Snakes and spiders in Leavenworth County, Kansas
Leavenworth County, home of Leavenworth, has 11 snake and 17 spider species on record, from 215 licensed snake and 466 spider records. Venomous species here: the eastern copperhead, the timber rattlesnake and the brown recluse.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Leavenworth County?
Yes. The eastern copperhead: 14 licensed records, 2% of all Kansas records of it. The timber rattlesnake: 7 licensed records, 4% of all Kansas records of it. The brown recluse: 20 licensed records, 24% of all Kansas records of it.
What snakes are in Leavenworth County?
In all, 11 snake species are on the Leavenworth County list. The most recorded are the ring-necked snake (55), the common garter snake (26) and the lined snake (20).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Kansas records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 55 | 2% |
| 2 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 26 | 4% |
| 3 | Lined snake Tropidoclonion lineatum | 20 | 4% |
| 4 | Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus | 19 | 7% |
| 5 | Flathead snake Tantilla gracilis | 15 | 2% |
| 6 | Eastern copperhead venomous Agkistrodon contortrix | 14 | 2% |
| 7 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 13 | 1% |
| 8 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 11 | 1% |
| 9 | Western rat snake Pantherophis obsoletus | 8 | 2% |
| 10 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 7 | 2% |
| 11 | Timber rattlesnake venomous Crotalus horridus | 7 | 4% |
When are snakes out in Leavenworth County?
Observation records of snakes in Leavenworth County run mostly March through September, peaking in May with 39% of them, the same peak as Kansas as a whole.
What spiders are in Leavenworth County?
In all, 17 spider species are on the Leavenworth County list. The most recorded are the familiar jumping spider (35), the bold jumper (31) and Paraphidippus aurantius (22). Leavenworth County holds more than half of all Kansas records of Paraphidippus aurantius, the zebra spider, the flea jumping spider and the white-jawed jumping spider.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Kansas records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Familiar jumping spider Platycryptus undatus | 35 | 43% |
| 2 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 31 | 31% |
| 3 | Paraphidippus aurantius | 22 | 59% |
| 4 | Brown recluse venomous Loxosceles reclusa | 20 | 24% |
| 5 | Zebra spider Salticus scenicus | 16 | 94% |
| 6 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 15 | 19% |
| 7 | Flea jumping spider Naphrys pulex | 15 | 60% |
| 8 | Spined micrathena Micrathena gracilis | 14 | 37% |
| 9 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 13 | 35% |
| 10 | White-jawed jumping spider Hentzia mitrata | 13 | 72% |
| 11 | Triangulate bud spider Steatoda triangulosa | 12 | 46% |
| 12 | Bowl and doily spider Frontinella pyramitela | 11 | 69% |
| 13 | Striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus | 11 | 38% |
| 14 | Nursery web spider Pisaurina mira | 10 | 50% |
| 15 | Orchard orbweaver Leucauge venusta | 9 | 50% |
| 16 | Spotted orbweaver Neoscona crucifera | 9 | 24% |
| 17 | Cyclosa turbinata | 8 | 89% |
When are spiders out in Leavenworth County?
Observation records of spiders in Leavenworth County run mostly April through October, peaking in April with 19% of them; across Kansas the peak is August.
What stands out in Leavenworth County
Species for which Leavenworth County holds a large share of all Kansas records: the flea jumping spider, 60% (15 of 25); Paraphidippus aurantius, 59% (22 of 37); the nursery web spider, 50% (10 of 20); the triangulate bud spider, 46% (12 of 26); the familiar jumping spider, 43% (35 of 81); the striped lynx spider, 38% (11 of 29); the spined micrathena, 37% (14 of 38); the rabid wolf spider, 35% (13 of 37).
Common in Kansas, not on the Leavenworth County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Kansas, these do not reach the county list: the gopher snake (632 statewide), the plains garter snake (562 statewide), the western massasauga (490 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.
Among the spiders most recorded across Kansas, these do not reach the county list: the banded garden spider (33 statewide), the brilliant jumping spider (27 statewide) and the furrow orbweaver (27 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Leavenworth County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the northern water snake. 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. No widow spiders reach the county list, but the western black widow, the northern black widow and the southern black widow are on the Kansas list: treat any spider like them as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the triangulate bud spider.
Leavenworth County among Kansas counties
By licensed snake records Leavenworth County ranks 18th of 105 Kansas counties with any.
Other Kansas counties with their own page: Cowley County, Douglas County, Chase County, Ellis County, Russell County, Cherokee County, Riley County and Barber 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.