Are There Centipedes in Vermont?
Yes, centipedes live throughout Vermont, primarily the house centipede species found indoors and in damp basements. Native centipedes also inhabit Vermont's forests and gardens, though in lower numbers than house centipedes. These small, quick arthropods have venom but pose virtually no health risk to people. Bites are extraordinarily rare and cause only minor discomfort.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 22, 2026.
Strigamia bothriopus · Judy Gallagher CC BY-SA
Common Desert Centipede · Public domain CC0
Common Desert Centipede · Evrytte Carlson CC BY
- 8
- species recorded
- 121
- GBIF records
- April, May, October
- peak months
Yes, centipedes are in Vermont. Next you'll want:
Verified species, source iNaturalist
3 types of centipedes recorded in Vermont
3 centipede species have a verified observation record in Vermont, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
2 of the 3 shown are recorded as introduced to Vermont rather than native.
- No openly licensed photo yet1
- No openly licensed photo yet2
- No openly licensed photo yet3
Plus 7 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
579 verified observations on iNaturalist of centipede have been recorded in Vermont, most often in April, May, October.
When centipede are recorded in Vermont
Yes, centipedes live throughout Vermont, primarily the house centipede species found indoors and in damp basements. Native centipedes also inhabit Vermont's forests and gardens, though in lower numbers than house centipedes. These small, quick arthropods have venom but pose virtually no health risk to people. Bites are extraordinarily rare and cause only minor discomfort.
Are They in Vermont?
Centipedes are well established throughout Vermont, from the Green Mountains to the Connecticut River valley. The house centipede is the most common species found indoors and in damp basements statewide. Native centipedes also inhabit Vermont's forests, woodpiles, and gardens, though in lower densities than house centipedes. Vermont's cool, humid climate creates ideal conditions for centipedes indoors year-round. Outdoors, native centipedes are active seasonally during warmer months. Vermont residents encounter centipedes regularly in homes, particularly in older basements and damp crawl spaces. These creatures are solitary hunters focused on controlling household insects like silverfish. Learn more aboutCentipedes in Vermontand understand the species living in your area.
How Dangerous Are They?
Centipede bites are exceptionally rare in Vermont and pose minimal medical risk to healthy people. The house centipede, which is the species Vermont residents encounter most often, has venom designed for tiny insects, not large mammals. If bitten, you would experience sharp pain for a few minutes, similar to a bee sting, followed by rapid relief. Minor localized redness or swelling might occur but typically resolves within hours. No fatalities from centipede bites have ever been documented in Vermont or the United States. Allergic reactions are vanishingly rare. Centipedes are far more afraid of you than you need to be of them. Bites occur only when a centipede is directly threatened, trapped, or crushed. Your actual risk of being bitten during your entire lifetime in Vermont is extraordinarily low. Medical professionals confirm that centipede bites almost never require professional intervention. For more on centipede in Vermont, see ourVermont centipede guide.
How to Recognize One
Vermont's house centipedes are small, typically under one and a half inches long, with flattened, segmented bodies. They are yellowish-brown or tan with darker stripes along their length. Long antennae extend from their head, and they have many pairs of thin legs underneath their body. Most distinctively, they have an extremely fast, erratic running style that catches people off guard. Larger native centipedes found in Vermont's forests and leaf litter are brown or reddish-brown, somewhat longer, but still relatively small. All centipedes have exactly one pair of legs per body segment, which distinguishes them from millipedes. If you see a fast arthropod with many legs and long antennae in your Vermont home or garden, it is almost certainly a centipede. They avoid light and prefer dark, damp spaces. You can also browseVermont wildlife.
What to Do If You Are Bitten or Stung
If a centipede bites you in Vermont, stay calm and keep the bitten area still. Wash it immediately with soap and water. Remove any rings or tight bracelets near the bite site in case swelling develops, though swelling is uncommon. Ice or a cold compress may ease discomfort if desired. Most centipede bites resolve completely within minutes without any intervention. Seek medical attention only if you experience unusual or worsening symptoms, or if you have a compromised immune system. This is general information, not medical advice; if you are bitten, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if symptoms are severe. Do not apply tourniquets, cut the wound, or attempt any aggressive treatment. Allow the bite to heal naturally. Vermont poison control specialists confirm that centipede bites almost never require emergency care. See all of ourwildlife guides.
How to Prevent Encounters
Reduce centipedes in your Vermont home by sealing cracks and gaps around doors, windows, pipes, and baseboards. Remove moisture, which centipedes actively seek. Use a dehumidifier in basements, the most common centipede habitat in Vermont homes. Fix any leaking pipes or water damage promptly. Declutter your home and store items in sealed plastic containers rather than open boxes. Keep your yard tidy by removing dead leaves, woodpiles, and mulch piled against your home's foundation. Shake out shoes, gloves, and clothing before wearing, especially outdoor gear stored in sheds or garages. When hiking Vermont trails in the Green Mountains, wear closed-toe shoes. Check your skin and clothing after being outdoors in wooded areas. Use sticky traps to monitor centipedes without killing them. Remember that centipedes control mosquitoes and other pests, providing benefits.
Where in Vermont and When
Centipedes are found across all Vermont regions, from Burlington to the Connecticut River valley and throughout the Green Mountains. They thrive in moist habitats near streams and in areas with rich leaf litter. Indoors, they prefer basements, bathrooms, and crawl spaces where humidity is high. Outdoors, search under rocks, logs, and leaf litter in Vermont's state forests and natural areas. Centipedes are most active during Vermont's warm months, typically May through October, when they hunt actively. They are particularly active on warm, humid nights or after rain. The house centipede remains active inside heated Vermont homes year-round, even during Vermont's long, cold winters. Outdoor centipedes retreat into soil, woodpiles, and deep leaf litter as temperatures drop, becoming dormant or less active. Spring in Vermont brings increased indoor centipede sightings as they move around seeking moisture.
Harmless Lookalikes
Many of the arthropods Vermont residents encounter are harmless and often confused with centipedes. Millipedes, common in Vermont, have two pairs of legs per body segment and move slowly. They never bite and are vegetarian. Silverfish are small, silvery, and quick but have only three tails and far fewer legs than centipedes. Sowbugs and pill bugs roll into balls and are gray or brown, found under rocks and logs throughout Vermont. None of these creatures pose health risks. Earwigs, another Vermont arthropod, have pincers at their rear but cannot bite significantly and pose no danger. If you find a fast-moving, flat-bodied creature with many legs and long antennae, it is almost certainly a harmless centipede focused on finding insects. Learning to identify lookalikes helps ease Vermont residents' minds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are centipedes deadly in Vermont? No. Centipedes, even those that can bite, are not deadly to humans. Their venom is harmless to people. How common are centipede bites in Vermont? Centipede bites are exceptionally rare. Most Vermonters go their entire lives without being bitten. What attracts centipedes to Vermont homes? Moisture is the primary attractant. Basements, bathrooms, and damp crawl spaces provide ideal habitat. What should I do if I see a centipede? Leave it alone or gently guide it outside using a piece of paper or cardboard. Centipedes in your home are beneficial predators eating household pests. Visit ourwildlife in Vermontguide to learn about other creatures you might encounter and check outour wildlife guidesfor additional information.
Plan your trip
Best time to see centipede in Vermont: April, May, October
See the month-by-month sighting calendar.
Plan your centipede sighting in Vermont
121 verified centipede records have been logged in Vermont, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Vermont
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- North Country National Scenic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
Frequently asked questions
Are They in Vermont?+
Centipedes are well established throughout Vermont, from the Green Mountains to the Connecticut River valley. The house centipede is the most common species found indoors and in damp basements statewide. Native centipedes also inhabit Vermont's forests, woodpiles, and gardens, though in lower densities than house centipedes. Vermont's cool, humid climate creates ideal conditions for centipedes indoors year-round. Outdoors, native centipedes are active seasonally during warmer months. Vermont residents encounter centipedes regularly in homes, particularly in older basements and damp crawl spaces. These creatures are solitary hunters focused on controlling household insects like silverfish. Learn more aboutCentipedes in Vermontand understand the species living in your area.
How Dangerous Are They?+
Centipede bites are exceptionally rare in Vermont and pose minimal medical risk to healthy people. The house centipede, which is the species Vermont residents encounter most often, has venom designed for tiny insects, not large mammals. If bitten, you would experience sharp pain for a few minutes, similar to a bee sting, followed by rapid relief. Minor localized redness or swelling might occur but typically resolves within hours. No fatalities from centipede bites have ever been documented in Vermont or the United States. Allergic reactions are vanishingly rare. Centipedes are far more afraid of you than you need to be of them. Bites occur only when a centipede is directly threatened, trapped, or crushed. Your actual risk of being bitten during your entire lifetime in Vermont is extraordinarily low. Medical professionals confirm that centipede bites almost never require professional intervention. For more on centipede in Vermont, see ourVermont centipede guide.
More wildlife in Vermont