Snakes and spiders in Rockland County, New York
Rockland County, home of New City, has 9 snake and 21 spider species on record, from 98 licensed snake and 411 spider records. Venomous species here: the timber rattlesnake and the eastern copperhead.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Rockland County?
Yes. The timber rattlesnake: 7 licensed records, 3% of all New York records of it. The eastern copperhead: 5 licensed records, 2% of all New York records of it.
What snakes are in Rockland County?
In all, 9 snake species are on the Rockland County list. The most recorded are the common garter snake (31), the northern water snake (24) and the eastern rat snake (22).
| # | Species | Records | Share of New York records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 31 | 1% |
| 2 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 24 | 3% |
| 3 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 22 | 15% |
| 4 | Timber rattlesnake venomous Crotalus horridus | 7 | 3% |
| 5 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 5 | 2% |
| 6 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 4 | 1% |
| 7 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 2 | 1% |
| 8 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | 1 | 0% |
| 9 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | — | — |
When are snakes out in Rockland County?
Observation records of snakes in Rockland County run mostly March through August, peaking in June with 32% of them, the same peak as New York as a whole.
What spiders are in Rockland County?
In all, 21 spider species are on the Rockland County list. The most recorded are Paraphidippus aurantius (46), the zebra spider (35) and the orchard orbweaver (24).
| # | Species | Records | Share of New York records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paraphidippus aurantius | 46 | 32% |
| 2 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 35 | 10% |
| 3 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 24 | 8% |
| 4 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 23 | 6% |
| 5 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 21 | 13% |
| 6 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | 20 | 11% |
| 7 | Sixspotted orbweaver Araniella displicata | 18 | 12% |
| 8 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 16 | 7% |
| 9 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 13 | 6% |
| 10 | Peppered jumper Pelegrina galathea | 12 | 15% |
| 11 | White-jawed jumping spider Hentzia mitrata | 12 | 21% |
| 12 | Putnam's jumper Phidippus putnami | 10 | 32% |
| 13 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | 7 | 5% |
| 14 | Dimorphic jumper Maevia inclemens | 6 | 8% |
| 15 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 6 | 7% |
| 16 | Dysdera crocata | 4 | 4% |
| 17 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | 3 | 7% |
| 18 | Black laceweaver Amaurobius ferox | 2 | 7% |
| 19 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 2 | 1% |
| 20 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 2 | 3% |
| 21 | Drumming sword wolf spider Gladicosa gulosa | 1 | 2% |
When are spiders out in Rockland County?
Observation records of spiders in Rockland County run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 28% of them; across New York the peak is August.
What stands out in Rockland County
Species for which Rockland County holds a large share of all New York records: the Putnam's jumper, 32% (10 of 31); Paraphidippus aurantius, 32% (46 of 144); the white-jawed jumping spider, 21% (12 of 56); the peppered jumper, 15% (12 of 79).
Common in New York, not on the Rockland County list
Among the snakes most recorded across New York, these do not reach the county list: the red-bellied snake (270 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: the wetland giant wolf spider (164 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Rockland County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the northern water snake, the eastern rat snake and the eastern milksnake. 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.
Rockland County among New York counties
By licensed snake records Rockland County ranks 13th of 61 New York counties with any.
Other New York counties with their own page: Ulster County, Tompkins County, Onondaga County, Suffolk 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.