Venomous snakes and spiders in Kansas
Kansas has six venomous snake species among the 44 snake species listed there: eastern copperhead, western massasauga, prairie rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, northern cottonmouth and broad-banded copperhead. The eastern copperhead accounts for the most records (615), and venomous species make up 11% of all 14,740 licensed snake records in the state. On the spider side, four species are medically significant: brown recluse, western black widow, northern black widow and southern black widow.
Venomous snakes of Kansas
Kansas's venomous snakes are three copperhead or cottonmouth species and three rattlesnake species. Together they account for 1,644 licensed records; the eastern copperhead alone has 37% of them, and the least recorded, the broad-banded copperhead, has 7.
Dangerous spiders of Kansas
Three widow species (Western black widow: 6 records, Northern black widow: 4 records, Southern black widow: 1 record) and one recluse species (Brown recluse: 84 records) are on the Kansas list. Widow bites cause muscle pain and cramps; recluse bites can cause a slow-healing wound. Both are rare and seldom fatal.
Are there scorpions in Kansas?
Yes. One scorpion species is recorded in Kansas, from 113 licensed records: Striped bark scorpion (24 records). Every scorpion has venom; only the Arizona bark scorpion's sting is medically significant, and it is not on the Kansas list.
Other snakes recorded most in Kansas
These eight account for 54% of all licensed snake records in Kansas; the most recorded, the ring-necked snake, alone for 18%.
Other spiders recorded most in Kansas
These eight account for 27% of all licensed spider records in Kansas; the most recorded, the bold jumper, alone for 6%.
When venomous snakes are out in Kansas
Observation records of venomous snakes in Kansas run mostly April through October, peaking in September with 25% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so venomous snakes in Kansas are rarely recorded in winter.
Season of each venomous snake
| Species | Main season | Peak month | Winter share | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern copperhead | April through September | September | 0% | 97 |
| Western massasauga | May through October | May | 0% | 45 |
| Prairie rattlesnake | April through October | July | 0% | 78 |
When spiders are most active in Kansas
Observation records of spiders in Kansas run mostly April through October, peaking in August with 20% of them. December through February together hold under 2% of the records, so spiders in Kansas are rarely recorded in winter.
Counties with the most venomous snake records
Douglas County has the most records of venomous snakes in Kansas, 176, most of them of the eastern copperhead. Barton County and Marshall County follow.
| # | County | Records | Most recorded there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Douglas County | 176 | Eastern copperhead |
| 2 | Barton County | 102 | Western massasauga |
| 3 | Marshall County | 97 | Eastern copperhead |
| 4 | Miami County | 61 | Eastern copperhead |
| 5 | Linn County | 59 | Eastern copperhead |
| 6 | Barber County | 54 | Western massasauga |
| 7 | Franklin County | 53 | Eastern copperhead |
| 8 | Ellis County | 52 | Prairie rattlesnake |
| 9 | Ellsworth County | 49 | Western massasauga |
| 10 | Jefferson County | 48 | Eastern copperhead |
Where in Kansas are snakes recorded most?
Cowley County leads with 1,536 records (10%), followed by Douglas County and Chase County; the top five counties hold 32% of the total. 105 of Kansas's 105 counties have at least one licensed snake record.
| # | County | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cowley County | 1,536 | 10.4% |
| 2 | Douglas County | 1,215 | 8.2% |
| 3 | Chase County | 731 | 5.0% |
| 4 | Ellis County | 657 | 4.5% |
| 5 | Russell County | 516 | 3.5% |
| 6 | Cherokee County | 439 | 3.0% |
| 7 | Riley County | 420 | 2.8% |
| 8 | Barber County | 331 | 2.2% |
| 9 | Johnson County | 330 | 2.2% |
| 10 | Meade County | 311 | 2.1% |
| 11 | Marshall County | 306 | 2.1% |
| 12 | Bourbon County | 305 | 2.1% |
Kansas counties with their own page: Barber County, Bourbon County, Chase County, Cherokee County, Cowley County, Douglas County, Ellis County, Johnson County, Leavenworth County, Marshall County, Meade County, Riley County and Russell County.
Are there poisonous snakes in Kansas?
Yes. Kansas has six venomous snake species on its list, the kind people usually call poisonous: eastern copperhead, western massasauga, prairie rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, northern cottonmouth and broad-banded copperhead. Strictly, snakes are venomous (they inject venom), not poisonous (harmful to eat or touch).
Are there rattlesnakes in Kansas?
Yes. Three species are on the Kansas list: the western massasauga, the prairie rattlesnake and the timber rattlesnake, with 1,014 licensed records between them. Most licensed records of the western massasauga come from Barton County, Ellsworth County and Barber County.
Are there copperheads in Kansas?
Yes. Two species are on the Kansas list: the eastern copperhead and the broad-banded copperhead, with 622 licensed records between them. Most licensed records of the eastern copperhead come from Douglas County, Marshall County and Linn County.
Are there cottonmouths (water moccasins) in Kansas?
Yes. One species is on the Kansas list: the northern cottonmouth, with 8 licensed records.
Are there coral snakes in Kansas?
No. GBIF holds no coral snake record for Kansas under any license.
Eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
Kansas has 615 licensed records of the eastern copperhead, which ranks the state 4th of the 27 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Kansas run mostly April through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Douglas County, Marshall County and Linn County. Range in other states and photos: Eastern copperhead profile.
Western massasauga (Sistrurus tergeminus)
Kansas has 490 licensed records of the western massasauga, which ranks the state 1st of the 8 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Kansas run mostly May through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Barton County, Ellsworth County and Barber County. Range in other states and photos: Western massasauga profile.
Prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis)
Kansas has 347 licensed records of the prairie rattlesnake, which ranks the state 5th of the 14 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Kansas run mostly April through October, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Ellis County, Logan County and Trego County. Range in other states and photos: Prairie rattlesnake profile.
Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
Kansas has 177 licensed records of the timber rattlesnake, which ranks the state 6th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Most of its licensed records in Kansas come from Douglas County, Marshall County and Franklin County. Range in other states and photos: Timber rattlesnake profile.
Northern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
Kansas has 8 licensed records of the northern cottonmouth, which ranks the state 16th of the 16 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Northern cottonmouth profile.
Broad-banded copperhead (Agkistrodon laticinctus)
Kansas has 7 licensed records of the broad-banded copperhead, which ranks the state 3rd of the 3 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Broad-banded copperhead profile.
Harmless lookalikes in Kansas
Many snakes and spiders taken for venomous ones are harmless species with a similar look. These are the usual confusions, with each species' licensed records in Kansas.
What looks like a copperhead in Kansas
Copperheads: 622 licensed records in Kansas. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: northern water snake (1,214), plain-bellied watersnake (304), eastern milksnake (245), central plains milksnake (195) and eastern hog-nosed snake (130). Together they have 2,206 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 4 times as often.
What looks like a cottonmouth in Kansas
Cottonmouths: 8 licensed records in Kansas. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: northern water snake (1,214), plain-bellied watersnake (304) and diamondback water snake (188). Together they have 1,706 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 213 times as often.
What looks like a rattlesnake in Kansas
Rattlesnakes: 1,014 licensed records in Kansas. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: gopher snake (632), Great Plains rat snake (238), plains hog-nosed snake (197) and eastern hog-nosed snake (130). Together they have 1,197 licensed records, and the two sides are recorded about equally.
What looks like a coral snake in Kansas
No coral snakes reach the Kansas list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Kansas under any license, so a snake taken for one here is most likely a harmless lookalike. Those recorded in the state: eastern milksnake (245), central plains milksnake (195) and long-nosed snake (67).
What looks like a widow spider in Kansas
Widow spiders: 11 licensed records in Kansas. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: triangulate bud spider (26), common house spider (8) and boreal combfoot (5). Together they have 39 licensed records, and the lookalikes are recorded 4 times as often.
What looks like a recluse spider in Kansas
Recluse spiders: 84 licensed records in Kansas. Harmless species often taken for them are also on the state list: longbodied cellar spider (3). It has 3 licensed records, and here the venomous species are the more recorded side, 28.0 to 1.
How Kansas compares
By count of venomous snake species, Kansas ranks 8th of 50 states, level with Alabama, Nevada and South Carolina. Nationally, Arizona leads with 14 species; five list none.
Of the four states bordering Kansas, Oklahoma lists more venomous snake species (Kansas: 6 species; Oklahoma 8, Missouri 5, Nebraska 4, Colorado 3).
Venomous snakes listed next door but not in Kansas: the western diamondback rattlesnake (Oklahoma); the western rattlesnake (Colorado). Listed next door and recorded in Kansas too, but too few times to list (records of any license): the pygmy rattlesnake, recorded here only two times (listed in Missouri and Oklahoma). The most widely shared is the western massasauga, listed in all four bordering states.
Are there poisonous spiders in Kansas?
Does Kansas have black widows?
Yes. Three widow species are on the Kansas list: the western black widow (6 records), the northern black widow (4 records) and the southern black widow (1 record).
Does Kansas have brown recluse spiders?
Yes. The brown recluse is on the Kansas list, with 84 licensed records. Most of its licensed records come from Douglas County, Leavenworth County and Shawnee County.
Brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa)
Kansas has 84 licensed records of the brown recluse, which ranks the state 6th of the 16 states where it reaches our threshold. Its observation records in Kansas run mostly March through August, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Douglas County, Leavenworth County and Shawnee County. Range in other states and photos: Brown recluse profile.
Western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus)
Kansas has 6 licensed records of the western black widow, which ranks the state 15th of the 18 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Western black widow profile.
Northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus)
Kansas has 4 licensed records of the northern black widow, which ranks the state 20th of the 30 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Northern black widow profile.
Southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans)
Kansas has 1 licensed record of the southern black widow, which ranks the state 20th of the 22 states where it reaches our threshold. Range in other states and photos: Southern black widow profile.
More for Kansas
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.