Snakes and spiders in Cowley County, Kansas
Cowley County, home of Winfield, has 20 snake and 3 spider species on record, from 1,536 licensed snake and 21 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead, the western massasauga and the broad-banded copperhead.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Cowley County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 15 licensed records, 2% of all Kansas records of it. The western massasauga: 15 licensed records, 3% of all Kansas records of it. The broad-banded copperhead: 3 licensed records, 43% of all Kansas records of it.
What snakes are in Cowley County?
In all, 20 snake species are on the Cowley County list. The most recorded are the ring-necked snake (733), the flathead snake (418) and the western ground snake (95). Cowley County holds more than half of all Kansas records of the flathead snake.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Kansas records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 733 | 27% |
| 2 | Flathead snake Tantilla gracilis | 418 | 52% |
| 3 | Western ground snake Sonora semiannulata | 95 | 36% |
| 4 | Lined snake Tropidoclonion lineatum | 70 | 15% |
| 5 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 44 | 5% |
| 6 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 38 | 3% |
| 7 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 15 | 2% |
| 8 | Western massasauga venomous Sistrurus tergeminus | 15 | 3% |
| 9 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 13 | 2% |
| 10 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 12 | 2% |
| 11 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 9 | 3% |
| 12 | Plains black-headed snake Tantilla nigriceps | 9 | 5% |
| 13 | Diamondback water snake Nerodia rhombifer | 7 | 4% |
| 14 | Prairie kingsnake Lampropeltis calligaster | 6 | 2% |
| 15 | Western rat snake Pantherophis obsoletus | 6 | 1% |
| 16 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 5 | 2% |
| 17 | Speckled kingsnake Lampropeltis holbrooki | 5 | 2% |
| 18 | Broad-banded copperhead venomous Agkistrodon laticinctus | 3 | 43% |
| 19 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 3 | 3% |
| 20 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 2 | 1% |
When are snakes out in Cowley County?
Observation records of snakes in Cowley County run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 50% of them, the same peak as Kansas as a whole.
What spiders are in Cowley County?
In all, 3 spider species are on the Cowley County list. The most recorded are the Texas brown tarantula (5), the black-and-yellow argiope (3) and the bold jumper (3). Cowley County holds more than half of all Kansas records of the Texas brown tarantula.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Kansas records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas brown tarantula Aphonopelma hentzi | 5 | 62% |
| 2 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 3 | 4% |
| 3 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 3 | 3% |
What stands out in Cowley County
Species for which Cowley County holds a large share of all Kansas records: the flathead snake, 52% (418 of 809); the western ground snake, 36% (95 of 266); the ring-necked snake, 27% (733 of 2,711).
Common in Kansas, not on the Cowley County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Kansas, these do not reach the county list: the plains garter snake (562 statewide) and the prairie rattlesnake (347 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Cowley County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the northern water snake and the plain-bellied watersnake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, but the northern cottonmouth is on the Kansas list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake, the plain-bellied watersnake and the diamondback water snake. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the gopher snake.
Cowley County among Kansas counties
By licensed snake records Cowley County ranks 1st of 105 Kansas counties with any.
Other Kansas counties with their own page: Douglas County, Chase County, Ellis County, Russell County, Cherokee County, Riley County, Barber County and Johnson County.
The whole state: venomous species in Kansas, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.