Snakes and spiders in New Hanover County, North Carolina
New Hanover County, home of Wilmington, has 20 snake and 26 spider species on record, from 561 licensed snake and 186 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern coral snake, the northern cottonmouth, the eastern copperhead and the brown widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in New Hanover County?
Yes. The eastern coral snake: 19 licensed records, 40% of all North Carolina records of it. The northern cottonmouth: 13 licensed records, 2% of all North Carolina records of it. The eastern copperhead: 10 licensed records, 1% of all North Carolina records of it. The brown widow: 4 licensed records, 25% of all North Carolina records of it.
What snakes are in New Hanover County?
In all, 20 snake species are on the New Hanover County list. The most recorded are the southeastern crown snake (62), the common garter snake (53) and the mud snake (48).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southeastern crown snake Tantilla coronata | 62 | 27% |
| 2 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 53 | 4% |
| 3 | Mud snake Farancia abacura | 48 | 9% |
| 4 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 48 | 10% |
| 5 | Pine woods snake Rhadinaea flavilata | 36 | 19% |
| 6 | Scarlet snake Cemophora coccinea | 35 | 11% |
| 7 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 33 | 3% |
| 8 | Black swamp snake Liodytes pygaea | 25 | 36% |
| 9 | Corn snake Pantherophis guttatus | 24 | 3% |
| 10 | Southern watersnake Nerodia fasciata | 20 | 2% |
| 11 | Eastern coral snake venomous Micrurus fulvius | 19 | 40% |
| 12 | Eastern kingsnake Lampropeltis getula | 15 | 3% |
| 13 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 15 | 2% |
| 14 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 13 | 2% |
| 15 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 12 | 2% |
| 16 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 11 | 7% |
| 17 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 10 | 1% |
| 18 | Rainbow snake Farancia erytrogramma | 10 | 8% |
| 19 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | 8 | 1% |
| 20 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 4 | 1% |
When are snakes out in New Hanover County?
Observation records of snakes in New Hanover County run mostly March through November, peaking in April with 21% of them; across North Carolina the peak is May.
What spiders are in New Hanover County?
In all, 26 spider species are on the New Hanover County list. The most recorded are the American golden orb weaver (47), the black-and-yellow argiope (19) and the spiny-backed orbweaver (15).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American golden orb weaver Trichonephila clavipes | 47 | 36% |
| 2 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 19 | 4% |
| 3 | Spiny-backed orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis | 15 | 12% |
| 4 | Leucauge argyrobapta | 9 | 14% |
| 5 | Magnolia green jumper Lyssomanes viridis | 9 | 5% |
| 6 | Twin-flagged jumping spider Anasaitis canosa | 8 | 9% |
| 7 | Southern house spider Kukulcania hibernalis | 7 | 12% |
| 8 | Basilica orbweaver Mecynogea lemniscata | 5 | 8% |
| 9 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | 5 | 4% |
| 10 | Brown widow venomous introduced Latrodectus geometricus | 4 | 25% |
| 11 | White-banded fishing spider Dolomedes albineus | 4 | 3% |
| 12 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 3 | 1% |
| 13 | Tigrosa annexa | 3 | 3% |
| 14 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 2 | 1% |
| 15 | Red-femured spotted orbweaver Neoscona domiciliorum | 2 | 2% |
| 16 | Scytodes atlacoya | 2 | 4% |
| 17 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 2 | 1% |
| 18 | Common Hentz jumping spider Hentzia palmarum | 1 | 5% |
| 19 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 1 | 1% |
| 20 | Rabidosa hentzi | 1 | 14% |
| 21 | Arrowshaped micrathena Micrathena sagittata | — | — |
| 22 | Georgia wolf spider Tigrosa georgicola | — | — |
| 23 | Heptagonal orbweaver Gea heptagon | — | — |
| 24 | Metazygia wittfeldae | — | — |
| 25 | Putnam's jumper Phidippus putnami | — | — |
| 26 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | — | — |
When are spiders out in New Hanover County?
Observation records of spiders in New Hanover County run mostly April through November, peaking in October with 16% of them; across North Carolina the peak is September.
What stands out in New Hanover County
Species for which New Hanover County holds a large share of all North Carolina records: the eastern coral snake, 40% (19 of 47); the black swamp snake, 36% (25 of 69); the American golden orb weaver, 36% (47 of 130); the southeastern crown snake, 27% (62 of 232); the pine woods snake, 19% (36 of 185).
Common in North Carolina, not on the New Hanover 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 ring-necked snake (1,305 statewide), the northern water snake (1,281 statewide), the eastern wormsnake (975 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 marbled orbweaver (198 statewide), the arrowhead orbweaver (161 statewide) and the spined micrathena (133 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in New Hanover County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the corn snake, the eastern hog-nosed snake and the plain-bellied watersnake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the mud snake, 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. Coral snakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the scarlet snake. 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.
New Hanover County among North Carolina counties
By licensed snake records New Hanover County ranks 11th 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.