You walked outside and there’s a snake on your patio. Before you grab a shovel — most Kansas snakes are harmless and actually beneficial. Here’s how to identify what you’re looking at.
Harmless Snakes (Leave Them Alone)
Bullsnake (also called Gopher Snake)
- Size: 4-6 feet (the biggest snake you’ll see in Wichita)
- Color: Yellow-tan with dark brown/black blotches
- Markings: Distinct pattern, narrow head, no fangs visible
- Behavior: Bluffs by hissing loudly and vibrating tail (sounds like rattlesnake — that’s the point). Will strike if cornered but bite isn’t venomous.
- Diet: ROCKS at killing mice and rats. Keep them around if you can.
- If you find one: Step back, give it space. It’ll leave.
Garter Snake
- Size: 18-30 inches
- Color: Dark with long yellow/cream stripes down the back
- Behavior: Shy, will flee. Releases stinky musk if grabbed (harmless).
- Diet: Bugs, worms, small frogs.
Rat Snake (Black Rat Snake)
- Size: 3-6 feet
- Color: Mostly black, white throat/chin
- Behavior: Excellent climber — found in trees, attics, sheds. Constrictor.
- Diet: Mice, rats, eggs. Beneficial.
Plains Garter, Ring-Necked, Brown Snake
Small (under 18 inches), shy, harmless. Yard inhabitants. Leave alone.
Venomous Snakes (Use Caution)
☎️ If You’re Bitten by a Venomous Snake
Call 911 or get to ER immediately. Don’t try to suck out venom. Don’t apply ice or a tourniquet. Keep the limb still and below heart level. Antivenom IS available at Wichita hospitals.
Copperhead
- Size: 2-3 feet
- Color: Copper/tan with distinct hourglass-shaped darker bands (wider on sides, narrow on top)
- Head: Triangular, distinct from neck
- Habitat: Wooded areas, rocky slopes, leaf litter. Found in eastern Kansas including Wichita area.
- Behavior: Camouflaged, holds still — most bites happen because people step on them
- Bite severity: Painful but rarely fatal with prompt treatment
Western Massasauga Rattlesnake
- Size: 18-30 inches (small)
- Color: Gray-brown with dark blotches and small rattle on tail
- Habitat: Prairie, grassland, wetland edges in central/western Kansas. Rare in Wichita proper but found in surrounding rural areas.
- Behavior: Will rattle as warning. Small rattle is sometimes hard to hear.
- Bite severity: Venom is potent, prompt treatment essential.
Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin)
- Size: 2-4 feet, thick body
- Color: Dark olive/black, may have banding
- Habitat: Near water — ponds, slow rivers. Mostly southeast Kansas, RARE in Wichita.
- Behavior: Opens mouth showing white interior as warning
How to Tell Venomous from Non-Venomous
Head shape: Venomous = triangular (wider than neck). Non-venomous = oval/narrow.
Pupils: Venomous = elliptical/cat-like. Non-venomous = round. (Hard to check at distance — don’t get close.)
Rattle: Only rattlesnakes have rattles. (Bullsnakes vibrate tail to mimic — but no actual rattle sound.)
Color pattern: Hourglass bands = copperhead. Diamond pattern = rattler. Solid + stripes = usually non-venomous.
Size: Most Kansas venomous snakes are SMALL (under 3 ft). Big snake = usually bullsnake or rat snake.
What to Do If You Find a Snake
- Step back. Give it at least 6 feet of space.
- Don’t try to handle it. Even non-venomous snakes bite when grabbed.
- If non-venomous and outside your house: leave it. It’ll move on. It’s also eating mice.
- If venomous or inside your house: call a local wildlife removal service or animal control.
- NEVER use a shovel unless you have NO other option. Most snakes are protected species in Kansas. Plus you might miss and end up bitten.
Snake Prevention Around the House
Best long-term solution: remove what attracts snakes:
- Eliminate mice (snakes follow rodents — see our snake & mouse guide)
- Mow tall grass short
- Remove brush piles, rock piles, woodpiles near the house
- Seal foundation gaps
- Snake repellent granules (sulfur-based) along perimeters
We stock snake repellent, rodent control, and prevention supplies in our Pest Control aisle.
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Wichita, KS 67214
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