Venomous animals in Indiana

Venomous species living here
53 venomous snakes, 2 venomous spiders

The ones that need the most respect: timber rattlesnake. A bite from any of them is a medical emergency.

Dangerous: 1Medically significant: 4
  • 1 dangerous
  • 4 medically significant
Venomous snakes
3
Venomous spiders
2
Scorpions
0
Centipedes
0
Open records
404
Counties with any record
42

Where they turn up in Indiana

Lawrence: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeJohnson: CopperheadNoble: Eastern massasaugaFulton: Eastern massasaugaStarke: Eastern massasaugaWabash: Eastern massasaugaAllen: Eastern massasaugaBoone: Copperhead, Eastern massasaugaLaGrange: Eastern massasaugaMarshall: Eastern massasaugaGreene: Brown reclusePosey: Brown recluse, CopperheadParke: CopperheadFloyd: CopperheadKnox: Brown recluseKosciusko: Eastern massasauga, Western massasaugaOrange: Black widow, CopperheadPike: CopperheadMartin: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeJackson: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeBrown: Black widow, Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeGibson: Brown recluseClark: CopperheadSteuben: Eastern massasaugaVigo: Brown recluseJefferson: Brown recluse, CopperheadHamilton: Eastern massasaugaMarion: Brown recluseMontgomery: Eastern massasaugaMorgan: Black widow, Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeHarrison: Brown recluse, CopperheadWells: Eastern massasaugaVanderburgh: Brown recluseDelaware: Eastern massasaugaSt. Joseph: Eastern massasaugaSpencer: CopperheadPorter: Black widow, Eastern massasaugaClay: Brown recluseWashington: Black widowDearborn: Timber rattlesnakeJasper: Eastern massasaugaMonroe: Black widow, Copperhead, 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 Indiana

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

Venomous spiders in Indiana

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

When they are out

JanFebMarApr: 2 records (venomous snake)Apr: 5 records (spider)AprMay: 6 records (venomous snake)May: 8 records (spider)MayJun: 19 records (venomous snake)Jun: 10 records (spider)JunJul: 20 records (venomous snake)Jul: 6 records (spider)JulAug: 13 records (venomous snake)Aug: 1 records (spider)AugSep: 7 records (venomous snake)Sep: 2 records (spider)SepOct: 5 records (venomous snake)Oct: 2 records (spider)OctNov: 1 records (venomous snake)NovDec: 1 records (spider)Dec
Open records by month; most fall in June to August. 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 Indiana

Quick answers for Indiana

Questions

How many venomous snakes live in Indiana?

3 species: Timber rattlesnake, Copperhead and Eastern massasauga.

Are there brown recluse spiders in Indiana?

Yes. The brown recluse lives in Indiana. Open records come from 10 counties.

Are there scorpions in Indiana?

No. There are no open records of native scorpions from the state.

When are venomous animals most active in Indiana?

Most open records from Indiana fall in June to August. 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