Snakes and spiders in Washington County, Utah
Washington County, home of St. George, has 19 snake and 7 spider species on record, from 405 licensed snake and 239 spider records. Venomous species here: the western rattlesnake, the sidewinder, the prairie rattlesnake, the Mohave rattlesnake, the southwestern speckled rattlesnake and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Washington County?
Yes. The western rattlesnake: 83 licensed records, 19% of all Utah records of it. The sidewinder: 14 licensed records, 100% of all Utah records of it. The prairie rattlesnake: 11 licensed records, 11% of all Utah records of it. The Mohave rattlesnake: 1 licensed record, 50% of all Utah records of it. The southwestern speckled rattlesnake: 1 licensed record, 100% of all Utah records of it. The western black widow: 13 licensed records, 9% of all Utah records of it.
What snakes are in Washington County?
In all, 19 snake species are on the Washington County list. The most recorded are the western rattlesnake (83), the gopher snake (59) and the California kingsnake (39). Washington County holds more than half of all Utah records of the California kingsnake, the coachwhip, the western ground snake and the long-nosed snake.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Utah records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western rattlesnake venomous Crotalus oreganus | 83 | 19% |
| 2 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 59 | 12% |
| 3 | California kingsnake Lampropeltis californiae | 39 | 91% |
| 4 | Western terrestrial garter snake Thamnophis elegans | 34 | 3% |
| 5 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 30 | 97% |
| 6 | Western ground snake Sonora semiannulata | 27 | 100% |
| 7 | Striped whipsnake Masticophis taeniatus | 22 | 10% |
| 8 | Long-nosed snake Rhinocheilus lecontei | 16 | 94% |
| 9 | Sidewinder venomous Crotalus cerastes | 14 | 100% |
| 10 | Glossy snake Arizona elegans | 11 | 65% |
| 11 | Prairie rattlesnake venomous Crotalus viridis | 11 | 11% |
| 12 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 11 | 52% |
| 13 | Western patch-nosed snake Salvadora hexalepis | 9 | 75% |
| 14 | Southwestern blackhead snake Tantilla hobartsmithi | 6 | 75% |
| 15 | Sonoran lyre snake Trimorphodon lambda | 5 | 100% |
| 16 | Sonoran mountain kingsnake Lampropeltis pyromelana | 5 | 38% |
| 17 | Desert nightsnake Hypsiglena chlorophaea | 1 | 2% |
| 18 | Mohave rattlesnake venomous Crotalus scutulatus | 1 | 50% |
| 19 | Southwestern speckled rattlesnake venomous Crotalus pyrrhus | 1 | 100% |
When are snakes out in Washington County?
Observation records of snakes in Washington County run mostly April through September, peaking in May with 36% of them, the same peak as Utah as a whole.
What spiders are in Washington County?
In all, 7 spider species are on the Washington County list. The most recorded are the Bay Area blonde (34), the banded garden spider (15) and the western black widow (13). Washington County holds more than half of all Utah records of the Bay Area blonde and Phidippus californicus.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Utah records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bay Area blonde Aphonopelma iodius | 34 | 53% |
| 2 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata | 15 | 41% |
| 3 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus | 13 | 9% |
| 4 | Giant crab spider Olios giganteus | 5 | 45% |
| 5 | Shoreline wolf spider Arctosa littoralis | 3 | 43% |
| 6 | Western spotted orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis | 3 | 2% |
| 7 | Phidippus californicus | 2 | 67% |
When are spiders out in Washington County?
Observation records of spiders in Washington County run mostly April through November, peaking in August with 19% of them, the same peak as Utah as a whole.
What stands out in Washington County
Species for which Washington County holds a large share of all Utah records: the western ground snake, 100% (27 of 27); the coachwhip, 97% (30 of 31); the California kingsnake, 91% (39 of 43); the Bay Area blonde, 53% (34 of 64); the ring-necked snake, 52% (11 of 21); the banded garden spider, 41% (15 of 37); the western rattlesnake, 19% (83 of 427).
Common in Utah, not on the Washington County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Utah, these do not reach the county list: the eastern racer (347 statewide), the common garter snake (57 statewide) and the northern rubber boa (49 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: the bold jumper (204 statewide), the zebra spider (124 statewide), the California flattened jumping spider (46 statewide), Habronattus festus (46 statewide), Sassacus papenhoei (44 statewide) and Pelegrina aeneola (40 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Washington 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 Utah under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the long-nosed snake and the Sonoran mountain kingsnake.
Washington County among Utah counties
By licensed snake records Washington County ranks 2nd of 29 Utah counties with any.
Other Utah counties with their own page: Salt Lake 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.