Snakes and spiders in Cumberland County, North Carolina
Cumberland County, home of Fayetteville, has 11 snake and 30 spider species on record, from 88 licensed snake and 413 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead and the southern black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Cumberland County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 5 licensed records, 0% of all North Carolina records of it. The southern black widow: 4 licensed records, 9% of all North Carolina records of it.
What snakes are in Cumberland County?
In all, 11 snake species are on the Cumberland County list. The most recorded are the southern watersnake (10), the eastern racer (6) and the eastern copperhead (5).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern watersnake Nerodia fasciata | 10 | 1% |
| 2 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 6 | 0% |
| 3 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 5 | 0% |
| 4 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 5 | 1% |
| 5 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | 4 | 1% |
| 6 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 4 | 1% |
| 7 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 4 | 0% |
| 8 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | 3 | 0% |
| 9 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 2 | 0% |
| 10 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | 2 | 0% |
| 11 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 1 | 0% |
What spiders are in Cumberland County?
In all, 30 spider species are on the Cumberland County list. The most recorded are the familiar jumping spider (25), the green lynx spider (22) and the brilliant jumping spider (15). Cumberland County holds more than half of all North Carolina records of Hogna antelucana and the cribellate spider.
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 25 | 10% |
| 2 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 22 | 10% |
| 3 | Brilliant jumping spider Phidippus clarus | 15 | 19% |
| 4 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 13 | 3% |
| 5 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | 13 | 14% |
| 6 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 12 | 11% |
| 7 | Whitebanded crab spider Misumenoides formosipes | 12 | 11% |
| 8 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | 11 | 8% |
| 9 | Peppered jumper Pelegrina galathea | 11 | 27% |
| 10 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 11 | 6% |
| 11 | Putnam's jumper Phidippus putnami | 10 | 10% |
| 12 | Hogna antelucana | 9 | 56% |
| 13 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 9 | 5% |
| 14 | Scytodes atlacoya | 9 | 20% |
| 15 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | 8 | 12% |
| 16 | Sylvan jumping spider Colonus sylvanus | 8 | 10% |
| 17 | Leucauge argyrobapta | 7 | 11% |
| 18 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | 7 | 4% |
| 19 | Tigrosa annexa | 7 | 8% |
| 20 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 7 | 18% |
| 21 | Common Hentz jumping spider Hentzia palmarum | 6 | 29% |
| 22 | Cribellate spider Metaltella simoni | 6 | 60% |
| 23 | False black widow Steatoda grossa | 6 | 13% |
| 24 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 6 | 5% |
| 25 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 5 | 2% |
| 26 | Southern black widow venomous Latrodectus mactans | 4 | 9% |
| 27 | Southern house spider Kukulcania hibernalis | 4 | 7% |
| 28 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 4 | 3% |
| 29 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 3 | 3% |
| 30 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 3 | 2% |
When are spiders out in Cumberland County?
Observation records of spiders in Cumberland County run mostly March through October, peaking in July with 16% of them; across North Carolina the peak is September.
What stands out in Cumberland County
Species for which Cumberland County holds a large share of all North Carolina records: the peppered jumper, 27% (11 of 41); the brilliant jumping spider, 19% (15 of 77).
Common in North Carolina, not on the Cumberland 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), the ring-necked snake (1,305 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 marbled orbweaver (198 statewide) and the arrowhead orbweaver (161 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Cumberland County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the corn 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 southern watersnake 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. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the triangulate bud spider and the false black widow. Recluse spiders are not on the North Carolina list, but GBIF holds 25 recluse spider records of any license in North Carolina (brown recluse 25): treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the southern house spider.
Cumberland County among North Carolina counties
By licensed snake records Cumberland County ranks 50th 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.