Venomous animals in Arkansas

Venomous species living here
116 venomous snakes, 3 venomous spiders, 1 scorpion, 1 large centipede

The ones that need the most respect: western diamondback rattlesnake, cottonmouth, timber rattlesnake, Texas coral snake. A bite from any of them is a medical emergency.

Dangerous: 4Medically significant: 4Painful, rarely serious: 3
  • 4 dangerous
  • 4 medically significant
  • 3 painful, rarely serious
Venomous snakes
6
Venomous spiders
3
Scorpions
1
Centipedes
1
Open records
1,098
Counties with any record
56

Where they turn up in Arkansas

Pope: Striped bark scorpionDrew: CottonmouthSaline: Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Striped bark scorpion, TarantulaLittle River: Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnakeWashington: Black widow, Brown recluse, Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Pygmy rattlesnake, Striped bark scorpion, Timber rattlesnakePulaski: Brown recluse, Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Giant desert centipede, Striped bark scorpion, Tarantula, Western diamondback rattlesnakeLonoke: CottonmouthConway: Black widow, Western diamondback rattlesnakeMontgomery: Copperhead, CottonmouthSearcy: CopperheadMonroe: CottonmouthPoinsett: Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnakeBenton: Black widow, Brown recluse, Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Pygmy rattlesnake, Striped bark scorpionFulton: Copperhead, TarantulaScott: Copperhead, Striped bark scorpion, TarantulaHoward: Copperhead, Striped bark scorpionLogan: Black widow, Striped bark scorpion, Timber rattlesnakeNevada: Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Texas coral snakePike: Black widow, Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnake, Western diamondback rattlesnakeBradley: CottonmouthIndependence: Pygmy rattlesnakeJefferson: Striped bark scorpionLawrence: Copperhead, Pygmy rattlesnake, Timber rattlesnakePrairie: Black widow, Brown recluse, CottonmouthPerry: Copperhead, Western diamondback rattlesnakePolk: Black widow, Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Tarantula, Timber rattlesnakeCarroll: Brown recluse, Cottonmouth, Striped bark scorpionAshley: Black widow, Cottonmouth, Striped bark scorpion, Timber rattlesnakeChicot: CottonmouthCrawford: Black widow, Cottonmouth, Striped bark scorpion, Timber rattlesnakeMadison: Brown recluse, Cottonmouth, Striped bark scorpionFranklin: Copperhead, Striped bark scorpion, TarantulaHot Spring: Black widow, Cottonmouth, Tarantula, Timber rattlesnakeSharp: Brown recluseLafayette: Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnakeBaxter: Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Eastern diamondback rattlesnake, Pygmy rattlesnake, Striped bark scorpion, Western diamondback rattlesnakeWhite: Copperhead, CottonmouthClay: Brown recluse, CottonmouthLee: Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnakeColumbia: Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnakeOuachita: Copperhead, CottonmouthCraighead: Black widow, Brown recluse, CottonmouthFaulkner: Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Giant desert centipedeSebastian: Black widow, Brown recluse, Copperhead, CottonmouthHempstead: Brown recluse, Copperhead, CottonmouthYell: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeGarland: Black widow, Brown recluse, Copperhead, Striped bark scorpion, TarantulaStone: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeJohnson: Black widow, Brown recluse, Copperhead, CottonmouthGreene: Copperhead, CottonmouthCrittenden: CottonmouthGrant: CottonmouthArkansas: CottonmouthUnion: CopperheadMiller: Copperhead, CottonmouthNewton: Pygmy rattlesnake, Tarantula, Timber rattlesnake
Number of venomous species with open GBIF records in each county. Blank counties often mean nobody has posted a record yet, not that nothing lives there.

Venomous snakes in Arkansas

Venomous snakes in Arkansas: map, photos and look-alikes

Venomous spiders in Arkansas

Venomous spiders in Arkansas: map, photos and look-alikes

Scorpions in Arkansas

Scorpions in Arkansas: map, photos and look-alikes

Centipedes in Arkansas

Centipedes in Arkansas: map, photos and look-alikes

When they are out

Jan: 1 records (spider)Jan: 1 records (scorpion)JanFeb: 3 records (venomous snake)Feb: 1 records (spider)FebMar: 19 records (venomous snake)Mar: 9 records (spider)Mar: 5 records (scorpion)MarApr: 65 records (venomous snake)Apr: 6 records (spider)Apr: 6 records (scorpion)Apr: 1 records (large centipede)AprMay: 52 records (venomous snake)May: 6 records (spider)May: 3 records (scorpion)May: 2 records (large centipede)MayJun: 78 records (venomous snake)Jun: 8 records (spider)Jun: 2 records (scorpion)JunJul: 53 records (venomous snake)Jul: 11 records (spider)Jul: 7 records (scorpion)JulAug: 25 records (venomous snake)Aug: 10 records (spider)Aug: 2 records (scorpion)AugSep: 32 records (venomous snake)Sep: 12 records (spider)Sep: 6 records (scorpion)Sep: 1 records (large centipede)SepOct: 44 records (venomous snake)Oct: 11 records (spider)Oct: 5 records (scorpion)OctNov: 4 records (venomous snake)Nov: 3 records (spider)Nov: 4 records (scorpion)NovDec: 2 records (spider)Dec
Open records by month; most fall in April to July. People record animals when they are outdoors too, so winter looks quieter than it may be.

Recorded, but not living here

A rare record means someone found or reported the animal once or a few times, but there is no known population. Many are strays, pets or hitchhikers in cargo.

Harmless look-alikes in Arkansas

Quick answers for Arkansas

Questions

How many venomous snakes live in Arkansas?

6 species: Western diamondback rattlesnake, Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnake, Texas coral snake, Copperhead and Pygmy rattlesnake.

Are there brown recluse spiders in Arkansas?

Yes. The brown recluse lives in Arkansas. Open records come from 13 counties.

Are there scorpions in Arkansas?

Yes: Striped bark scorpion.

When are venomous animals most active in Arkansas?

Most open records from Arkansas fall in April to July. Records follow when people are outdoors too, so treat this as a guide, not a rule.

What should I do after a bite or sting?

Call 911 for any venomous snakebite or a severe reaction. For spider bites and scorpion stings, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, free and open 24/7.

Neighboring states