Snakes and spiders in Salt Lake County, Utah
Salt Lake County, home of Salt Lake City, has 8 snake and 34 spider species on record, from 492 licensed snake and 618 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Salt Lake County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 45 licensed records, 11% of all Utah records of it. The western black widow: 58 licensed records, 39% of all Utah records of it.
What snakes are in Salt Lake County?
In all, 8 snake species are on the Salt Lake County list. The most recorded are the eastern racer (186), the western terrestrial garter snake (116) and the gopher snake (98). Salt Lake County holds more than half of all Utah records of the eastern racer.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Utah records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 186 | 54% |
| 2 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 116 | 9% |
| 3 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 98 | 19% |
| 4 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 45 | 11% |
| 5 | Northern rubber boa Charina bottae | 16 | 33% |
| 6 | Striped whipsnake Masticophis taeniatus | 6 | 3% |
| 7 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 5 | 9% |
| 8 | Central plains milksnake Lampropeltis gentilis | — | — |
When are snakes out in Salt Lake County?
Observation records of snakes in Salt Lake County run mostly April through September, peaking in May with 27% of them, the same peak as Utah as a whole.
What spiders are in Salt Lake County?
In all, 34 spider species are on the Salt Lake County list. The most recorded are the bold jumper (122), the zebra spider (91) and the western black widow (58). Salt Lake County holds more than half of all Utah records of the bold jumper, the zebra spider, Habronattus festus and the triangulate bud spider.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Utah records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 122 | 60% |
| 2 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 91 | 73% |
| 3 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 58 | 39% |
| 4 | Habronattus festus | 34 | 74% |
| 5 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 33 | 82% |
| 6 | California flattened jumping spider Platycryptus californicus | 23 | 50% |
| 7 | Dysdera crocata | 22 | 56% |
| 8 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 22 | 12% |
| 9 | Bay Area blonde Aphonopelma iodius | 18 | 28% |
| 10 | Barn funnel weaver Tegenaria domestica | 16 | 67% |
| 11 | Attulus ammophilus | 14 | 88% |
| 12 | Johnson jumper Phidippus johnsoni | 11 | 55% |
| 13 | Western lynx spider Oxyopes scalaris | 8 | 40% |
| 14 | Cone-shaped orbweaver Cyclosa conica | 7 | 70% |
| 15 | Hairy tufted jumping spider Phidippus comatus | 7 | 78% |
| 16 | Hobo spider Eratigena agrestis | 6 | 55% |
| 17 | Pelegrina aeneola | 6 | 15% |
| 18 | Utah crab spider Bassaniana utahensis | 5 | 62% |
| 19 | Apache jumping spider Phidippus apacheanus | 4 | 25% |
| 20 | Cat-faced spider Araneus gemmoides | 4 | 31% |
| 21 | Sixspotted orbweaver Araniella displicata | 4 | 36% |
| 22 | Carolina wolf spider Hogna carolinensis | 3 | 100% |
| 23 | Twospotted cobweb spider Asagena americana | 3 | 43% |
| 24 | Goldenrod crab spider Misumena vatia | 2 | 8% |
| 25 | McCook's split wolf spider Schizocosa mccooki | 2 | 29% |
| 26 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 1 | 3% |
| 27 | Habronattus clypeatus | 1 | 50% |
| 28 | Misumessus dicaprioi | 1 | 100% |
| 29 | Northern yellow sac spider Cheiracanthium mildei | 1 | 33% |
| 30 | Spitting spider Scytodes thoracica | 1 | 50% |
| 31 | Asian wall jumper Attulus fasciger | — | — |
| 32 | Attinella dorsata | — | — |
| 33 | Common candy-striped spider Enoplognatha ovata | — | — |
| 34 | Marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei | — | — |
When are spiders out in Salt Lake County?
Observation records of spiders in Salt Lake County run mostly April through October, peaking in April with 20% of them; across Utah the peak is August.
What stands out in Salt Lake County
Species for which Salt Lake County holds a large share of all Utah records: the triangulate bud spider, 82% (33 of 40); Habronattus festus, 74% (34 of 46); the zebra spider, 73% (91 of 124); the barn funnel weaver, 67% (16 of 24); the bold jumper, 60% (122 of 204); Dysdera crocata, 56% (22 of 39); the Johnson jumper, 55% (11 of 20); the eastern racer, 54% (186 of 347).
Common in Utah, not on the Salt Lake County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Utah, these do not reach the county list: the prairie rattlesnake (102 statewide), the desert nightsnake (50 statewide), the California kingsnake (43 statewide), the coachwhip (31 statewide) and the western ground snake (27 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 Utah, these do not reach the county list: Sassacus papenhoei (44 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Salt Lake County
No copperheads reach the county list, and GBIF holds no copperhead record for Utah under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the central plains milksnake. 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 Utah under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the central plains milksnake. Widow spiders are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the triangulate bud spider and the twospotted cobweb spider. Recluse spiders are not on the Utah list, but GBIF holds 1 recluse spider record of any license in Utah (desert recluse 1): treat any spider like this as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the hobo spider and the spitting spider.
Salt Lake County among Utah counties
By licensed snake records Salt Lake County ranks 1st of 29 Utah counties with any.
Other Utah counties with their own page: Washington County, Utah County and Tooele County.
The whole state: venomous species in Utah, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.