Snakes and spiders in Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, home of White Plains, has 8 snake and 47 spider species on record, from 91 licensed snake and 714 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Westchester County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 1 licensed record, 0% of all New York records of it.
What snakes are in Westchester County?
In all, 8 snake species are on the Westchester County list. The most recorded are the common garter snake (32), the northern water snake (21) and the eastern rat snake (10).
| # | Species | Records | Share of New York records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 32 | 1% |
| 2 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 21 | 2% |
| 3 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 10 | 7% |
| 4 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | 6 | 2% |
| 5 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 4 | 1% |
| 6 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 4 | 2% |
| 7 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 2 | 1% |
| 8 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 1 | 0% |
When are snakes out in Westchester County?
Observation records of snakes in Westchester County run mostly April through October, peaking in June with 24% of them, the same peak as New York as a whole.
What spiders are in Westchester County?
In all, 47 spider species are on the Westchester County list. The most recorded are the wetland giant wolf spider (57), Trochosa ruricola (41) and the bold jumper (38). Westchester County holds more than half of all New York records of Trochosa ruricola and Allocosa funerea.
| # | Species | Records | Share of New York records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wetland giant wolf spider Tigrosa helluo | 57 | 35% |
| 2 | Trochosa ruricola | 41 | 100% |
| 3 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 38 | 10% |
| 4 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 30 | 10% |
| 5 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | 25 | 13% |
| 6 | Dimorphic jumper Maevia inclemens | 25 | 33% |
| 7 | Allocosa funerea | 24 | 60% |
| 8 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 20 | 9% |
| 9 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 19 | 9% |
| 10 | Peppered jumper Pelegrina galathea | 18 | 23% |
| 11 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 17 | 5% |
| 12 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | 16 | 11% |
| 13 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 16 | 22% |
| 14 | Paraphidippus aurantius | 15 | 10% |
| 15 | Garden spider Araneus diadematus | 13 | 11% |
| 16 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 13 | 8% |
| 17 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | 12 | 16% |
| 18 | Striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus | 12 | 48% |
| 19 | White-jawed jumping spider Hentzia mitrata | 11 | 20% |
| 20 | Flower crab spider Mecaphesa asperata | 10 | 30% |
| 21 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 9 | 8% |
| 22 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 9 | 4% |
| 23 | Common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum | 8 | 36% |
| 24 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | 8 | 9% |
| 25 | Hammerjawed jumper Zygoballus rufipes | 7 | 32% |
| 26 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 6 | 11% |
| 27 | Common white-cheeked jumping spider Pelegrina proterva | 6 | 27% |
| 28 | Grayish jumping spider Phidippus princeps | 6 | 14% |
| 29 | Pseudeuophrys erratica | 6 | 17% |
| 30 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 5 | 7% |
| 31 | Drumming sword wolf spider Gladicosa gulosa | 5 | 12% |
| 32 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 5 | 6% |
| 33 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | 4 | 10% |
| 34 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 4 | 14% |
| 35 | Dysdera crocata | 3 | 3% |
| 36 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | 2 | 7% |
| 37 | Broad-faced sac spider Trachelas tranquillus | 2 | 10% |
| 38 | Filmy dome spider Neriene radiata | 2 | 4% |
| 39 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 2 | 3% |
| 40 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 2 | 4% |
| 41 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 2 | 33% |
| 42 | Black laceweaver Amaurobius ferox | 1 | 3% |
| 43 | Variegated ground spider Sergiolus capulatus | 1 | 25% |
| 44 | Whitman's jumping spider Phidippus whitmani | 1 | 3% |
| 45 | Banded fishing spider Dolomedes vittatus | — | — |
| 46 | Dock spider Dolomedes scriptus | — | — |
| 47 | Two-lined stealthy ground spider Cesonia bilineata | — | — |
When are spiders out in Westchester County?
Observation records of spiders in Westchester County run mostly April through September, peaking in June with 27% of them; across New York the peak is August.
What stands out in Westchester County
Species for which Westchester County holds a large share of all New York records: Trochosa ruricola, 100% (41 of 41); Allocosa funerea, 60% (24 of 40); the striped lynx spider, 48% (12 of 25); the wetland giant wolf spider, 35% (57 of 164); the dimorphic jumper, 33% (25 of 75); the flower crab spider, 30% (10 of 33); the peppered jumper, 23% (18 of 79); the spotted orbweaver, 22% (16 of 73).
Common in New York, not on the Westchester County list
Among the snakes most recorded across New York, these do not reach the county list: the red-bellied snake (270 statewide), the timber rattlesnake (207 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 sixspotted orbweaver (150 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Westchester 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. 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 common house spider and the triangulate bud spider.
Westchester County among New York counties
By licensed snake records Westchester County ranks 15th of 61 New York counties with any.
Other New York counties with their own page: Ulster County, Tompkins County, Onondaga County, Suffolk County, Rockland 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.