Snakes and spiders in Ellis County, Kansas
Ellis County, home of Hays, has 18 snake and 5 spider species on record, from 657 licensed snake and 0 spider records. Venomous species here: the prairie rattlesnake, the western massasauga, the brown recluse and the western black widow.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Ellis County?
Yes. The prairie rattlesnake: 43 licensed records, 12% of all Kansas records of it. The western massasauga: 9 licensed records, 2% of all Kansas records of it. The brown recluse: on record, no openly licensed records to count. The western black widow: on record, no openly licensed records to count.
What snakes are in Ellis County?
In all, 18 snake species are on the Ellis County list. The most recorded are the eastern racer (108), the ring-necked snake (84) and the plains garter snake (63).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Kansas records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 108 | 12% |
| 2 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 84 | 3% |
| 3 | Plains garter snake Thamnophis radix | 63 | 11% |
| 4 | Great Plains rat snake Pantherophis emoryi | 61 | 26% |
| 5 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 58 | 9% |
| 6 | Prairie rattlesnake venomous Crotalus viridis | 43 | 12% |
| 7 | Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon | 41 | 3% |
| 8 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 28 | 11% |
| 9 | Plains black-headed snake Tantilla nigriceps | 26 | 16% |
| 10 | Central plains milksnake Lampropeltis gentilis | 24 | 12% |
| 11 | Western ribbon snake Thamnophis proximus | 23 | 8% |
| 12 | Plains hog-nosed snake Heterodon nasicus | 17 | 9% |
| 13 | Speckled kingsnake Lampropeltis holbrooki | 16 | 6% |
| 14 | Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis | 13 | 2% |
| 15 | Lined snake Tropidoclonion lineatum | 12 | 2% |
| 16 | DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi | 11 | 3% |
| 17 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 9 | 7% |
| 18 | Western massasauga venomous Sistrurus tergeminus | 9 | 2% |
When are snakes out in Ellis County?
Observation records of snakes in Ellis County run mostly April through August, peaking in April with 30% of them; across Kansas the peak is May.
What spiders are in Ellis County?
In all, 5 spider species are on the Ellis County list.
| # | Species |
|---|---|
| 1 | Banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata |
| 2 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia |
| 3 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax |
| 4 | Brown recluse venomous Loxosceles reclusa |
| 5 | Western black widow venomous Latrodectus hesperus |
What stands out in Ellis County
Species for which Ellis County holds a large share of all Kansas records: the Great Plains rat snake, 26% (61 of 238); the plains black-headed snake, 16% (26 of 166).
Common in Kansas, not on the Ellis County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Kansas, these do not reach the county list: the flathead snake (809 statewide), the eastern copperhead (615 statewide) and the western rat snake (443 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 familiar jumping spider (81 statewide), the spined micrathena (38 statewide), the spotted orbweaver (38 statewide), Paraphidippus aurantius (37 statewide), the rabid wolf spider (37 statewide) and the striped lynx spider (29 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Ellis County
No copperheads reach the county list, but the eastern copperhead and the broad-banded copperhead are on the Kansas list: treat any snake like them as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the northern water snake, the central plains milksnake and the eastern hog-nosed 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. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the Great Plains rat snake, the gopher snake, the plains hog-nosed snake and the eastern hog-nosed snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, and GBIF holds no coral snake record for Kansas under any license, so one reported here is most likely a harmless lookalike: the central plains milksnake.
Ellis County among Kansas counties
By licensed snake records Ellis County ranks 4th of 105 Kansas counties with any.
Other Kansas counties with their own page: Cowley County, Douglas County, Chase 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.