Snakes and spiders in Columbia County, Oregon
Columbia County, home of St. Helens, has 5 snake and 7 spider species on record, from 450 licensed snake and 39 spider records. No venomous snake or spider reaches the county list, but the western rattlesnake and the western black widow are on the Oregon list: treat any snake or spider like them as venomous until identified.
What snakes are in Columbia County?
In all, 5 snake species are on the Columbia County list. The most recorded are the common garter snake (252), the northwestern garter snake (132) and the northern rubber boa (51).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Oregon records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 252 | 13% |
| 2 | Northwestern garter snake Thamnophis ordinoides | 132 | 6% |
| 3 | Northern rubber boa Charina bottae | 51 | 19% |
| 4 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 8 | 0% |
| 5 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 7 | 3% |
When are snakes out in Columbia County?
Observation records of snakes in Columbia County run mostly January through September, peaking in March with 21% of them; across Oregon the peak is May.
What spiders are in Columbia County?
In all, 7 spider species are on the Columbia County list. The most recorded are the goldenrod crab spider (13), the garden spider (11) and the bold jumper (3).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Oregon records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | 13 | 6% |
| 2 | Garden spider Araneus diadematus | 11 | 3% |
| 3 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 3 | 1% |
| 4 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 3 | 1% |
| 5 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 1 | 4% |
| 6 | Giant house spider Eratigena duellica | 1 | 1% |
| 7 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | — | — |
When are spiders out in Columbia County?
Observation records of spiders in Columbia County run mostly April through October, peaking in July with 22% of them; across Oregon the peak is June.
What stands out in Columbia County
Species for which Columbia County holds a large share of all Oregon records: the northern rubber boa, 19% (51 of 270).
Common in Oregon, not on the Columbia County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Oregon, these do not reach the county list: the gopher snake (325 statewide), the aquatic garter snake (268 statewide), the western rattlesnake (171 statewide), the ring-necked snake (82 statewide), the sharp-tailed snake (39 statewide) and the striped whipsnake (22 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 Oregon, these do not reach the county list: Habronattus amicus (93 statewide), the longbodied cellar spider (62 statewide), Habronattus ustulatus (60 statewide), the western lynx spider (57 statewide), the California flattened jumping spider (49 statewide) and Dysdera crocata (43 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Columbia County among Oregon counties
By licensed snake records Columbia County ranks 6th of 36 Oregon counties with any.
Other Oregon counties with their own page: Jackson County, Klamath County, Lane County, Curry County, Benton County and Multnomah County.
The whole state: venomous species in Oregon, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.