Snakes and spiders in Woodward County, Oklahoma
Woodward County, home of Woodward, has 11 snake and 12 spider species on record, from 220 licensed snake and 320 spider records. Venomous species here: the western massasauga, the western diamondback rattlesnake and the brown recluse.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Woodward County?
Yes. The western massasauga: 4 licensed records, 4% of all Oklahoma records of it. The western diamondback rattlesnake: 3 licensed records, 1% of all Oklahoma records of it. The brown recluse: 16 licensed records, 12% of all Oklahoma records of it.
What snakes are in Woodward County?
In all, 11 snake species are on the Woodward County list. The most recorded are the western ribbon snake (47), the plain-bellied watersnake (38) and the diamondback water snake (22).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Oklahoma records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western ribbon snake Thamnophis proximus | 47 | 8% |
| 2 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 38 | 5% |
| 3 | Diamondback water snake Nerodia rhombifer | 22 | 4% |
| 4 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 15 | 3% |
| 5 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 12 | 1% |
| 6 | Western rat snake Pantherophis obsoletus | 11 | 2% |
| 7 | Glossy snake Arizona elegans | 9 | 14% |
| 8 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 8 | 3% |
| 9 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 5 | 1% |
| 10 | Western massasauga venomous Sistrurus tergeminus | 4 | 4% |
| 11 | Western diamondback rattlesnake venomous Crotalus atrox | 3 | 1% |
When are snakes out in Woodward County?
Observation records of snakes in Woodward County run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 29% of them, the same peak as Oklahoma as a whole.
What spiders are in Woodward County?
In all, 12 spider species are on the Woodward County list. The most recorded are the bold jumper (56), the rabid wolf spider (28) and the familiar jumping spider (23). Woodward County holds more than half of all Oklahoma records of the Carolina jumping spider, Salticus austinensis, the western spotted orbweaver and the Apache jumping spider.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Oklahoma records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 56 | 11% |
| 2 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 28 | 17% |
| 3 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 23 | 9% |
| 4 | Brown recluse venomous Loxosceles reclusa | 16 | 12% |
| 5 | Carolina jumping spider Phidippus carolinensis | 16 | 76% |
| 6 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 13 | 6% |
| 7 | Salticus austinensis | 13 | 65% |
| 8 | Scytodes atlacoya | 13 | 32% |
| 9 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 11 | 61% |
| 10 | Apache jumping spider Phidippus apacheanus | 9 | 50% |
| 11 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 8 | 22% |
| 12 | Texas brown tarantula Aphonopelma hentzi | 3 | 4% |
When are spiders out in Woodward County?
Observation records of spiders in Woodward County run mostly April through October, peaking in July with 17% of them; across Oklahoma the peak is September.
What stands out in Woodward County
Species for which Woodward County holds a large share of all Oklahoma records: the Carolina jumping spider, 76% (16 of 21); Salticus austinensis, 65% (13 of 20); Scytodes atlacoya, 32% (13 of 40); the rabid wolf spider, 17% (28 of 163).
Common in Oklahoma, not on the Woodward County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Oklahoma, these do not reach the county list: the western ground snake (1,354 statewide), the flathead snake (1,297 statewide), the lined snake (480 statewide) and the northern cottonmouth (429 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 dimorphic jumper (150 statewide), the flea jumping spider (144 statewide), the striped lynx spider (98 statewide), the green lynx spider (93 statewide), the spotted orbweaver (92 statewide) and the bronze jumper (75 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Woodward County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead and the broad-banded copperhead are on the Oklahoma list: treat any snake like them as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the plain-bellied watersnake. 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 and the diamondback water snake. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the gopher snake.
Woodward County among Oklahoma counties
By licensed snake records Woodward County ranks 16th 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.