Snakes and spiders in Columbus County, North Carolina
Columbus County, home of Whiteville, has 15 snake and 7 spider species on record, from 838 licensed snake and 11 spider records. Venomous species here: the northern cottonmouth and the eastern copperhead.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Columbus County?
Yes. The northern cottonmouth: 24 licensed records, 5% of all North Carolina records of it. The eastern copperhead: 11 licensed records, 1% of all North Carolina records of it.
What snakes are in Columbus County?
In all, 15 snake species are on the Columbus County list. The most recorded are the southern watersnake (506), the brown water snake (69) and the mud snake (59).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern watersnake Nerodia fasciata | 506 | 44% |
| 2 | Brown water snake Nerodia taxispilota | 69 | 19% |
| 3 | Mud snake Farancia abacura | 59 | 11% |
| 4 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | 29 | 4% |
| 5 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 26 | 1% |
| 6 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 24 | 5% |
| 7 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 22 | 2% |
| 8 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | 16 | 2% |
| 9 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 14 | 1% |
| 10 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | 13 | 1% |
| 11 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 11 | 1% |
| 12 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 8 | 1% |
| 13 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 7 | 1% |
| 14 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 6 | 1% |
| 15 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 4 | 0% |
What spiders are in Columbus County?
In all, 7 spider species are on the Columbus County list. The most recorded are the American golden orb weaver (2), the black-and-yellow argiope (1) and the sixspotted fishing spider (1).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | 2 | 2% |
| 2 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 1 | 0% |
| 3 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 1 | 1% |
| 4 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | — | — |
| 5 | Leucauge argyrobapta | — | — |
| 6 | Red-femured spotted orbweaver Neoscona domiciliorum | — | — |
| 7 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | — | — |
What stands out in Columbus County
Species for which Columbus County holds a large share of all North Carolina records: the southern watersnake, 44% (506 of 1,158); the brown water snake, 19% (69 of 363).
Common in North Carolina, not on the Columbus County list
Among the snakes most recorded across North Carolina, these do not reach the county list: the northern water snake (1,281 statewide) and the DeKay's brown snake (922 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), the orchard orbweaver (300 statewide), the familiar jumping spider (242 statewide), the marbled orbweaver (198 statewide), the spotted orbweaver (198 statewide) and the nursery web spider (188 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Columbus County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the corn snake, the eastern rat snake and the plain-bellied watersnake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the southern watersnake, the brown water snake, the mud snake and the plain-bellied watersnake.
Columbus County among North Carolina counties
By licensed snake records Columbus County ranks 3rd of 100 North Carolina counties with any.
Other North Carolina counties with their own page: Wake County, Sampson County, Durham County, Moore County, Orange County, Dare County, Brunswick County and Bladen 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.