Venomous snakes and spiders in South Carolina
South Carolina has six venomous snake species among the 40 snake species listed there: northern cottonmouth, eastern copperhead, timber rattlesnake, eastern coral snake, pygmy rattlesnake and eastern diamondback rattlesnake. The northern cottonmouth accounts for the most records (183), and venomous species make up 13% of all 3,640 licensed snake records in the state. On the spider side, three species are medically significant: southern black widow, brown widow and northern black widow.
Venomous snakes of South Carolina
South Carolina's venomous snakes are three rattlesnake species, two copperhead or cottonmouth species and one coral snake species. Together they account for 479 licensed records; the northern cottonmouth alone has 38% of them, and the least recorded, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, has 7.
Dangerous spiders of South Carolina
Three widow species (Southern black widow: 26 records, Brown widow: 14 records, Northern black widow: 3 records) are on the South Carolina list. There is no recluse spider on the South Carolina list: no recluse species reaches 10 records in the state. Widow bites cause muscle pain and cramps; recluse bites can cause a slow-healing wound. Both are rare and seldom fatal.
Are there scorpions in South Carolina?
Yes. One scorpion species is recorded in South Carolina, from 21 licensed records: Southern unstriped scorpion (18 records). Every scorpion has venom; only the Arizona bark scorpion's sting is medically significant, and it is not on the South Carolina list.
Also recorded in South Carolina, fewer than 10 times
Beyond the main list, one scorpion species is known from South Carolina by only four records of any license. It may be a genuine rarity at the edge of its range, or a stray, a released pet or an old misidentification, so treat it as unconfirmed.
Other snakes recorded most in South Carolina
These eight account for 40% of all licensed snake records in South Carolina; the most recorded, the brown water snake, alone for 7%.
All 40 snakes of South Carolina →
Other spiders recorded most in South Carolina
These eight account for 36% of all licensed spider records in South Carolina; the most recorded, the American golden orb weaver, alone for 8%.
All 121 spiders of South Carolina →
When venomous snakes are out in South Carolina
Observation records of venomous snakes in South Carolina run mostly April through November, peaking in May with 18% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 3% of the records.
Season of each venomous snake
| Species | Main season | Peak month | Winter share | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern cottonmouth | March through October | April | 5% | 60 |
| Eastern copperhead | April through October | May | 2% | 54 |
| Timber rattlesnake | May through November | September | 0% | 31 |
When spiders are most active in South Carolina
Observation records of spiders in South Carolina run mostly March through November, peaking in July with 14% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 7% of the records.
Counties with the most venomous snake records
Charleston County has the most records of venomous snakes in South Carolina, 90, most of them of the northern cottonmouth. Berkeley County and Jasper County follow.
| # | County | Records | Most recorded there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston County | 90 | Northern cottonmouth |
| 2 | Berkeley County | 58 | Eastern copperhead |
| 3 | Jasper County | 30 | Eastern copperhead |
| 4 | Richland County | 27 | Northern cottonmouth |
| 5 | Aiken County | 17 | Northern cottonmouth |
| 6 | Greenville County | 17 | Eastern copperhead |
| 7 | Oconee County | 17 | Eastern copperhead |
| 8 | Colleton County | 16 | Northern cottonmouth |
| 9 | Georgetown County | 15 | Eastern copperhead |
| 10 | Lexington County | 11 | Timber rattlesnake |
Where in South Carolina are snakes recorded most?
Charleston County leads with 677 records (19%), followed by Berkeley County and Aiken County; the top five counties hold 52% of the total. 46 of South Carolina's 46 counties have at least one licensed snake record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston County | 677 | 18.6% |
| 2 | Berkeley County | 460 | 12.6% |
| 3 | Aiken County | 276 | 7.6% |
| 4 | Jasper County | 274 | 7.5% |
| 5 | Barnwell County | 193 | 5.3% |
| 6 | Richland County | 164 | 4.5% |
| 7 | Georgetown County | 150 | 4.1% |
| 8 | Lexington County | 140 | 3.8% |
| 9 | Greenville County | 115 | 3.2% |
| 10 | Oconee County | 105 | 2.9% |
| 11 | Chesterfield County | 94 | 2.6% |
| 12 | Horry County | 90 | 2.5% |
South Carolina counties with their own page: Berkeley County and Charleston County.
Are there poisonous snakes in South Carolina?
Yes. South Carolina has six venomous snake species on its list, the kind people usually call poisonous: northern cottonmouth, eastern copperhead, timber rattlesnake, eastern coral snake, pygmy rattlesnake and eastern diamondback rattlesnake. Strictly, snakes are venomous (they inject venom), not poisonous (harmful to eat or touch).
Are there rattlesnakes in South Carolina?
Yes. Three species are on the South Carolina list: the timber rattlesnake, the pygmy rattlesnake and the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, with 91 licensed records between them. Most licensed records of the timber rattlesnake come from Charleston County, Lexington County and Jasper County.
Are there copperheads in South Carolina?
Yes. One species is on the South Carolina list: the eastern copperhead, with 179 licensed records. Most licensed records of the eastern copperhead come from Charleston County, Berkeley County and Jasper County.
Are there cottonmouths (water moccasins) in South Carolina?
Yes. One species is on the South Carolina list: the northern cottonmouth, with 183 licensed records. Most licensed records of the northern cottonmouth come from Charleston County, Berkeley County and Richland County.
Are there coral snakes in South Carolina?
Yes. One species is on the South Carolina list: the eastern coral snake, with 26 licensed records.
Northern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
South Carolina has 183 licensed records of the northern cottonmouth, which ranks the state 10th of the 16 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in South Carolina run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Charleston County, Berkeley County and Richland County. Range in other states and photos: Northern cottonmouth profile.
Eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
South Carolina has 179 licensed records of the eastern copperhead, which ranks the state 9th of the 27 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in South Carolina run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Charleston County, Berkeley County and Jasper County. Range in other states and photos: Eastern copperhead profile.
Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
South Carolina has 64 licensed records of the timber rattlesnake, which ranks the state 10th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in South Carolina run mostly May through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Charleston County, Lexington County and Jasper County. Range in other states and photos: Timber rattlesnake profile.
Eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius)
South Carolina has 26 licensed records of the eastern coral snake, which ranks the state 3rd of the 5 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Eastern coral snake profile.
Pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius)
South Carolina has 20 licensed records of the pygmy rattlesnake, which ranks the state 9th of the 11 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Pygmy rattlesnake profile.
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)
South Carolina has 7 licensed records of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, which ranks the state 5th of the 5 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Eastern diamondback rattlesnake profile.
Harmless lookalikes in South Carolina
Many snakes and spiders taken for venomous ones are harmless species with a similar look. These are the usual confusions, with each species' licensed records in South Carolina.
What looks like a copperhead in South Carolina
Copperheads: 179 licensed records in South Carolina. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: eastern rat snake (163), corn snake (137), plain-bellied watersnake (110), eastern hog-nosed snake (89) and northern water snake (82). Together they have 596 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 3 times as often.
What looks like a cottonmouth in South Carolina
Cottonmouths: 183 licensed records in South Carolina. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: brown water snake (266), southern watersnake (225), plain-bellied watersnake (110), mud snake (109) and northern water snake (82). Together they have 809 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 4 times as often.
What looks like a rattlesnake in South Carolina
Rattlesnakes: 91 licensed records in South Carolina. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: eastern hog-nosed snake (89) and pine snake (22). Together they have 111 licensed records, and the two sides are recorded about equally.
What looks like a coral snake in South Carolina
Coral snakes: 26 licensed records in South Carolina. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: scarlet snake (86), scarlet kingsnake (42) and eastern milksnake (15). Together they have 143 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 6 times as often.
What looks like a widow spider in South Carolina
Widow spiders: 43 licensed records in South Carolina. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: common house spider (15), triangulate bud spider (11) and false black widow (6). Together they have 32 licensed records, and the two sides are recorded about equally.
What looks like a recluse spider in South Carolina
Recluse spiders are not on the South Carolina list, but they are recorded in South Carolina two times (records of any license: brown recluse 2): treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them in the state: southern house spider (23) and longbodied cellar spider (3).
How South Carolina compares
By count of venomous snake species, South Carolina ranks 8th of 50 states, level with Alabama, Kansas and Nevada. Nationally, Arizona leads with 14 species; five list none.
Of the two states bordering South Carolina, Georgia lists more venomous snake species (South Carolina: 6 species; Georgia 7, North Carolina 5).
Venomous snakes listed next door but not in South Carolina: the Florida cottonmouth (Georgia). The most widely shared are the eastern copperhead, the eastern coral snake, the northern cottonmouth, the pygmy rattlesnake and the timber rattlesnake, each listed in both bordering states.
Are there poisonous spiders in South Carolina?
Does South Carolina have black widows?
Yes. Three widow species are on the South Carolina list: the southern black widow (26 records), the brown widow (14 records) and the northern black widow (3 records).
Does South Carolina have brown recluse spiders?
Not on our list: GBIF holds 2 brown recluse records of any license in South Carolina (brown recluse 2), fewer than 10 of any one species; such records can be genuine rarities, strays, transported animals or misidentifications. Treat any spider that looks like a recluse as venomous.
Southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans)
South Carolina has 26 licensed records of the southern black widow, which ranks the state 9th of the 22 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Southern black widow profile.
Brown widow (Latrodectus geometricus)
South Carolina has 14 licensed records of the brown widow, which ranks the state 8th of the 11 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Brown widow profile.
Northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus)
South Carolina has 3 licensed records of the northern black widow, which ranks the state 24th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Northern black widow profile.
More for South Carolina
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.