsnake Lampropeltis splendida | 43 | 70% |
| 9 | Checkered garter snake Thamnophis marcianus | 33 | 26% |
| 10 | Plains black-headed snake Tantilla nigriceps | 29 | 31% |
| 11 | Mexican hog-nose snake Heterodon kennerlyi | 25 | 46% |
| 12 | Glossy snake Arizona elegans | 24 | 8% |
| 13 | Big Bend patch-nosed snake Salvadora deserticola | 23 | 44% |
| 14 | Rock rattlesnake venomous Crotalus lepidus | 18 | 20% |
| 15 | Western patch-nosed snake Salvadora hexalepis | 18 | 62% |
| 16 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 17 | 7% |
| 17 | Sonoran whipsnake Masticophis bilineatus | 16 | 89% |
| 18 | Chihuahuan night snake Hypsiglena jani | 13 | 32% |
| 19 | Plains hog-nosed snake Heterodon nasicus | 12 | 17% |
| 20 | Sonoran mountain kingsnake Lampropeltis pyromelana | 11 | 32% |
| 21 | Chihuahuan hook-nosed snake Gyalopion canum | 7 | 20% |
| 22 | Eastern patch-nosed snake Salvadora grahamiae | 7 | 9% |
| 23 | Ridge-nosed rattlesnake venomous Crotalus willardi | 6 | 100% |
| 24 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 6 | 8% |
| 25 | Western ground snake Sonora semiannulata | 4 | 12% |
| 26 | Eastern black-tailed rattlesnake venomous Crotalus ornatus | 3 | 5% |
| 27 | Green rat snake Senticolis triaspis | 3 | 75% |
| 28 | Sonoran lyre snake Trimorphodon lambda | 3 | 100% |
| 29 | Western threadsnake Rena humilis | 3 | 14% |
| 30 | Sonoran coralsnake venomous Micruroides euryxanthus | 1 | 20% |
| 31 | Southwestern blackhead snake Tantilla hobartsmithi | 1 | 9% |
| 32 | Texas blind snake Rena dulcis | 1 | 7% |
When are snakes out in Hidalgo County?
Observation records of snakes in Hidalgo County run mostly July through September, peaking in August with 52% of them, the same peak as New Mexico as a whole.
What spiders are in Hidalgo County?
In all, 5 spider species are on the Hidalgo County list. The most recorded are the western black widow (8), the Texas brown tarantula (5) and the Carolina wolf spider (1).
| # | Species | Records | Share of New Mexico records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 8 | 6% |
| 2 | Texas brown tarantula Aphonopelma hentzi | 5 | 9% |
| 3 | Carolina wolf spider Hogna carolinensis | 1 | 4% |
| 4 | Chiricahuan gray tarantula Aphonopelma gabeli | — | — |
| 5 | Rodeo black Aphonopelma vorhiesi | — | — |
What stands out in Hidalgo County
Species for which Hidalgo County holds a large share of all New Mexico records: the Mohave rattlesnake, 96% (208 of 216); the desert kingsnake, 70% (43 of 61); the western patch-nosed snake, 62% (18 of 29); the Mexican hog-nose snake, 46% (25 of 54); the Big Bend patch-nosed snake, 44% (23 of 52); the western diamondback rattlesnake, 38% (260 of 684); the long-nosed snake, 37% (62 of 169); the Sonoran mountain kingsnake, 32% (11 of 34).
Common in New Mexico, not on the Hidalgo County list
Among the snakes most recorded across New Mexico, these do not reach the county list: the western terrestrial garter snake (656 statewide) and the striped whipsnake (129 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: Phidippus carneus (51 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 Hidalgo 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. Coral snakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the long-nosed snake and the Sonoran mountain kingsnake.
Hidalgo County among New Mexico counties
By licensed snake records Hidalgo County ranks 1st of 33 New Mexico counties with any.
Other New Mexico counties with their own page: Eddy County, Doña Ana County, Grant 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.