Snakes and spiders in Erie County, Pennsylvania
Erie County, home of Erie, has 8 snake and 26 spider species on record, from 316 licensed snake and 88 spider records. No venomous snake or spider reaches the county list, but the timber rattlesnake, the eastern copperhead, the eastern massasauga, the northern black widow and the southern black widow are on the Pennsylvania list: treat any snake or spider like them as venomous until identified.
What snakes are in Erie County?
In all, 8 snake species are on the Erie County list. The most recorded are the common garter snake (85), the northern water snake (71) and the DeKay's brown snake (64).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Pennsylvania records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 85 | 5% |
| 2 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 71 | 8% |
| 3 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 64 | 13% |
| 4 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 23 | 2% |
| 5 | Shorthead garter snake Thamnophis brachystoma | 16 | 3% |
| 6 | Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum | 14 | 3% |
| 7 | Red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata | 13 | 3% |
| 8 | Eastern rat snake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | 1 | 0% |
When are snakes out in Erie County?
Observation records of snakes in Erie County run mostly April through September, peaking in April with 26% of them; across Pennsylvania the peak is May.
What spiders are in Erie County?
In all, 26 spider species are on the Erie County list. The most recorded are the garden spider (13), the bold jumper (12) and the zebra spider (6). Erie County holds more than half of all Pennsylvania records of the garden spider.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Pennsylvania records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Garden spider Araneus diadematus | 13 | 54% |
| 2 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 12 | 3% |
| 3 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 6 | 4% |
| 4 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 3 | 1% |
| 5 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | 3 | 3% |
| 6 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | 3 | 14% |
| 7 | American green crab spider Misumessus oblongus | 2 | 2% |
| 8 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 2 | 2% |
| 9 | Bridge orbweaver Larinioides sclopetarius | 2 | 10% |
| 10 | Dark fishing spider Dolomedes tenebrosus | 2 | 1% |
| 11 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 2 | 1% |
| 12 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 2 | 0% |
| 13 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 2 | 1% |
| 14 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 2 | 2% |
| 15 | Bronze jumper Eris militaris | 1 | 1% |
| 16 | Dysdera crocata | 1 | 1% |
| 17 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | 1 | 1% |
| 18 | Myrmarachne formicaria | 1 | 3% |
| 19 | Parson spider Herpyllus ecclesiasticus | 1 | 1% |
| 20 | Sixspotted orbweaver Araniella displicata | 1 | 1% |
| 21 | Dock spider Dolomedes scriptus | — | — |
| 22 | Longbodied cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides | — | — |
| 23 | Marbled orbweaver Araneus marmoreus | — | — |
| 24 | Sixspotted fishing spider Dolomedes triton | — | — |
| 25 | Wetland giant wolf spider Tigrosa helluo | — | — |
| 26 | White-jawed jumping spider Hentzia mitrata | — | — |
When are spiders out in Erie County?
Observation records of spiders in Erie County run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 20% of them; across Pennsylvania the peak is June.
What stands out in Erie County
Species for which Erie County holds a large share of all Pennsylvania records: the garden spider, 54% (13 of 24).
Common in Pennsylvania, not on the Erie County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Pennsylvania, these do not reach the county list: the queen snake (566 statewide), the timber rattlesnake (479 statewide), the smooth earth snake (368 statewide) and the eastern copperhead (261 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 Pennsylvania, these do not reach the county list: Paraphidippus aurantius (187 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Erie County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead is on the Pennsylvania list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake, the eastern milksnake and the eastern rat snake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, and GBIF holds no cottonmouth record for Pennsylvania under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the northern water snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Pennsylvania under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the eastern milksnake. No widow spiders reach the county list, but the northern black widow and the southern black widow are on the Pennsylvania list: treat any spider like them as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the triangulate bud spider. No recluse spiders reach the county list, and GBIF holds no recluse spider record for Pennsylvania under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the longbodied cellar spider.
Erie County among Pennsylvania counties
By licensed snake records Erie County ranks 4th of 67 Pennsylvania counties with any.
Other Pennsylvania counties with their own page: Allegheny County, Warren County, Westmoreland County, Centre County, Montgomery County, Bucks County, Philadelphia County and Dauphin County.
The whole state: venomous species in Pennsylvania, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.