Western worm snake (Carphophis vermis)
The western worm snake is a non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. GBIF holds 712 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 8 states, most of all Kansas (260), Oklahoma (236) and Missouri (61). Its observation records peak in May.
Carphophis vermis (common name western worm snake) is a species of small, nonvenomous colubrid snake native to the United States.
From Wikipedia: Carphophis vermis, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the western worm snake poisonous or venomous?
No. The western worm snake is non-venomous: it belongs to the family Colubridae, not to the pit vipers or coral snakes, the only U.S. land snakes with medically dangerous venom. It may bite if handled; clean the bite like any small wound.
Which states have the western worm snake?
Records are spread over 8 states; the top three, Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri, hold 78% of them.
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas | 260 | 1.8% | 18th of 44 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | 236 | 1.8% | 22nd of 50 |
| 3 | Missouri | 61 | 3.2% | 9th of 36 |
| 4 | Texas | 56 | 0.1% | 66th of 86 |
| 5 | Arkansas | 48 | 0.9% | 15th of 36 |
| 6 | North Carolina | 12 | 0.1% | 37th of 39 |
| 7 | Illinois | 11 | 0.4% | 28th of 33 |
| 8 | Nebraska | 11 | 0.5% | 25th of 31 |
When is the western worm snake seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the western worm snake run mostly March through June, peaking in May with 51% of them. Almost none are from December to February.
Where the western worm snake is recorded in each state
Kansas
Kansas holds 260 licensed records, the 18th most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Kansas come from Bourbon County, Cherokee County and Crawford County. Next come Douglas County (27) and Johnson County (19).
Oklahoma
Oklahoma holds 236 licensed records, the 22nd most recorded of 50 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Oklahoma come from LeFlore County, Tulsa County and Rogers County. Next come Adair County (14) and Wagoner County (14).
Missouri
Missouri holds 61 licensed records, the 9th most recorded of 36 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Missouri come from Jefferson County, Ralls County and Pike County. Next come Washington County (4) and Crawford County (4).
Texas
Texas holds 56 licensed records, the 66th most recorded of 86 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Texas come from Bosque County, Bowie County and Harrison County.
Arkansas
Arkansas holds 48 licensed records, the 15th most recorded of 36 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Arkansas come from Polk County, Washington County and Montgomery County. Next come Sebastian County (4) and Faulkner County (2).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LeFlore County | Oklahoma | 72 | 10.1% |
| 2 | Bourbon County | Kansas | 52 | 7.3% |
| 3 | Bosque County | Texas | 48 | 6.7% |
| 4 | Cherokee County | Kansas | 37 | 5.2% |
| 5 | Crawford County | Kansas | 37 | 5.2% |
| 6 | Tulsa County | Oklahoma | 28 | 3.9% |
| 7 | Douglas County | Kansas | 27 | 3.8% |
| 8 | Rogers County | Oklahoma | 26 | 3.7% |
| 9 | Johnson County | Kansas | 19 | 2.7% |
| 10 | Polk County | Arkansas | 14 | 2.0% |
| 11 | Adair County | Oklahoma | 14 | 2.0% |
| 12 | Wagoner County | Oklahoma | 14 | 2.0% |
| 13 | Washington County | Arkansas | 13 | 1.8% |
| 14 | Cherokee County | Oklahoma | 13 | 1.8% |
| 15 | McCurtain County | Oklahoma | 12 | 1.7% |
How recent are the western worm snake records?
The western worm snake record leans on older material: only 8% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1968. The oldest dated record is from 1897; the busiest year was 1907, with 83 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 2 | 0.3% |
| 1900s | 86 | 12.5% |
| 1910s | 1 | 0.1% |
| 1920s | 16 | 2.3% |
| 1930s | 34 | 4.9% |
| 1940s | 73 | 10.6% |
| 1950s | 35 | 5.1% |
| 1960s | 138 | 20.1% |
| 1970s | 90 | 13.1% |
| 1980s | 29 | 4.2% |
| 1990s | 9 | 1.3% |
| 2000s | 99 | 14.4% |
| 2010s | 28 | 4.1% |
| 2020s | 48 | 7.0% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 61 counties where the western worm snake is most recorded, 47 are also top counties for the speckled kingsnake, more than for any other snake. Venomous species among its neighbors: the eastern copperhead.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Speckled kingsnake | 47 |
| Eastern copperhead venomous | 34 |
| Northern water snake | 33 |
| Ring-necked snake | 30 |
| Eastern racer | 29 |
| Eastern wormsnake | 29 |
| Flathead snake | 26 |
| DeKay's brown snake | 25 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other members of the family Colubridae with profiles here: Western terrestrial garter snake, Common garter snake, Gopher snake, Ring-necked snake, Northern water snake and Eastern racer.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.