Snakes and spiders in LeFlore County, Oklahoma
LeFlore County, home of Poteau, has 22 snake and 4 spider species on record, from 815 licensed snake and 15 spider records. Venomous species here: the northern cottonmouth, the eastern copperhead, the pygmy rattlesnake and the timber rattlesnake.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in LeFlore County?
Yes. The northern cottonmouth: 52 licensed records, 12% of all Oklahoma records of it. The eastern copperhead: 30 licensed records, 10% of all Oklahoma records of it. The pygmy rattlesnake: 11 licensed records, 10% of all Oklahoma records of it. The timber rattlesnake: 11 licensed records, 9% of all Oklahoma records of it.
What snakes are in LeFlore County?
In all, 22 snake species are on the LeFlore County list. The most recorded are the flathead snake (227), the western worm snake (72) and the plain-bellied watersnake (54).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Oklahoma records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flathead snake Tantilla gracilis | 227 | 18% |
| 2 | Western worm snake Carphophis vermis | 72 | 31% |
| 3 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 54 | 7% |
| 4 | Northern cottonmouth venomous Agkistrodon piscivorus | 52 | 12% |
| 5 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 45 | 5% |
| 6 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 40 | 8% |
| 7 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 36 | 20% |
| 8 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 30 | 10% |
| 9 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 25 | 7% |
| 10 | Western rat snake Pantherophis obsoletus | 23 | 5% |
| 11 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 22 | 4% |
| 12 | Speckled kingsnake Lampropeltis holbrooki | 22 | 8% |
| 13 | Smooth earth snake Virginia valeriae | 20 | 25% |
| 14 | Western ribbon snake Thamnophis proximus | 16 | 3% |
| 15 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 14 | 7% |
| 16 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | 13 | 5% |
| 17 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 12 | 3% |
| 18 | Central plains milksnake Lampropeltis gentilis | 11 | 17% |
| 19 | Pygmy rattlesnake venomous Sistrurus miliarius | 11 | 10% |
| 20 | Timber rattlesnake venomous Crotalus horridus | 11 | 9% |
| 21 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 10 | 4% |
| 22 | Prairie kingsnake Lampropeltis calligaster | 7 | 3% |
What spiders are in LeFlore County?
In all, 4 spider species are on the LeFlore County list. The most recorded are the black-and-yellow argiope (1), the bold jumper (1) and the Texas brown tarantula (1).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Oklahoma records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 1 | 0% |
| 2 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 1 | 0% |
| 3 | Texas brown tarantula Aphonopelma hentzi | 1 | 1% |
| 4 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | — | — |
What stands out in LeFlore County
Species for which LeFlore County holds a large share of all Oklahoma records: the western worm snake, 31% (72 of 236); the smooth earth snake, 25% (20 of 81); the northern water snake, 20% (36 of 184); the flathead snake, 18% (227 of 1,297); the central plains milksnake, 17% (11 of 64).
Common in Oklahoma, not on the LeFlore County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Oklahoma, these do not reach the county list: the western ground snake (1,354 statewide), the diamondback water snake (506 statewide), the lined snake (480 statewide) and the western diamondback rattlesnake (417 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in LeFlore County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the plain-bellied watersnake, the northern water snake, the eastern hog-nosed snake and the central plains milksnake. Cottonmouths are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the plain-bellied watersnake and the northern water snake. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the eastern hog-nosed snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Oklahoma under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the central plains milksnake.
LeFlore County among Oklahoma counties
By licensed snake records LeFlore County ranks 3rd of 77 Oklahoma counties with any.
Other Oklahoma counties with their own page: Tulsa County, Comanche County, Cleveland County, McCurtain County, Okmulgee County, Marshall County, Rogers County and Atoka County.
The whole state: venomous species in Oklahoma, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.