Snakes and spiders in Craven County, North Carolina
Craven County, home of New Bern, has 17 snake and 5 spider species on record, from 331 licensed snake and 14 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead and the northern cottonmouth.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Craven County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 40 licensed records, 2% of all North Carolina records of it. The northern cottonmouth: 24 licensed records, 5% of all North Carolina records of it.
What snakes are in Craven County?
In all, 17 snake species are on the Craven County list. The most recorded are the eastern copperhead (40), the corn snake (29) and the brown water snake (25).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 40 | 2% |
| 2 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | 29 | 4% |
| 3 | Brown water snake Nerodia taxispilota | 25 | 7% |
| 4 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 24 | 2% |
| 5 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 24 | 5% |
| 6 | Mud snake Farancia abacura | 19 | 4% |
| 7 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 18 | 1% |
| 8 | Southern watersnake Nerodia fasciata | 18 | 2% |
| 9 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | 15 | 3% |
| 10 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 12 | 1% |
| 11 | Rainbow snake Farancia erytrogramma | 11 | 9% |
| 12 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | 10 | 1% |
| 13 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | 10 | 1% |
| 14 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 8 | 2% |
| 15 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 6 | 1% |
| 16 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 5 | 1% |
| 17 | Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita | 4 | 2% |
What spiders are in Craven County?
In all, 5 spider species are on the Craven County list. The most recorded are the black-and-yellow argiope (2), Leucauge argyrobapta (2) and the green lynx spider (1).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 2 | 0% |
| 2 | Leucauge argyrobapta | 2 | 3% |
| 3 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 1 | 0% |
| 4 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 1 | 1% |
| 5 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | — | — |
Common in North Carolina, not on the Craven County list
Among the snakes most recorded across North Carolina, these do not reach the county list: the eastern rat snake (1,917 statewide), the common garter snake (1,325 statewide) and the northern water snake (1,281 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 Craven County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the corn snake and the plain-bellied watersnake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the brown water snake, the mud snake, the southern watersnake and the plain-bellied watersnake.
Craven County among North Carolina counties
By licensed snake records Craven County ranks 21st 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.