Snakes and spiders in Yancey County, North Carolina
Yancey County, home of Burnsville, has 7 snake and 8 spider species on record, from 62 licensed snake and 310 spider records. Venomous species here: the timber rattlesnake.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Yancey County?
Yes. The timber rattlesnake: 2 licensed records, 3% of all North Carolina records of it.
What snakes are in Yancey County?
In all, 7 snake species are on the Yancey County list. The most recorded are the common garter snake (24), the ring-necked snake (18) and the queen snake (5).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 24 | 2% |
| 2 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 18 | 1% |
| 3 | Queen snake Regina septemvittata | 5 | 1% |
| 4 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 4 | 0% |
| 5 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | 3 | 2% |
| 6 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 2 | 0% |
| 7 | Timber rattlesnake venomous Crotalus horridus | 2 | 3% |
What spiders are in Yancey County?
In all, 8 spider species are on the Yancey County list. The most recorded are Hypochilus sheari (23), the bold jumper (6) and the dark fishing spider (4).
| # | Species | Records | Share of North Carolina records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hypochilus sheari | 23 | 45% |
| 2 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 6 | 7% |
| 3 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 4 | 3% |
| 4 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | 4 | 2% |
| 5 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 4 | 2% |
| 6 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 3 | 1% |
| 7 | Arrowhead orbweaver Verrucosa arenata | 1 | 1% |
| 8 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | — | — |
When are spiders out in Yancey County?
Observation records of spiders in Yancey County run mostly March through September, peaking in August with 32% of them; across North Carolina the peak is September.
What stands out in Yancey County
Species for which Yancey County holds a large share of all North Carolina records: Hypochilus sheari, 45% (23 of 51).
Common in North Carolina, not on the Yancey County list
Among the snakes most recorded across North Carolina, these do not reach the county list: the eastern copperhead (1,633 statewide), the eastern racer (1,221 statewide), the southern watersnake (1,158 statewide), the eastern wormsnake (975 statewide), the DeKay's brown snake (922 statewide) and the rough greensnake (868 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 familiar jumping spider (242 statewide), the green lynx spider (220 statewide), the spotted orbweaver (198 statewide), the magnolia green jumper (184 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 Yancey County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead 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, the eastern milksnake and the eastern rat 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. No coral snakes reach the county list, but the eastern coral snake is on the North Carolina list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the eastern milksnake.
Yancey County among North Carolina counties
By licensed snake records Yancey County ranks 64th 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.