Some of these tales have to do with the extraordinary powers of snakes. In reality, this is the snake's tongue, which is present in all snakes. The fangs are enlarged hollow teeth, in the front of the jaw, through which the poison passes during a bite. Abundance Nonpoisonous snakes far outnumber the poisonous kinds, both in number of species and individuals. In Kansas, there are five species of poisonous snakes and 33 species of nonpoisonous snakes.
Snakes are more likely to be non-poisonous than poisonous.
A good source of information about snakes in Kansas is Amphibians and Reptiles in Kansas by Joseph Collins, available from the Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045. Benefits Before deciding to kill a snake in your yard or garden, consider the many benefits. Snakes are one of nature's most efficient mousetraps, killing and eating a variety of rodent pests. While snakes will not eliminate pests, they help keep their numbers in check. Some harmless snakes such as king snakes, milksnakes, and black racers eat other snakes, including poisonous ones.