Venomous animals in Kentucky

Venomous species living here
74 venomous snakes, 2 venomous spiders, 1 scorpion

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

Dangerous: 2Medically significant: 4Painful, rarely serious: 1
  • 2 dangerous
  • 4 medically significant
  • 1 painful, rarely serious
Venomous snakes
4
Venomous spiders
2
Scorpions
1
Centipedes
0
Open records
509
Counties with any record
55

Where they turn up in Kentucky

Lee: CopperheadFranklin: CopperheadEdmonson: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeGraves: CottonmouthJackson: Black widowWhitley: Copperhead, Southern devil scorpionHardin: Black widow, CopperheadUnion: CottonmouthWayne: Copperhead, Southern devil scorpionShelby: Brown recluseWarren: Brown recluseRockcastle: Copperhead, Southern devil scorpionHopkins: CopperheadKnott: Timber rattlesnakeMadison: Black widow, Brown recluse, Copperhead, Southern devil scorpion, Timber rattlesnakeLewis: Black widowLivingston: Brown recluseMcCracken: Brown recluse, CottonmouthHarlan: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeMetcalfe: Black widowPerry: Black widow, CopperheadPowell: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeTrigg: Brown recluse, Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeCrittenden: Black widowFulton: CopperheadLaurel: CopperheadWolfe: CopperheadPulaski: CopperheadTaylor: Southern devil scorpionMenifee: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeLincoln: Timber rattlesnakeBell: Copperhead, Southern devil scorpion, Timber rattlesnakeLyon: Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnakeCampbell: Black widowRowan: Black widowMcCreary: Brown recluse, Copperhead, Southern devil scorpion, Timber rattlesnakeClinton: Copperhead, Southern devil scorpionJefferson: Brown recluseMarion: Brown recluseMarshall: Brown recluse, Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Pygmy rattlesnake, Striped bark scorpionMuhlenberg: CopperheadSimpson: Brown recluseLeslie: Timber rattlesnakeCarter: CopperheadKenton: Black widow, CopperheadCalloway: Brown recluse, Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeGarrard: Black widow, Copperhead, Southern devil scorpionHickman: Copperhead, CottonmouthFayette: Black widow, Brown recluse, CopperheadChristian: Brown recluseEstill: Southern devil scorpionMercer: Black widowBullitt: Brown recluse, Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeBreathitt: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeOldham: Brown recluse
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 Kentucky

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

Venomous spiders in Kentucky

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

Scorpions in Kentucky

Scorpions in Kentucky: map, photos and look-alikes

When they are out

JanFeb: 3 records (spider)FebMar: 2 records (venomous snake)Mar: 6 records (spider)Mar: 1 records (scorpion)MarApr: 38 records (venomous snake)Apr: 5 records (spider)Apr: 5 records (scorpion)AprMay: 29 records (venomous snake)May: 14 records (spider)May: 3 records (scorpion)MayJun: 37 records (venomous snake)Jun: 12 records (spider)Jun: 5 records (scorpion)JunJul: 27 records (venomous snake)Jul: 8 records (spider)Jul: 3 records (scorpion)JulAug: 30 records (venomous snake)Aug: 9 records (spider)Aug: 11 records (scorpion)AugSep: 23 records (venomous snake)Sep: 6 records (spider)Sep: 8 records (scorpion)SepOct: 2 records (venomous snake)Oct: 11 records (spider)Oct: 4 records (scorpion)OctNov: 2 records (spider)Nov: 2 records (scorpion)NovDec: 1 records (spider)Dec
Open records by month; most fall in April to June, 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 Kentucky

Quick answers for Kentucky

Questions

How many venomous snakes live in Kentucky?

4 species: Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnake, Copperhead and Pygmy rattlesnake.

Are there brown recluse spiders in Kentucky?

Yes. The brown recluse lives in Kentucky. Open records come from 16 counties.

Are there scorpions in Kentucky?

Yes: Southern devil scorpion.

When are venomous animals most active in Kentucky?

Most open records from Kentucky fall in April to June, 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