Snakes and spiders in Orange County, North Carolina

Yes. The eastern copperhead: 71 licensed records, 4% of all North Carolina records of it. The northern black widow: 9 licensed records, 22% of all North Carolina records of it. The southern black widow: 1 licensed record, 2% of all North Carolina records of it.

In all, 18 snake species are on the Orange County list. The most recorded are the eastern rat snake (107), the northern water snake (98) and the eastern wormsnake (92).

Observation records of snakes in Orange County run mostly March through October, peaking in May with 24% of them, the same peak as North Carolina as a whole.

In all, 69 spider species are on the Orange County list. The most recorded are the nursery web spider (70), the magnolia green jumper (61) and the marbled orbweaver (60). Orange County holds more than half of all North Carolina records of Gladicosa pulchra, the lattice orbweaver and the red-legged purseweb spider.

Observation records of spiders in Orange County run mostly March through October, peaking in September with 16% of them, the same peak as North Carolina as a whole.

Species for which Orange County holds a large share of all North Carolina records: Gladicosa pulchra, 65% (13 of 20); Scytodes atlacoya, 48% (22 of 46); the labyrinth orbweaver, 44% (18 of 41); the Georgia wolf spider, 44% (31 of 71); the dotted wolf spider, 38% (11 of 29); the southern house spider, 38% (21 of 56); the nursery web spider, 37% (70 of 188); the American green crab spider, 35% (35 of 99).

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.

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. 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 and the longbodied cellar spider.

By licensed snake records Orange County ranks 6th 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, Dare County, Brunswick County and Bladen County.

The whole state: venomous species in North Carolina, all snakes, all spiders.