Are there rattlesnakes in Kansas?
Western diamondback rattlesnake: Only as rare records. GBIF holds 11 open records of the western diamondback rattlesnake from Kansas, the latest from 2017, but there is no known population.
Timber rattlesnake: Yes. The timber rattlesnake lives in Kansas. Open records come from 26 counties.
Prairie rattlesnake: Yes. The prairie rattlesnake lives in Kansas. Open records come from 43 counties.
Pygmy rattlesnake: Only as rare records. GBIF holds 1 open record of the pygmy rattlesnake from Kansas, the latest from 1979, but there is no known population.
Western massasauga: Yes. The western massasauga lives in Kansas. Open records come from 63 counties.
Where in Kansas
- None recorded
- 1 species
- 2
- 3 to 4
- 5 or more
Rattlesnakes across the US
- Lives here
- Rare records
- Gone
- Not here
How to recognize them
Timber rattlesnake Crotalus horridus
- Dark V- or chevron-shaped bands across the back
- Black tail ending in a rattle
- Yellow, tan or dark phases; some are almost black
Dangerous. Usually calm and slow to strike, but a bite is a medical emergency.
Prairie rattlesnake Crotalus viridis
- Greenish gray to brown with dark blotches down the back
- Blotches narrow into bands near the tail
- Two pale lines on the side of the face
Dangerous. The only rattlesnake across most of the northern plains. A bite is a medical emergency.
Western massasauga Sistrurus tergeminus
- Pale gray with dark brown blotches down the back
- Small rattle
- Nine large plates on top of the head
Medically significant. Bites are rare and need medical care.
Often mistaken for rattlesnakes
- Rattlesnake vs Gopher Snake Gopher snake: harmless, lives in Kansas
- Eastern Diamondback vs Timber Rattlesnake Timber rattlesnake: dangerous, lives in Kansas
- Timber Rattlesnake vs Copperhead Copperhead: medically significant, lives in Kansas
- Western Diamondback vs Mojave Rattlesnake Mojave rattlesnake: dangerous
- Pygmy Rattlesnake vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake: harmless, lives in Kansas
Questions
Are there rattlesnakes in Kansas?
Yes. 3 species live in Kansas: Timber rattlesnake, Prairie rattlesnake and Western massasauga.
What do rattlesnakes look like?
Dark diamonds with pale yellow edges down the back. Two pale diagonal stripes on each side of the face. Thick body and a rattle on the tail.