Venomous animals in Georgia
The ones that need the most respect: cottonmouth, timber rattlesnake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, eastern coral snake. A bite from any of them is a medical emergency.
- 4 dangerous
- 4 medically significant
- 3 painful, rarely serious
Where they turn up in Georgia
- None recorded
- 1 species
- 2
- 3 to 4
- 5 or more
Venomous snakes in Georgia
CottonmouthDangerous300 records, 33 counties
Timber rattlesnakeDangerous402 records, 59 counties
Eastern diamondback rattlesnakeDangerous287 records, 26 counties
Eastern coral snakeDangerous112 records, 11 counties
CopperheadMedically significant353 records, 50 counties
Pygmy rattlesnakeMedically significant131 records, 15 counties
Venomous snakes in Georgia: map, photos and look-alikes
Venomous spiders in Georgia
Black widowMedically significant77 records, 26 counties
Brown recluseMedically significant8 records, 3 counties
Brown widowPainful, rarely serious50 records, 20 counties
Venomous spiders in Georgia: map, photos and look-alikes
Scorpions in Georgia
Southern devil scorpionPainful, rarely serious116 records, 35 counties
Hentz striped scorpionPainful, rarely serious15 records, 9 counties
Scorpions in Georgia: map, photos and look-alikes
When they are out
- Venomous snakes
- Venomous spiders
- Scorpions
Harmless look-alikes in Georgia
- Brown Recluse vs Wolf Spider Wolf spider is harmless
- Coral Snake vs King Snake Scarlet kingsnake is harmless
- Cottonmouth vs Water Snake Water snake is harmless
- Coral Snake vs Milk Snake Milk snake is harmless
- Black Widow vs False Widow False widow is harmless
- Copperhead vs Northern Water Snake Northern water snake is harmless
- Cottonmouth vs Banded Water Snake Banded water snake is harmless
- Copperhead vs Corn Snake Corn snake is harmless
- Copperhead vs Rat Snake Rat snake is harmless
- Brown Recluse vs Cellar Spider Cellar spider is harmless
- Copperhead vs Milk Snake Milk snake is harmless
- Brown Recluse vs Southern House Spider Southern house spider is harmless
- Cottonmouth vs Brown Water Snake Brown water snake is harmless
- Coral Snake vs Scarlet Snake Scarlet snake is harmless
- Pygmy Rattlesnake vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake is harmless
- Copperhead vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake is harmless
Quick answers for Georgia
- Lives here Rattlesnakes
- Lives here Copperheads
- Lives here Cottonmouths
- Lives here Coral snakes
- Lives here Brown recluses
- Lives here Black widows
- Not here Tarantulas
Questions
How many venomous snakes live in Georgia?
6 species: Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnake, Eastern diamondback rattlesnake, Eastern coral snake, Copperhead and Pygmy rattlesnake.
Are there brown recluse spiders in Georgia?
Yes. The brown recluse lives in Georgia. Open records come from 3 counties.
Are there scorpions in Georgia?
Yes: Hentz striped scorpion and Southern devil scorpion.
When are venomous animals most active in Georgia?
Most open records from Georgia fall in May to September. 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.