Venomous snakes and spiders in North Dakota
North Dakota has one venomous snake species among the 8 snake species listed there: prairie rattlesnake. The prairie rattlesnake accounts for the most records (20), and venomous species make up 9% of all 216 licensed snake records in the state. On the spider side, one species is medically significant: western black widow.
Venomous snakes of North Dakota
The only venomous snake on the North Dakota list is the prairie rattlesnake, with 20 licensed records, 9% of all snake records in the state.
Dangerous spiders of North Dakota
One widow species (Western black widow: on record, no openly licensed records to count) is on the North Dakota list. There is no recluse spider on the North Dakota list: no recluse species reaches 10 records in the state. Widow bites cause muscle pain and cramps; recluse bites can cause a slow-healing wound. Both are rare and seldom fatal.
Other snakes recorded most in North Dakota
These seven account for 89% of all licensed snake records in North Dakota; the most recorded, the plains garter snake, alone for 48%.
All 8 snakes of North Dakota →
Other spiders recorded most in North Dakota
These eight account for 71% of all licensed spider records in North Dakota; the most recorded, Ozyptila conspurcata, alone for 15%.
All 115 spiders of North Dakota →
When are snakes out in North Dakota?
Observation records of snakes in North Dakota run mostly May through September, peaking in June with 27% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so snakes in North Dakota are rarely recorded in winter. Venomous snakes alone have six observation records with a month in North Dakota, too few for a season of their own.
When spiders are most active in North Dakota
Observation records of spiders in North Dakota run mostly April through October, peaking in September with 31% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so spiders in North Dakota are rarely recorded in winter.
Where in North Dakota are snakes recorded most?
Billings County leads with 44 records (20%), followed by McKenzie County and Sheridan County; the top five counties hold 50% of the total. 35 of North Dakota's 53 counties have at least one licensed snake record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Billings County | 44 | 20.4% |
| 2 | McKenzie County | 28 | 13.0% |
| 3 | Sheridan County | 13 | 6.0% |
| 4 | Ward County | 13 | 6.0% |
| 5 | McHenry County | 9 | 4.2% |
| 6 | Morton County | 9 | 4.2% |
| 7 | Benson County | 8 | 3.7% |
| 8 | Bowman County | 8 | 3.7% |
| 9 | Williams County | 7 | 3.2% |
| 10 | Bottineau County | 7 | 3.2% |
| 11 | Pembina County | 6 | 2.8% |
| 12 | Richland County | 6 | 2.8% |
Are there poisonous snakes in North Dakota?
Yes. North Dakota has one venomous snake species on its list, the kind people usually call poisonous: prairie rattlesnake. Strictly, snakes are venomous (they inject venom), not poisonous (harmful to eat or touch).
Are there rattlesnakes in North Dakota?
Yes. One species is on the North Dakota list: the prairie rattlesnake, with 20 licensed records.
Are there copperheads in North Dakota?
No. GBIF holds no copperhead record for North Dakota under any license.
Are there cottonmouths (water moccasins) in North Dakota?
No. GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for North Dakota under any license.
Are there coral snakes in North Dakota?
No. GBIF holds no coral snake record for North Dakota under any license.
Prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis)
North Dakota has 20 licensed records of the prairie rattlesnake, which ranks the state 13th of the 14 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Prairie rattlesnake profile.
Harmless lookalikes in North Dakota
Many snakes and spiders taken for venomous ones are harmless species with a similar look. These are the usual confusions, with each species' licensed records in North Dakota.
What looks like a rattlesnake in North Dakota
Rattlesnakes: 20 licensed records in North Dakota. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: gopher snake (30) and plains hog-nosed snake (17). Together they have 47 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 2.4 times as often.
What looks like a widow spider in North Dakota
Widow spiders: on the list, no openly licensed records to count in North Dakota. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: boreal combfoot (1). The venomous species are on the list from records under other licenses, with no openly licensed records to count, so the two sides are not compared.
How North Dakota compares
By count of venomous snake species, North Dakota ranks 37th of 50 states, level with 8 other states. Nationally, Arizona leads with 14 species; five list none.
North Dakota lists as many venomous snake species as every state it borders (North Dakota: 1 species; Minnesota 1, Montana 1, South Dakota 1).
Venomous snakes listed next door but not in North Dakota: the timber rattlesnake (Minnesota). The most widely shared is the prairie rattlesnake, listed in two of the three bordering states.
Are there poisonous spiders in North Dakota?
Does North Dakota have black widows?
Yes. One widow species is on the North Dakota list: the western black widow (on record, no openly licensed records to count).
Does North Dakota have brown recluse spiders?
No. GBIF holds no brown recluse record for North Dakota under any license.
Western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus)
The western black widow is on the North Dakota list from records under other licenses, with no openly licensed records to count, so the state is not ranked for it. Range in other states and photos: Western black widow profile.
Are there scorpions in North Dakota?
Not on our list: GBIF holds 7 scorpion records of any license in North Dakota (northern scorpion 7), fewer than 10 of any one species; such records can be genuine rarities, strays, transported animals or misidentifications. Every scorpion has venom; only the Arizona bark scorpion's sting is medically significant, and it is not on the North Dakota list.
Also recorded in North Dakota, fewer than 10 times
Beyond the main list, one scorpion species is known from North Dakota by only seven records of any license. It may be a genuine rarity at the edge of its range, or a stray, a released pet or an old misidentification, so treat it as unconfirmed.
More for North Dakota
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.