Snakes and spiders in Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County, home of Syracuse, has 8 snake and 31 spider species on record, from 276 licensed snake and 379 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern massasauga.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Onondaga County?
Yes. The eastern massasauga: 2 licensed records, 11% of all New York records of it.
What snakes are in Onondaga County?
In all, 8 snake species are on the Onondaga County list. The most recorded are the common garter snake (184), the northern water snake (56) and the DeKay's brown snake (12).
| # | Species | Records | Share of New York records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 184 | 8% |
| 2 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 56 | 6% |
| 3 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 12 | 4% |
| 4 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | 9 | 3% |
| 5 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 7 | 5% |
| 6 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 3 | 1% |
| 7 | Eastern massasauga venomous Sistrurus catenatus | 2 | 11% |
| 8 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 1 | 0% |
When are snakes out in Onondaga County?
Observation records of snakes in Onondaga County run mostly March through September, peaking in August with 16% of them; across New York the peak is June.
What spiders are in Onondaga County?
In all, 31 spider species are on the Onondaga County list. The most recorded are the dark fishing spider (31), the bold jumper (30) and the zebra spider (28).
| # | Species | Records | Share of New York records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 31 | 14% |
| 2 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 30 | 8% |
| 3 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 28 | 8% |
| 4 | Wetland giant wolf spider Tigrosa helluo | 19 | 12% |
| 5 | Dock spider Dolomedes scriptus | 18 | 20% |
| 6 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 18 | 8% |
| 7 | Dysdera crocata | 16 | 16% |
| 8 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 16 | 8% |
| 9 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | 15 | 10% |
| 10 | Asian wall jumper Attulus fasciger | 12 | 15% |
| 11 | Sixspotted orbweaver Araniella displicata | 10 | 7% |
| 12 | Tuftlegged orbweaver Mangora placida | 9 | 18% |
| 13 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 8 | 3% |
| 14 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 7 | 6% |
| 15 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | 7 | 4% |
| 16 | Myrmarachne formicaria | 7 | 11% |
| 17 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 7 | 4% |
| 18 | Black laceweaver Amaurobius ferox | 5 | 17% |
| 19 | Eastern cave long-jawed spider Meta ovalis | 5 | 42% |
| 20 | Garden spider Araneus diadematus | 5 | 4% |
| 21 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 5 | 8% |
| 22 | White-jawed jumping spider Hentzia mitrata | 4 | 7% |
| 23 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 3 | 4% |
| 24 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 2 | 3% |
| 25 | Common Hentz jumping spider Hentzia palmarum | 2 | 6% |
| 26 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | 2 | 4% |
| 27 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 2 | 2% |
| 28 | Shamrock orbweaver Araneus trifolium | 2 | 11% |
| 29 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 2 | 4% |
| 30 | Broad-faced sac spider Trachelas tranquillus | 1 | 5% |
| 31 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | — | — |
When are spiders out in Onondaga County?
Observation records of spiders in Onondaga County run mostly March through October, peaking in August with 21% of them, the same peak as New York as a whole.
What stands out in Onondaga County
Species for which Onondaga County holds a large share of all New York records: the dock spider, 20% (18 of 88); Dysdera crocata, 16% (16 of 99).
Common in New York, not on the Onondaga County list
Among the snakes most recorded across New York, these do not reach the county list: the eastern copperhead (238 statewide), the timber rattlesnake (207 statewide), the eastern racer (171 statewide), the smooth green snake (131 statewide) and the eastern ribbonsnake (89 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 York, these do not reach the county list: Paraphidippus aurantius (144 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Onondaga County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead is on the New York list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake, the eastern milksnake and the eastern rat snake. Cottonmouths are not on the New York list, but GBIF holds 1 cottonmouth record of any license in New York (northern cottonmouth 1): treat any snake like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for New York under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the eastern milksnake. No widow spiders reach the county list, but the northern black widow is on the New York list: treat any spider like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the triangulate bud spider. Recluse spiders are not on the New York list, but GBIF holds 1 recluse spider record of any license in New York (brown recluse 1): treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the longbodied cellar spider.
Onondaga County among New York counties
By licensed snake records Onondaga County ranks 3rd of 61 New York counties with any.
Other New York counties with their own page: Ulster County, Tompkins County, Suffolk County, Rockland County, Westchester County and Nassau County.
The whole state: venomous species in New York, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.