Venomous animals in Missouri

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

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

Dangerous: 2Medically significant: 5Painful, rarely serious: 3
  • 2 dangerous
  • 5 medically significant
  • 3 painful, rarely serious
Venomous snakes
5
Venomous spiders
3
Scorpions
1
Centipedes
1
Open records
1,498
Counties with any record
61

Where they turn up in Missouri

McDonald: Black widowWarren: Black widow, CopperheadChristian: Brown recluse, CopperheadLaclede: Black widow, Copperhead, TarantulaLivingston: CottonmouthNewton: Brown recluseStone: Brown recluse, Pygmy rattlesnake, Striped bark scorpionCedar: Black widow, Brown recluseBenton: CopperheadDouglas: Copperhead, Pygmy rattlesnakeDent: Black widow, Brown recluse, Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeShannon: Black widow, Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Pygmy rattlesnake, Striped bark scorpion, Timber rattlesnakeWashington: Black widow, Brown recluse, Copperhead, Striped bark scorpionPulaski: Brown recluse, Copperhead, CottonmouthDeKalb: Brown recluseFranklin: Black widow, Brown recluse, Copperhead, Striped bark scorpion, TarantulaJasper: Striped bark scorpionTexas: Black widow, Brown recluse, CopperheadPhelps: Black widow, Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Striped bark scorpion, TarantulaChariton: Western massasaugaMiller: Copperhead, CottonmouthRalls: Black widow, CopperheadOsage: Black widowMississippi: Black widow, CottonmouthJackson: Brown recluse, Copperhead, Striped bark scorpion, Timber rattlesnakeCamden: Black widow, Brown recluse, Copperhead, Striped bark scorpionJohnson: Black widow, Brown recluseCarter: Brown recluse, Copperhead, Striped bark scorpion, Timber rattlesnakeBoone: Black widow, Brown recluse, Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakePerry: Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnakeLincoln: Black widow, Brown recluse, CopperheadBates: Timber rattlesnakeClay: Timber rattlesnakeGreene: Black widow, Brown recluse, Striped bark scorpion, TarantulaCrawford: Black widow, Copperhead, Striped bark scorpion, TarantulaCass: Brown recluseReynolds: Copperhead, Pygmy rattlesnakeSt. Louis: Black widow, Brown recluse, Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnakeNew Madrid: CottonmouthOregon: Copperhead, CottonmouthSte. Genevieve: Copperhead, Striped bark scorpionLewis: Black widow, Timber rattlesnakeStoddard: CottonmouthGrundy: Timber rattlesnakeSt. Francois: Black widow, Striped bark scorpionPlatte: Black widow, Brown recluse, Timber rattlesnakeOzark: Copperhead, Giant desert centipede, Pygmy rattlesnakeTaney: Copperhead, Pygmy rattlesnake, Striped bark scorpion, TarantulaWayne: Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Pygmy rattlesnake, Striped bark scorpionHolt: Western massasaugaHenry: Black widow, Brown recluseHickory: Brown recluseLinn: Western massasaugaHoward: Brown recluseCole: Brown recluse, TarantulaBarry: Giant desert centipede, Striped bark scorpionSt. Charles: Brown recluse, CopperheadRipley: CopperheadButler: Copperhead, CottonmouthCape Girardeau: Black widow, Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Striped bark scorpion, Timber rattlesnakeJefferson: Black widow, Brown recluse, Copperhead, Striped bark scorpion, Tarantula
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 Missouri

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

Venomous spiders in Missouri

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

Scorpions in Missouri

Scorpions in Missouri: map, photos and look-alikes

Centipedes in Missouri

Centipedes in Missouri: map, photos and look-alikes

When they are out

Jan: 8 records (spider)JanFeb: 3 records (spider)Feb: 1 records (scorpion)FebMar: 6 records (venomous snake)Mar: 2 records (spider)MarApr: 23 records (venomous snake)Apr: 11 records (spider)Apr: 5 records (scorpion)AprMay: 27 records (venomous snake)May: 33 records (spider)May: 21 records (scorpion)MayJun: 11 records (venomous snake)Jun: 36 records (spider)Jun: 11 records (scorpion)Jun: 1 records (large centipede)JunJul: 15 records (venomous snake)Jul: 48 records (spider)Jul: 2 records (scorpion)JulAug: 23 records (venomous snake)Aug: 45 records (spider)Aug: 2 records (scorpion)AugSep: 28 records (venomous snake)Sep: 24 records (spider)Sep: 4 records (scorpion)Sep: 1 records (large centipede)SepOct: 54 records (venomous snake)Oct: 18 records (spider)Oct: 5 records (scorpion)OctNov: 5 records (spider)NovDec: 2 records (venomous snake)Dec: 4 records (spider)Dec: 1 records (scorpion)Dec
Open records by month; most fall in May, July to August, October. 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 Missouri

Quick answers for Missouri

Questions

How many venomous snakes live in Missouri?

5 species: Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnake, Copperhead, Pygmy rattlesnake and Western massasauga.

Are there brown recluse spiders in Missouri?

Yes. The brown recluse lives in Missouri. Open records come from 26 counties.

Are there scorpions in Missouri?

Yes: Striped bark scorpion.

When are venomous animals most active in Missouri?

Most open records from Missouri fall in May, July to August, October. 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