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Snakes and spiders in Osage County, Oklahoma

Osage County, home of Pawhuska, has 24 snake and 29 spider species on record, from 323 licensed snake and 794 spider records. Venomous species here: the broad-banded copperhead, the eastern copperhead, the western massasauga, the timber rattlesnake, the brown recluse and the southern black widow.

24snake species
29spider species
6venomous
Bitten in Osage County? Call 911 for a venomous snakebite or any bite with trouble breathing. For advice on any bite or sting, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7, U.S.-wide). Do not cut the wound, suck out venom or use a tourniquet. General information, not medical advice. Do not handle or try to identify a snake or spider by this page; if unsure, treat it as venomous.

Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Osage County?

Yes. The broad-banded copperhead: 11 licensed records, 6% of all Oklahoma records of it. The eastern copperhead: 9 licensed records, 3% of all Oklahoma records of it. The western massasauga: 8 licensed records, 8% of all Oklahoma records of it. The timber rattlesnake: 3 licensed records, 3% of all Oklahoma records of it. The brown recluse: 9 licensed records, 7% of all Oklahoma records of it. The southern black widow: 3 licensed records, 5% of all Oklahoma records of it.

What snakes are in Osage County?

In all, 24 snake species are on the Osage County list. The most recorded are the western ground snake (109), the flathead snake (37) and the plain-bellied watersnake (17).

#SpeciesRecordsShare of Oklahoma records
1Western ground snake
Sonora semiannulata
1098%
2Flathead snake
Tantilla gracilis
373%
3Plain-bellied watersnake
Nerodia erythrogaster
172%
4Ring-necked snake
Diadophis punctatus
172%
5Western rat snake
Pantherophis obsoletus
133%
6Western ribbon snake
Thamnophis proximus
132%
7Broad-banded copperhead venomous
Agkistrodon laticinctus
116%
8Prairie kingsnake
Lampropeltis calligaster
104%
9Eastern copperhead venomous
Agkistrodon contortrix
93%
10Coachwhip
Masticophis flagellum
81%
11Eastern racer
Coluber constrictor
82%
12Rough earthsnake
Haldea striatula
83%
13Western massasauga venomous
Sistrurus tergeminus
88%
14Common garter snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
73%
15Diamondback water snake
Nerodia rhombifer
71%
16Lined snake
Tropidoclonion lineatum
71%
17DeKay's brown snake
Storeria dekayi
51%
18Rough greensnake
Opheodrys aestivus
51%
19Eastern hog-nosed snake
Heterodon platirhinos
42%
20Speckled kingsnake
Lampropeltis holbrooki
31%
21Timber rattlesnake venomous
Crotalus horridus
33%
22Great Plains ground snake
Sonora episcopa
220%
23Northern water snake
Nerodia sipedon
21%
24Central plains milksnake
Lampropeltis gentilis
12%
Source: GBIF records located in Osage County (GADM level 2), read 2026-09-29. Listed from records under any license; counts are CC0/CC BY only.

When are snakes out in Osage County?

Observation records of snakes in Osage County run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 25% of them, the same peak as Oklahoma as a whole.

January: 0 observation records (0%)JanFebruary: 0 observation records (0%)FebMarch: 2 observation records (3%)MarApril: 10 observation records (16%)Apr16%May: 16 observation records (25%)May25%June: 11 observation records (17%)Jun17%July: 7 observation records (11%)Jul11%August: 4 observation records (6%)Aug6%September: 8 observation records (12%)Sep12%October: 6 observation records (9%)Oct9%November: 0 observation records (0%)NovDecember: 0 observation records (0%)Dec

What spiders are in Osage County?

In all, 29 spider species are on the Osage County list. The most recorded are the flea jumping spider (68), the bold jumper (56) and the dimorphic jumper (51). Osage County holds more than half of all Oklahoma records of the grayish jumping spider, Habronattus coecatus, the high eye-lashed jumping spider and the orbus paradise spider.

#SpeciesRecordsShare of Oklahoma records
1Flea jumping spider
Naphrys pulex
6847%
2Bold jumper
Phidippus audax
5611%
3Dimorphic jumper
Maevia inclemens
5134%
4Familiar jumping spider
Platycryptus undatus
5021%
5Grayish jumping spider
Phidippus princeps
4078%
6
Habronattus coecatus
4065%
7High eye-lashed jumping spider
Phidippus mystaceus
3971%
8Texas brown tarantula
Aphonopelma hentzi
3141%
9Putnam's jumper
Phidippus putnami
2435%
10Orbus paradise spider
Habronattus orbus
2292%
11Bronze jumper
Eris militaris
1925%
12Cardinal jumper
Phidippus cardinalis
1744%
13
Pelegrina pervaga
1575%
14Slender ant mimicking jumping spider
Synemosyna formica
1467%
15Common Hentz jumping spider
Hentzia palmarum
1333%
16Rabid wolf spider
Rabidosa rabida
127%
17Ribbon jumping spider
Metacyrba taeniola
1260%
18Sylvan jumping spider
Colonus sylvanus
1227%
19Brilliant jumping spider
Phidippus clarus
1124%
20Nursery web spider
Pisaurina mira
1015%
21
Paraphidippus aurantius
1029%
22Brown recluse venomous
Loxosceles reclusa
97%
23
Colonus puerperus
938%
24Green lynx spider
Peucetia viridans
910%
25
Zygoballus sexpunctatus
956%
26Banded garden spider
Argiope trifasciata
719%
27Black-and-yellow argiope
Argiope aurantia
63%
28Southern black widow venomous
Latrodectus mactans
35%
29Spotted orbweaver
Neoscona crucifera
22%
Source: GBIF records located in Osage County (GADM level 2), read 2026-09-29. Listed from records under any license; counts are CC0/CC BY only.

When are spiders out in Osage County?

Observation records of spiders in Osage County run mostly March through October, peaking in April with 27% of them; across Oklahoma the peak is September.

January: 1 observation record (0%)JanFebruary: 20 observation records (3%)FebMarch: 50 observation records (6%)Mar6%April: 208 observation records (27%)Apr27%May: 119 observation records (15%)May15%June: 83 observation records (11%)Jun11%July: 76 observation records (10%)Jul10%August: 51 observation records (7%)Aug7%September: 94 observation records (12%)Sep12%October: 57 observation records (7%)Oct7%November: 20 observation records (3%)NovDecember: 1 observation record (0%)Dec

What stands out in Osage County

Species for which Osage County holds a large share of all Oklahoma records: the orbus paradise spider, 92% (22 of 24); the grayish jumping spider, 78% (40 of 51); Pelegrina pervaga, 75% (15 of 20); the high eye-lashed jumping spider, 71% (39 of 55); the slender ant mimicking jumping spider, 67% (14 of 21); Habronattus coecatus, 65% (40 of 62); the ribbon jumping spider, 60% (12 of 20); the flea jumping spider, 47% (68 of 144).

Common in Oklahoma, not on the Osage County list

Among the snakes most recorded across Oklahoma, these do not reach the county list: the northern cottonmouth (429 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.

Among the spiders most recorded across Oklahoma, these do not reach the county list: the striped lynx spider (98 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.

Harmless lookalikes in Osage County

Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the plain-bellied watersnake, the eastern hog-nosed snake, the northern water snake and the central plains milksnake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, but the northern cottonmouth is on the Oklahoma list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the plain-bellied watersnake, the diamondback water snake 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.

Osage County among Oklahoma counties

By licensed snake records Osage County ranks 11th of 77 Oklahoma counties with any.

Other Oklahoma counties with their own page: Tulsa County, Comanche County, LeFlore County, Cleveland County, McCurtain County, Okmulgee County, Marshall County and Rogers 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.

About these numbers

A species is listed for a state once GBIF holds at least 10 records of it located inside the state by coordinates, under any license. Every count, share, month and county shown is computed only from records published under CC0 or CC BY, so a listed species can show few or no counted records. Monthly patterns show when people record snakes and spiders, which also reflects when people are outdoors. Venomous status follows taxonomy: pit vipers and coral snakes; widow and recluse spiders; the Arizona bark scorpion. Records filed under older names count for the species they belong to today. Full methodology.