Snakes and spiders in Jackson County, Oregon
Jackson County, home of Medford, has 13 snake and 15 spider species on record, from 1,202 licensed snake and 104 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Jackson County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 10 licensed records, 6% of all Oregon records of it. The western black widow: 8 licensed records, 36% of all Oregon records of it.
What snakes are in Jackson County?
In all, 13 snake species are on the Jackson County list. The most recorded are the western terrestrial garter snake (855), the aquatic garter snake (125) and the common garter snake (114). Jackson County holds more than half of all Oregon records of the California mountain kingsnake.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Oregon records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 855 | 47% |
| 2 | Aquatic garter snake Thamnophis atratus | 125 | 47% |
| 3 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 114 | 6% |
| 4 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 19 | 6% |
| 5 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 16 | 7% |
| 6 | Northern rubber boa Charina bottae | 13 | 5% |
| 7 | California mountain kingsnake Lampropeltis zonata | 11 | 79% |
| 8 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 10 | 6% |
| 9 | Northwestern garter snake Thamnophis ordinoides | 9 | 0% |
| 10 | Sharp-tailed snake Contia tenuis | 8 | 21% |
| 11 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 7 | 9% |
| 12 | Western aquatic garter snake Thamnophis couchii | 7 | 37% |
| 13 | California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae | 3 | 30% |
When are snakes out in Jackson County?
Observation records of snakes in Jackson County run mostly May through September, peaking in May with 34% of them, the same peak as Oregon as a whole.
What spiders are in Jackson County?
In all, 15 spider species are on the Jackson County list. The most recorded are the western lynx spider (11), the bold jumper (10) and the western black widow (8).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Oregon records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 11 | 19% |
| 2 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 10 | 4% |
| 3 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 8 | 36% |
| 4 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | 7 | 15% |
| 5 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | 6 | 3% |
| 6 | Marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei | 4 | 33% |
| 7 | California flattened jumping spider Platycryptus californicus | 3 | 6% |
| 8 | Hairy tufted jumping spider Phidippus comatus | 3 | 30% |
| 9 | Koch's wolf spider Alopecosa kochi | 3 | 17% |
| 10 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 2 | 12% |
| 11 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 1 | 4% |
| 12 | Colonus hesperus | 1 | 7% |
| 13 | False black widow Steatoda grossa | 1 | 4% |
| 14 | McCook's split wolf spider Schizocosa mccooki | — | — |
| 15 | Western parson spider Herpyllus propinquus | — | — |
When are spiders out in Jackson County?
Observation records of spiders in Jackson County run mostly February through August, peaking in May with 25% of them; across Oregon the peak is June.
What stands out in Jackson County
Species for which Jackson County holds a large share of all Oregon records: the western terrestrial garter snake, 47% (855 of 1,814); the aquatic garter snake, 47% (125 of 268); the western lynx spider, 19% (11 of 57).
Common in Oregon, not on the Jackson County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Oregon, these do not reach the county list: 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: the garden spider (372 statewide), the zebra spider (212 statewide), Habronattus amicus (93 statewide), the giant house spider (80 statewide), the longbodied cellar spider (62 statewide) and Habronattus ustulatus (60 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Jackson County
Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the gopher snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Oregon under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the California mountain kingsnake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the false black widow.
Jackson County among Oregon counties
By licensed snake records Jackson County ranks 1st of 36 Oregon counties with any.
Other Oregon counties with their own page: Klamath County, Columbia 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.