Biologists investigate where cluster of Kansas western diamondback rattlesnakes are coming from

TOPEKA (KSNT) - A park centered in the heart of Kansas may be hiding a scaly secret that has wildlife researchers baffled.

27 News spoke with Zoology Collections Manager Jackson Roberts from the Sternberg Museum of Natural History about a recent field trip at Kanopolis State Park that took a turn after his group came across a western diamondback rattlesnake. While the snakes are known to occupy a few regions in Kansas, including Kanopolis in central Kansas, they are rarely encountered by people. They are considered very dangerous to people as they carry powerful venom that can cause life-threatening situations.

Many western diamondbacks are found only in a southwestern part of the state in Barber, Kiowa and Comanche Counties, according to Fort Hays State University's Herpetofaunal Atlas. Curiously, a small population of the venomous snakes have taken up residence at Kanopolis, far from other established groups of the serpents.

"The western diamondback rattlesnake has a long history at Kanopolis State Park," Roberts said.

People on a field trip at the park came across the first western diamondback in 1993, an interesting find for the group that was documented by wildlife researchers. Western diamondbacks found this deep into Kansas is an oddity as the snakes are separated from other well-established populations further south and out-of-state.

"All we know is that they're not supposed to be there," Roberts said. "This was an illegal introduction in the early 90s and there's still a lot of questions surrounding them."

Roberts' recent field trip to the park, echoing the one from 1993, also resulted in the discovery and capture of a western diamondback on Sept. 28 this year. Roberts collected the snake as part of two research projects to help biologists better understand how the isolated population came to be at the park.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) lists only four native and commonly-encountered venomous snakes in Kansas: the prairie rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, copperhead and western massasauga rattlesnake. Hikers, campers and others who frequent the outdoors are warned to be snake-savvy when exploring Kansas for these snakes which typically appear as warmer weather arrives.

"Kansas is a very snaky place," Roberts said. "It's safe to say that being snake-aware, anywhere you go in Kansas, is a pretty good strategy."

Roberts said it is not uncommon now to find a western diamondback at Kanopolis as sightings have steadily increased over the years. Their population is centered around the Horsethief Canyon area at the park.

Researchers like Roberts continue to be perplexed by the cluster of snakes at the park and do not yet know if they are being continually reintroduced to the area by people or have established a breeding population in the area. One of the projects Roberts is part of looks to examine the genetics of captured specimens to determine their heritage.

"There are some really good previously published studies of where diamondbacks are supposed to be found," Roberts said. "We can match the puzzle piece and figure out possibly where they are being collected."

Roberts said he is still looking for the "silver bullet" that will make it clear where the snakes are coming from. His investigative genetics may point to answers such as if the specimen found at Kanopolis was produced by parents from different states that would have never met in the wild or if it was bred locally.

People who are worried about the appearance of western diamondbacks at the park don't need to worry too much if they plan on visiting anytime soon. Roberts said he only knows of one incident where a researcher was bitten by a western diamondback collected from Kanopolis in a "human error" event more than 20 years ago.

"There are snake posters up at the trailheads," Roberts said. "The folks at Kanopolis, I think, have done as good a job as they can letting the public know about them."

Many snakes found at Kanopolis avoid humans, inhabiting areas that are off-trail where they like to hide. People venturing to the park can best avoid the snakes by staying close to the marked trails and recognizing the markings of the western diamondback. Roberts encourages people to avoid getting close to rattlesnakes encountered in the wild.

"We do not want anyone going out of their way getting close to these things," Roberts said. "As passionate as we are learning about these snakes, these rattlesnakes require a special type of training to approach them."

Roberts said you should reach out to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History if you encounter a western diamondback rattlesnake in Kansas, whether that be at Kanopolis or somewhere else in the state. Take a photo of the specimen and mark the location with GPS coordinates. You can call the museum at 877-332-1165 or visit its website by clicking here.

"Keep a safe distance from these things," Roberts said. "No data point is worth getting bit or injured over."

For more tips from the KDWP on how to stay safe from Kansas' dangerous snake species, click here. To learn more about Kanopolis State Park, click here. For tips on what to do if you are bitten by a venomous snake, check out this website from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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