Venomous animals in California
The ones that need the most respect: western diamondback rattlesnake, western rattlesnake, sidewinder, Mojave rattlesnake. A bite from any of them is a medical emergency.
- 6 dangerous
- 3 medically significant
- 5 painful, rarely serious
Where they turn up in California
- None recorded
- 1 species
- 2
- 3 to 4
- 5 or more
Venomous snakes in California
Western diamondback rattlesnakeDangerous340 records, 4 counties
Western rattlesnakeDangerous6,264 records, 57 counties
SidewinderDangerous3,983 records, 8 counties
Mojave rattlesnakeDangerous796 records, 7 counties
Red diamond rattlesnakeDangerous1,700 records, 8 counties
Speckled rattlesnakeDangerous1,164 records, 10 counties
Venomous snakes in California: map, photos and look-alikes
Venomous spiders in California
Black widowMedically significant1,473 records, 47 counties
Desert recluseMedically significant51 records, 8 counties
TarantulaPainful, rarely serious621 records, 28 counties
Brown widowPainful, rarely serious908 records, 14 counties
Venomous spiders in California: map, photos and look-alikes
Scorpions in California
Arizona bark scorpionMedically significant1 record, 0 counties
Giant desert hairy scorpionPainful, rarely serious96 records, 7 counties
Northern scorpionPainful, rarely serious33 records, 8 counties
Scorpions in California: map, photos and look-alikes
Centipedes in California
Centipedes in California: map, photos and look-alikes
When they are out
- Venomous snakes
- Venomous spiders
- Scorpions
- Centipedes
Recorded, but not living here
- Rare records Yellow-bellied sea snake 3 open records, latest 2018
- Rare records Gila monster 6 open records, latest 1962
- Rare records Vietnamese centipede 1 open record
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 California
- Black Widow vs False Widow False widow is harmless
- Rattlesnake vs Gopher Snake Gopher snake is harmless
Quick answers for California
- Lives here Rattlesnakes
- Not here Copperheads
- Not here Cottonmouths
- Not here Coral snakes
- Not here Brown recluses
- Lives here Black widows
- Lives here Tarantulas
- Rare records Gila monsters
Questions
How many venomous snakes live in California?
6 species: Western diamondback rattlesnake, Western rattlesnake, Sidewinder, Mojave rattlesnake, Red diamond rattlesnake and Speckled rattlesnake.
Are there brown recluse spiders in California?
No. GBIF holds 1 isolated record of the brown recluse from California, far from its range. That is most likely a captive animal or a mislabeled record.
Are there scorpions in California?
Yes: Arizona bark scorpion, Giant desert hairy scorpion and Northern scorpion.
When are venomous animals most active in California?
Most open records from California 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.