Venomous animals in Pennsylvania

Venomous species living here
43 venomous snakes, 1 venomous spider

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

Dangerous: 1Medically significant: 3
  • 1 dangerous
  • 3 medically significant
Venomous snakes
3
Venomous spiders
1
Scorpions
0
Centipedes
0
Open records
1,028
Counties with any record
61

Where they turn up in Pennsylvania

Lebanon: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeBeaver: CopperheadVenango: Copperhead, Eastern massasauga, Timber rattlesnakeGreene: CopperheadJefferson: Timber rattlesnakeCambria: Timber rattlesnakeLancaster: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeAllegheny: Copperhead, Eastern massasauga, Timber rattlesnakeBucks: Black widow, CopperheadArmstrong: CopperheadCameron: Timber rattlesnakeCarbon: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeElk: Timber rattlesnakeBedford: Black widow, Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeChester: CopperheadClarion: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeForest: Timber rattlesnakeNorthumberland: Timber rattlesnakeFulton: Timber rattlesnakeNorthampton: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeJuniata: CopperheadWyoming: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeLawrence: Eastern massasaugaMercer: CopperheadBlair: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeSomerset: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeIndiana: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeLehigh: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeTioga: Timber rattlesnakePike: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeMifflin: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeSchuylkill: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeLycoming: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeColumbia: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeMonroe: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeUnion: Timber rattlesnakeCrawford: Eastern massasaugaWayne: Timber rattlesnakeSusquehanna: Timber rattlesnakeCumberland: Black widow, Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeCentre: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakePerry: CopperheadSnyder: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeClearfield: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeWarren: Timber rattlesnakeClinton: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeButler: Copperhead, Eastern massasaugaFayette: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeLackawanna: Timber rattlesnakeSullivan: Timber rattlesnakeWashington: CopperheadMcKean: Timber rattlesnakeBerks: Black widow, Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeAdams: Black widow, CopperheadYork: CopperheadMontgomery: Black widow, CopperheadHuntingdon: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeWestmoreland: Copperhead, Timber rattlesnakeDauphin: Timber rattlesnakeBradford: Timber rattlesnakeFranklin: 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 Pennsylvania

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

Venomous spiders in Pennsylvania

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

When they are out

Jan: 2 records (venomous snake)JanFeb: 2 records (venomous snake)FebMar: 2 records (venomous snake)MarApr: 7 records (venomous snake)AprMay: 62 records (venomous snake)May: 1 records (spider)MayJun: 136 records (venomous snake)Jun: 1 records (spider)JunJul: 144 records (venomous snake)Jul: 3 records (spider)JulAug: 151 records (venomous snake)Aug: 1 records (spider)AugSep: 96 records (venomous snake)SepOct: 21 records (venomous snake)Oct: 3 records (spider)OctNov: 10 records (venomous snake)NovDec
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 Pennsylvania

Quick answers for Pennsylvania

Questions

How many venomous snakes live in Pennsylvania?

3 species: Timber rattlesnake, Copperhead and Eastern massasauga.

Are there brown recluse spiders in Pennsylvania?

No. There are no open records of the brown recluse from Pennsylvania, and the state is outside its range.

Are there scorpions in Pennsylvania?

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

When are venomous animals most active in Pennsylvania?

Most open records from Pennsylvania 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