Venomous snakes and spiders in Oklahoma

Oklahoma's venomous snakes are five rattlesnake species and three copperhead or cottonmouth species. Together they account for 1,749 licensed records; the northern cottonmouth alone has 25% of them, and the least recorded, the prairie rattlesnake, has 78.

Three widow species (Southern black widow: 61 records, Western black widow: 12 records, Northern black widow: 6 records) and one recluse species (Brown recluse: 137 records) are on the Oklahoma list. Widow bites cause muscle pain and cramps; recluse bites can cause a slow-healing wound. Both are rare and seldom fatal.

Yes. One scorpion species is recorded in Oklahoma, from 107 licensed records: Striped bark scorpion (105 records). Every scorpion has venom; only the Arizona bark scorpion's sting is medically significant, and it is not on the Oklahoma list.

Beyond the main list, one scorpion species is known from Oklahoma by only three 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.

These eight account for 48% of all licensed snake records in Oklahoma; the most recorded, the western ground snake, alone for 10%.

These eight account for 31% of all licensed spider records in Oklahoma; the most recorded, the bold jumper, alone for 10%.

Observation records of venomous snakes in Oklahoma run mostly April through October, peaking in June with 23% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so venomous snakes in Oklahoma are rarely recorded in winter.

Observation records of spiders in Oklahoma run mostly April through October, peaking in September with 14% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so spiders in Oklahoma are rarely recorded in winter.

Observation records of scorpions in Oklahoma run mostly March through November, peaking in May with 18% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 4% of the records.

Comanche County has the most records of venomous snakes in Oklahoma, 357, most of them of the western diamondback rattlesnake. McCurtain County and Marshall County follow.

Tulsa County leads with 1,260 records (9%), followed by Comanche County and LeFlore County; the top five counties hold 35% of the total. 77 of Oklahoma's 77 counties have at least one licensed snake record.

Oklahoma counties with their own page: Atoka County, Cherokee County, Cleveland County, Comanche County, LeFlore County, Marshall County, Mayes County, McCurtain County, Okmulgee County, Osage County, Payne County, Rogers County, Tulsa County and Woodward County.

Yes. Oklahoma has eight venomous snake species on its list, the kind people usually call poisonous: northern cottonmouth, western diamondback rattlesnake, eastern copperhead, broad-banded copperhead, timber rattlesnake, pygmy rattlesnake, western massasauga and prairie rattlesnake. Strictly, snakes are venomous (they inject venom), not poisonous (harmful to eat or touch).

Yes. Five species are on the Oklahoma list: the western diamondback rattlesnake, the timber rattlesnake, the pygmy rattlesnake, the western massasauga and the prairie rattlesnake, with 824 licensed records between them. Most licensed records of the western diamondback rattlesnake come from Comanche County, Blaine County and Atoka County.

Yes. Two species are on the Oklahoma list: the eastern copperhead and the broad-banded copperhead, with 496 licensed records between them. Most licensed records of the eastern copperhead come from Atoka County, McCurtain County and LeFlore County.

Yes. One species is on the Oklahoma list: the northern cottonmouth, with 429 licensed records. Most licensed records of the northern cottonmouth come from McCurtain County, Rogers County and LeFlore County.

No. GBIF holds no coral snake record for Oklahoma under any license.

Oklahoma has 429 licensed records of the northern cottonmouth, which ranks the state 4th of the 16 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Oklahoma come from McCurtain County, Rogers County and LeFlore County. Range in other states and photos: Northern cottonmouth profile.

Oklahoma has 417 licensed records of the western diamondback rattlesnake, which ranks the state 4th of the 7 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Oklahoma come from Comanche County, Blaine County and Atoka County. Range in other states and photos: Western diamondback rattlesnake profile.

Oklahoma has 315 licensed records of the eastern copperhead, which ranks the state 5th of the 27 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Oklahoma come from Atoka County, McCurtain County and LeFlore County. Range in other states and photos: Eastern copperhead profile.

Oklahoma has 181 licensed records of the broad-banded copperhead, which ranks the state 2nd of the 3 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Oklahoma come from Marshall County, Carter County and Comanche County. Range in other states and photos: Broad-banded copperhead profile.

Oklahoma has 116 licensed records of the timber rattlesnake, which ranks the state 8th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Oklahoma come from Marshall County, Garvin County and LeFlore County. Range in other states and photos: Timber rattlesnake profile.

Oklahoma has 108 licensed records of the pygmy rattlesnake, which ranks the state 2nd of the 11 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Oklahoma come from Johnston County, Cleveland County and LeFlore County. Range in other states and photos: Pygmy rattlesnake profile.

Oklahoma has 105 licensed records of the western massasauga, which ranks the state 3rd of the 8 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Oklahoma come from Comanche County, Ellis County and Osage County. Range in other states and photos: Western massasauga profile.

Oklahoma has 78 licensed records of the prairie rattlesnake, which ranks the state 11th of the 14 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Oklahoma come from Cimarron County, Beaver County and Alfalfa County. Range in other states and photos: Prairie rattlesnake profile.

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 Oklahoma.

Copperheads: 496 licensed records in Oklahoma. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: plain-bellied watersnake (731), eastern hog-nosed snake (201), northern water snake (184), central plains milksnake (64) and eastern milksnake (44). Together they have 1,234 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 2.5 times as often.

Cottonmouths: 429 licensed records in Oklahoma. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: plain-bellied watersnake (731), diamondback water snake (506), northern water snake (184), southern watersnake (68) and mud snake (27). Together they have 1,516 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 4 times as often.

Rattlesnakes: 824 licensed records in Oklahoma. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: gopher snake (291), eastern hog-nosed snake (201), plains hog-nosed snake (91) and Great Plains rat snake (83). Together they have 666 licensed records, and the two sides are recorded about equally.

No coral snakes reach the Oklahoma list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Oklahoma under any license, so a snake taken for one here is most likely a harmless lookalike. Those recorded in the state: central plains milksnake (64), eastern milksnake (44), long-nosed snake (30) and scarlet snake (26).

Widow spiders: 79 licensed records in Oklahoma. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: triangulate bud spider (26) and common house spider (24). Together they have 50 licensed records, and here the venomous species are the more recorded side, 1.6 to 1.

Recluse spiders: 137 licensed records in Oklahoma. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: dark-legged grass spider (24) and longbodied cellar spider (10). Together they have 34 licensed records, and here the venomous species are the more recorded side, 4.0 to 1.

By count of venomous snake species, Oklahoma ranks 4th of 50 states. Nationally, Arizona leads with 14 species; five list none.

Of the six states bordering Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico list more venomous snake species (Oklahoma: 8 species; Texas 12, New Mexico 10, Kansas 6, Arkansas 5, Missouri 5, Colorado 3).

Venomous snakes listed next door but not in Oklahoma: the eastern black-tailed rattlesnake (New Mexico and Texas); the Mohave rattlesnake (New Mexico and Texas); the rock rattlesnake (New Mexico and Texas); the Arizona black rattlesnake (New Mexico); the black-tailed rattlesnake (New Mexico); the ridge-nosed rattlesnake (New Mexico). The most widely shared is the western massasauga, listed in five of the six bordering states.

Yes. Three widow species are on the Oklahoma list: the southern black widow (61 records), the western black widow (12 records) and the northern black widow (6 records).

Yes. The brown recluse is on the Oklahoma list, with 137 licensed records. Most of its licensed records come from Mayes County, Cleveland County and Woodward County.

Oklahoma has 137 licensed records of the brown recluse, which ranks the state 4th of the 16 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Oklahoma run mostly February through September, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Mayes County, Cleveland County and Woodward County. Range in other states and photos: Brown recluse profile.

Oklahoma has 61 licensed records of the southern black widow, which ranks the state 3rd of the 22 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Oklahoma run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Cleveland County, Oklahoma County and Tulsa County. Range in other states and photos: Southern black widow profile.

Oklahoma has 12 licensed records of the western black widow, which ranks the state 11th of the 18 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Western black widow profile.

Oklahoma has 6 licensed records of the northern black widow, which ranks the state 18th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Northern black widow profile.