Snakes and spiders in Chatham County, North Carolina
Chatham County, home of Pittsboro, has 17 snake and 31 spider species on record, from 359 licensed snake and 237 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead and the northern black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Chatham County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 27 licensed records, 2% of all North Carolina records of it. The northern black widow: 3 licensed records, 8% of all North Carolina records of it.
What snakes are in Chatham County?
In all, 17 snake species are on the Chatham County list. The most recorded are the eastern rat snake (72), the northern water snake (53) and the eastern racer (30).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 72 | 4% |
| 2 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 53 | 4% |
| 3 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 30 | 2% |
| 4 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 27 | 3% |
| 5 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 27 | 2% |
| 6 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 24 | 2% |
| 7 | Queen snake Regina septemvittata | 24 | 7% |
| 8 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | 20 | 2% |
| 9 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 19 | 2% |
| 10 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 10 | 2% |
| 11 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 9 | 2% |
| 12 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 8 | 1% |
| 13 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | 7 | 1% |
| 14 | Mole kingsnake Lampropeltis rhombomaculata | 5 | 2% |
| 15 | Smooth earth snake Virginia valeriae | 5 | 2% |
| 16 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 4 | 1% |
| 17 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | 4 | 1% |
When are snakes out in Chatham County?
Observation records of snakes in Chatham County run mostly March through October, peaking in May with 30% of them, the same peak as North Carolina as a whole.
What spiders are in Chatham County?
In all, 31 spider species are on the Chatham County list. The most recorded are the marbled orbweaver (18), the white-banded fishing spider (16) and the dark fishing spider (14).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | 18 | 9% |
| 2 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 16 | 13% |
| 3 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 14 | 11% |
| 4 | Red-femured spotted orbweaver Neoscona domiciliorum | 13 | 12% |
| 5 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | 12 | 7% |
| 6 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 12 | 3% |
| 7 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 11 | 5% |
| 8 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 11 | 6% |
| 9 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 10 | 3% |
| 10 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 10 | 5% |
| 11 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 8 | 4% |
| 12 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | 7 | 11% |
| 13 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | 5 | 3% |
| 14 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 5 | 4% |
| 15 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 4 | 7% |
| 16 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 4 | 3% |
| 17 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 4 | 3% |
| 18 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 3 | 4% |
| 19 | Georgia wolf spider Tigrosa georgicola | 3 | 4% |
| 20 | Northern black widow venomous Latrodectus variolus | 3 | 8% |
| 21 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 3 | 3% |
| 22 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 3 | 3% |
| 23 | Whitman's jumping spider Phidippus whitmani | 3 | 7% |
| 24 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 2 | 2% |
| 25 | Dimorphic jumper Maevia inclemens | 2 | 5% |
| 26 | Gladicosa pulchra | 2 | 10% |
| 27 | Arabesque orbweaver Neoscona arabesca | 1 | 1% |
| 28 | Putnam's jumper Phidippus putnami | 1 | 1% |
| 29 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | — | — |
| 30 | Canopy jumping spider Phidippus otiosus | — | — |
| 31 | White micrathena Micrathena mitrata | — | — |
When are spiders out in Chatham County?
Observation records of spiders in Chatham County run mostly April through October, peaking in July with 23% of them; across North Carolina the peak is September.
Common in North Carolina, not on the Chatham County list
Among the snakes most recorded across North Carolina, these do not reach the county list: the southern watersnake (1,158 statewide) and the corn snake (740 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 North Carolina, these do not reach the county list: the Pocock's lampshade-web spider (302 statewide) and the American golden orb weaver (130 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Chatham County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the eastern rat snake, the northern water snake, the plain-bellied watersnake and the eastern hog-nosed snake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, but the northern cottonmouth is on the North Carolina list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake and the plain-bellied watersnake. No rattlesnakes reach the county list, but the timber rattlesnake and the pygmy rattlesnake are on the North Carolina list: treat any snake like them as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the eastern hog-nosed snake.
Chatham County among North Carolina counties
By licensed snake records Chatham County ranks 16th of 100 North Carolina counties with any.
Other North Carolina counties with their own page: Wake County, Sampson County, Columbus County, Durham County, Moore County, Orange County, Dare County and Brunswick County.
The whole state: venomous species in North Carolina, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.