Insane Kansas Snake Hunting: 20 Milksnake Day, 100+ Snakes Total!!!

[@MarrisaBliss]

I absolutely love watching your videos! Yo'u're very informative and honestly I did not know herping existed but I am so entertained by this. It just goes to show we're all living on this planet and just trying to survive everyday. I love how respectful you are to the snakes and some of the snakes are so calm after you pick them up- like they realize you will not harm them (not everytime but a lot of the time haha!) Thank you for the videos!

[@willbaska]

Welcome to Kansas. It may be boring but we have some beautiful areas jacked with herps. (:

[@user-kz9yq6ci6u]

You channel was randomly in my recommended and I clicked and have been watching these videos for 2 days straight and now consider myself a snake expert lol

[@NolanW.]

Aaron same lol

[@willbaska]

I like snakes but im not an expert but this herp shit entertaining as hell for me so when im bored i go flipping haha.

[@user-kz9yq6ci6u]

@@willbaska I feel like one now. He flips some tin and im sitting here like "wow look at all those ring necks" when 48 hours ago I didn't know what that was lol

[@willbaska]

@@user-kz9yq6ci6u When I was little (4-6) I had a mini obsession with snakes. It has basically faded but little pieces still stick with me. I can identify basic species. It rlly is an interesting animal imo.

[@n.c.herping6435]

That western worm snake was stunning! Nice job!

[@ssuperior9434]

By far my favorite herping channel on KZbin I never miss an episode ... thanks brother

[@felixharrington8597]

Can't beat herping here. I'm not even an expert but Nick and Brandon have given me some tips and have found 9 milks and 8 speckled kings in the past two days. Herping here is incredible. Glad you enjoyed it, feel like this state doesn't get enough love sometimes!

[@mknewlan67]

That’s because when you say Kansas the first words out of every non native Kansan is Toto, Dorothy, wizard of oz and or there’s no trees there. People have no clue how diverse Kansas really is, especially eastern Kansas. Hopefully they never figure it out.

[@noopbloop5051]

This dude finds ringnecks like they're earthworms

[@benherping4000]

You can find dozens of ring necks if you flip rocks in most mildly wooded areas in eastern America

[@JKHERPS]

BenHerping hi Ben

[@benherping4000]

JKHERPS _ hi jacky boy

[@noopbloop5051]

@@benherping4000 Even New England? I've seen a few around here before, but they seem to be in isolated spots and they're kinda there or they're not. But I haven't spent a lot of time just flipping rocks in general so who knows. I'll give it a shot. Apparently browns and redbellies are plentiful too and I've never seen those either.

[@benherping4000]

noop bloop definitely New England, since there fossorial your going to find them pretty much exclusively under cover, but yeah there everywhere.

[@Lroselovely88]

I squee'd at the cute fat wee moles, what a cool find! 😍

[@WilliamTomFrank]

Remember that one time that guy commented that he'd bet Kansas was terrible herping...poor guy.

[@83dekes]

😆

[@jhcjackattack2935]

I’m not a poor guy. I’m from east kansas.

[@werdcore1985]

@@jhcjackattack2935 uhhhhh ok? So?

[@jhcjackattack2935]

@@werdcore1985 East Kansas helping stinks

[@drewblaz740]

@@jhcjackattack2935 the flint hills where they are is eastern Kansas

[@smetlogik]

Never understood wearing gloves until I herped in KS and TX. Some sweet looking milks.

[@erikm8372]

What does that mean… musking? Biting?

[@smetlogik]

@@erikm8372 Just lifting 100's of rock in a day. Easier with gloves.

[@thesouthernherper9980]

Damn Kansas has some amazing herping. Great content as always man.

[@43ShaDey]

The Southern herper right! Only reason ever to go to Kansas!🤭

[@thesouthernherper9980]

43ShaDey lol, I wish i could just stop on the side of the road and get 2 dozen snakes lol. Location location location

[@thescottishhammer7570]

@@43ShaDey you're absolutely right. Nothing at all to see here. Definitely don't come to Kansas.

[@isaacwegner6714]

@@43ShaDey let me guess you live in the city and do nothing except play video games

[@43ShaDey]

@@isaacwegner6714 um no I live in the stix of nw FL and haven't played a video game since the PS3 came out .. Oh and I'm a GIRL

[@iamphoenixfire]

the moles!!!! So cute!!!!

[@gamingmaster4657]

I know!!!

[@mighty-boa1727]

Yes!!!

[@atroxarmy7239]

Definitely liked the baby moles!!! They’re little hands lol

[@xanderjohnson8629]

Oh my gosh yes!!! They were great

[@Darhan62]

Your videos are the best for helping people learn to identify common snakes in their area. You show so many different specimens of milk snakes and ringneck snakes in this video, for example. I think anyone with a pair of eyes should be able to figure out what they look like and how to identify them from that. I've never really understood why many people can't identify common North American snakes on sight, as most of our species look pretty distinctive.

[@jenn1234]

Very very awesome video! I am so happy for you and your friends. There were some beautiful snakes and I wish we could have seen I bit more of the moles. I look forward to your next excursion. Stay Safe! 👍🏻😄

[@bisleyblackhawk1288]

That speckled king snake was beautiful...how can people hate such beautiful creatures 🤷

[@billaxel4159]

Iv been watching a lot of your videos and I love what you do me and my son do this all the time

[@emanadzafic7632]

You are making so good videos.I found your channel 4 weeks ago. And i didn't miss any video.Keep it up bro💪💪

[@shellstories]

Great video :) This channel is going to be huge one day. Keep up the incredible work! I love seeing what you find :)

[@layplum]

I am so jealous of how many rat snakes you find. I’m in southwest Ohio and I NEVER see them. When I was growing up I used to see them a lot, but now that I’m an adult who looks for snakes every day, I see nothing but water snakes, garters, and queen snakes.

[@joshmorrison4464]

Jennifer Sheffield-Lawrence Haha fellow ohioan here and I feel ya

[@ethancooper1560]

A lot of people kill every snake they see

[@layplum]

Ethan Cooper I know, it’s really a shame. I’ve always loved snakes and they are so good for the environment and for pest control.

[@ethancooper1560]

Jennifer Sheffield-Lawrence my dad killed a hog nose today I try to catch them and move them away from our house before he kills them

[@layplum]

Ethan Cooper that’s horrible!! Hognoses are so cool

[@alexandergordon9557]

Congrats man. You're gonna remember this day!

[@ORACLEREPTILES]

Great video, thanks for sharing. If ever you make it out to South Africa give us a shout and we can head out herping here.

[@rafabonati7757]

I especially enjoyed how you documented the red milk snake jump. Back in the late 1970s, I had a paper published on locomotion in snakes and included a special section on “saltation” (jumping) in red milk snakes from personal observation. I never saw this behavior in other snake species, but assume it occurs. Have you seen this before, Noah?

[@thecooltrainguy5920]

Nice! I'm from NJ and I usually just find garter snakes. Lol

[@xanderjohnson8629]

I live in MN and all I ever see are garters and red bellies. It is a bummer

[@strivingacres8105]

Holy crap, apparently there are snakes everywhere and under everything....

[@masoncordischi4510]

Bro I’ve been watching your videos a lot lately and I just found my first Kingsnake in the wild it was a speckled king love your videos🎖🎖🎖

[@patg6705]

OMG those baby moles are so darn cute : )

[@amandaz9762]

Awesome way to end that excellent day! You guys caught some beautiful species

[@georgefleming4956]

Baby moles!!! Too cool. Wow!! 🤩

[@paulrobinson4142]

Hi I live in the uk and your videos are great wish we had more snakes in the uk you have so many species in the States

[@vkahri]

Thank you for adding close ups! specially of their faces and eyes.

[@lanecunningham9654]

What part of eastern Kansas are you in... I live In Miami county and always look for milk snakes, but I have never seen on NeverMind you were in the flint hills

[@bramsplayground]

at 2:15 I think there is a milksnake to the right of your hand on the screen. Could be wrong, but thats what it looks like!

[@kkilla1036]

17brpritchard yes I saw it too...I think you’re right!

[@andrewebb113]

Saw it to

[@georgefleming4956]

Noah definitely has “herpers hands” 🖐

[@bmschneider30]

Better then "Jerkers" hands😂

[@NolanW.]

Reds Country !!! 😟

[@catherinehubbard1167]

Spectacular! Is it possible that the Kansas sites had more snakes than in Georgia because there had been fewer collectors there? Or is the carrying capacity of the habitat that much greater? Thanks for these videos.

[@herveybaysnakecatchers]

I can't believe how many snakes you find. I'm from Australia and apparently we a known for our snakes but you guys clearly have a lot more!

[@Darhan62]

The difference with Australia is that, from what I hear, you don't want to just pick up the snakes like we can here. We've got mostly harmless colubrids, and the few venomous snakes here are easily identified. In Australia it's like mostly dangerous elapids and a few pythons, right?

[@ronsolo240]

Awesome! You guys are killing it!

[@Kaliluo2]

It's absolutely insane to me how common ringneck snakes are in Kansas. I live in Michigan and I have only found four or five of them ever. Up here they are a treasure to me, so are milks, I don't see many of them either. I'd love to go herping in other states but just haven't gotten the chance yet. I would be THRILLED to see THAT many fossorial snakes. Nice job!

[@Adventure.Ed.EcoFit]

are those field sparrows singing at 6:48? I have never gone birding in Kansas

[@sparkers70]

Snake bonanza! I was surprised seeing grumpy milks.. they usually just chill and wait to be put back down :)

[@houstonoutdoors6679]

Nice. Kansas is so cool also heard they have a ton of dirt roads to cruise.

[@bmschneider30]

And tornados

[@ryanwittman341]

Yeah im from eastern kansas its all great cruising roads, dirt roads arent great for my mustang tho lol

[@lylebooysen8438]

Who ever disliked may your toilet paper run out 😂

[@johnnylovesgod4516]

🤔 💩🤣 👍

[@catherinehubbard1167]

Unlikely, because they're probably the ones that hoard it.

[@SpartanHmmm]

Nooo I disliked bye toilet paper 🧻😂

[@a.w5723]

Yea lol

[@thompsonlloyd]

Oddly enough you got the same number of likes on your comment as dislikes in the video

[@thegreatlagi9974]

Was this all in the Flint Hills? If so I'll definitely have to check it out next Spring. You guys got a haul

[@danielwalker2381]

The lil moles had me 🥺🥺

[@iremcalkl4315]

You guys are living my dreams

[@ryanwittman341]

Im from kansas, i live right next to a creek and have timber with lots of rocks that i herp, ive found glass lizards too, some salamanders too which are pretty rare here

[@jamesshoopman8701]

I live in western Nebraska.. all the research I've done on milk snakes, which there's not much to go off, I should be able to find them here. Across the state. I've found prairie rattlers, bull snakes, hognose, green racers, and garters. Any info on my state? Thank you

[@83dekes]

Awesome video Noah!

[@MMATrend]

I tried going to flint hills and couldn't find snakes. Do you have any suggestions on where to find them there?

[@erikm8372]

I knows we have San Diego ringnecks, here in San Diego County, but I wish they were as easy to find here as in all of your videos! We have plenty of alligator and fence lizards, of course. Lol.

[@johnshaft5613]

Holy crap, what is the deal with Kansas? I've been herping my whole life in California, Nevada, Arizona, and there is NO WHERE in those states where you can find snakes in these numbers. I mean, you can find a lot of snakes....but nothing like in this video.

[@WodanMorning]

In most parts of Kansas we love our snakes. We have a large farming and ranching communities. The snakes are good for us because they keep down the problem mammals and bugs.

[@flamingdragon3861]

@@WodanMorning I'm in Wichita and do a lot of work in the area. You can find a ton of snakes just walking the dirt roads and under any piece of debris seems to be a 50% chance of finding -something- tons of cool snakes here.

[@iyshshafeeu1538]

I've never been this early.

[@craigwyatt78]

That has to be a world record day for finding snakes. Guessing this has got to be the best day you have had in your life. I’ve never even found 10 snakes in one day. Wish I could find just 1 milk snake 😂. Dude love your videos!!

[@xanderjohnson8629]

Me too lol

[@Sarah1211.]

What is the difference between what you call a milk snake vs a arizona mountain king ? They look the same to me. Also that worm snake was beautiful 😍

[@HealthyMindProject]

Very cool video. I don't know much about snakes. So when I see them, as a precaution, I always assume they are venomous.

[@hhjplayzyt5922]

Healthy Mind Project look at there heads venomous ones will have like a v shaped head or like a arrow but good u take precaution because some snakes have tons of bacteria in they’re mouths

[@jayhayes5924]

You found more ringnecks in one day than we have in all of Alabama I believe. Great day of herping.

[@donnaterry1200]

I don’t like snakes just because I fear them. I saw them bite you. But for some reason I watch these videos cause I’m fascinated and I think that you guys are crazy!!!!

[@colincgc]

Love your videos, being stuck in Scotland means this isn’t something I can do unfortunately! Just out of interest, I know kingsnakes are famous for eating rattlers but do they eat the ring necks and milks too?

[@JKHERPS]

colincgc yes, kingsnakes will eat any species of snake they can, although they also eat lizards, mice, rats, voles, etc.

[@slateray]

@@JKHERPS I don't understand why the other snakes tolerate being under the same rock with the milks. They can obviously smell them and they know they are a predator of them. I once picked up a kingsnake and then shortly afterward picked up a rat snake and the rat snake went nuts trying to escape because it could smell the king snake I had just picked up.

[@GoatedExile]

I grew up in Tonganoxie, KS. I can tell ya, awesome herping there, and I live in Florida now. Still prefer Kansas. I used to flip ringnecks and milks literally by the dozens under old roof shingles near my grandpas house. The best thing about KS is there are so many spots and most people will gladly let you herp their property if you just ask politely.

[@NKFherping]

It’s a great place, I much prefer it over Florida too! It’s been too long, I need to get back out there.

[@GoatedExile]

@NKFherping If you ever plan a trip lemme know, I can probably get you into some nice private areas with tin already set up that I left 10 years ago before I left.

[@fernandomendoza6949]

What part of Kansas are you in I know you said East but where at location I'm from Wichita Kansas and have I'm from Wichita Kansas and have never that kind of luck I've never found a milk snake in Kansas

[@fly_speck_cafe]

Flint Hills. Close to Wichita?

[@stevehogan8829]

Wow great looking western worm snake. I'm gonna start flipping stuff when I'm out... I just don't look for snakes much. So I wonder if you guys "Keep" snakes or if seeing them in the wild is enough. Just curious.

[@AnnaAnomaly]

what temps do you find the most herps usually?

[@Jelli-ac]

Dude,are ringnecks that common on those places?

[@throttle4593]

I am terrified of snakes, but strangly compelled to watch.

[@flippinherper9972]

Really nice shots! We’re hoping to find a milk soon. Or twenty or whatever.

[@abhinavakula6332]

THIS CHANNEL IS MADEOF FEARLESS PEOPLE!! Respect😀

[@chrisb4410]

Incredible worm snake and stunning milk snakes

[@caleb_davis7889]

Awesome video. Watch all of them. been subbed since 2k

[@RUBIZEN]

Have you ever caught a "common wormsnake"? We have them here in KY but I've only seen one. I was moving firewood around and noticed an earthworm. The worm looked a little strange though. I picked it up and it was a tiny snake! I assumed snakes that look like worms were only found in more exotic countries but I checked the Univ. of KY website and they in every region of our state except the north.

[@n.c.herping6435]

They are absolutely everywhere. Flip a few rocks and you will find like 3 of them.

[@davehendricks4824]

I always know when it’s your video. By the blood on your arm.😂😂

[@SwingerVic]

Wiki says ringnecks are slightly venemous...rear fanged ...I see you herp handholding them ...any danger? Love the videos....I wish I could do that to add a milk and speckled....is it wise to add wild juveniles to domesticate them or go to a breeder

[@ErrorInvalidName]

It's super mild, the bigger thing is you'd have to almost pry their mouths open and shove the fangs in yourself. They just never attempt to bite, and even if they did it's like bee sting level venom.

[@crooked-halo]

You are causing severe anxiety for these snakes! I can see it in their wiggles and their bites! Just kidding, what wonderful videos these are! As a snake amateur, I'd be taking beautiful snakes home every day!

[@seanfrpb]

Curiosity question. You use the term or phrase "NC2" in some of your videos. What is it's meaning?

[@mattbuehler1252]

It is a latin phrase "in situ", which means in its original place or natural place.

[@douglasstemke2444]

He says in situ that to make it clear that is the way he found the snake. Many photographers will move the snake (or amphibian, whatever) and 'stage' a nice shot (no grass in the way, all coiled up, maybe a salamander on a nice piece of moss).

[@Lifers]

Nice! I still need every species you found for the list.

[@Lifers]

I love all of them, I only have the Northern Ringneck so far.

[@kds-mutant3681]

Is it me or is there another milk snake in the top right at 2:15??

[@S1am3s3F1sh1ng]

I love you man keep up these amazing videos

[@timwhiting6721]

I have a giant nest of milk snakes that live under the edge of a giant rock that protrudes from the cliffside in far northeastern ohio. Amish found massasauga's and a bunch of giant black snakes n rat snakes when they clear cut the woods , im hoping there's a timber back their.

[@gusloomis9927]

That has to be at least 40 ringnecks, that was totally insane. Nice herps, so many beautiful milks. Keep up the good work. Edit: yeah, maybe more like 70

[@stevehogan8829]

Man, you guys find a lot of snakes. Good to know those are all out thre.

[@jaxfishn0]

Noah, a couple of questions for you. First, do you keep any specimens as "pets"? Second, how do you find good places for herping? I've heard you mention Google Earth, or other mapping tools. But what are some of the other factors you're looking for when you decide to investigate a new area? It would be helpful to get an idea of the various types of habitat that you look for, and how you find it, to give us an idea of where to begin our own searches. There has got to be more to this than just "flipping tin". What can you tell us?

[@Darhan62]

I hope you don't mind me offering my two cents on this, Jack. :) I guess you find undeveloped land that you can legally herp on. In most places, if you're not taking the snakes away, authorities probably won't fine you prosecute you for just catching them to photograph. Sometimes if you say you're catching them for "identification purposes," which is really what you're doing if you're just taking pictures, I think that helps. States have different requirements as far as whether you're supposed to have a fishing license or whatever, but in some states you can legally collect herps for commercial purposes, or for your own pet. I'm sure it also helps to know property owners. Maybe you can ask friends on social media if they know good places or own any undeveloped land in a particular area you're interested in herping. Maybe you can get together with other herpers. Generally the sides of public roads in rural areas are probably good. If there are areas that offer camping, sometimes there are places nearby where you can legally herp. Just be careful to respect fences and "no trespassing" signs, particularly if you aren't familiar with an area. I know that in some cases those signs are actually misleading or not valid, but you have to research the area, who owns the land, etc. to determine that. In my experience there are certain roads where police will stop you and ask you what you're doing, and you just have to be honest and respectful if that happens. Finding places with lots of good ground cover to flip is a trick. Sometimes you can actually set up your own wooden boards at the edges of fields and then come back after some months or the following year, once critters have started making burrows under them. Always remember to try to put ground cover back like you found it to avoid disturbing the microhabitat, and be careful not to accidentally flatten any critters still under there (i.e., catch and release the herps at the edge of the ground cover so they can go back under on their own). Time of year is important. Generally do your herping when the animals are active and breeding or preparing to breed, which is usually sometime in the spring, but will depend on the species and on what part of the country you're in. Finally, study your field guides (or information online). Know the species in the area and their habits, foraging behavior, annual cycle, etc... To be honest I don't do much herping these days, but anytime travel happens to take me to a good herping area, I try to make some time for it. It was a big hobby of mine when I was a teenager back in the eighties. So many of my herping spots have since succumbed to housing and road construction, though. If land is soon going to be cleared for development I think you should be able to collect pretty much all the animals you want from it, because if the habitat is destroyed, those animals won't be able to survive there anyway.

[@shanemiller6982]

@@Darhan62 That , my friend is a few sentences short of a novel.

[@beastherper349]

Love your videos! I just recently caught my first Gila monster!😀

[@groverwhite9781]

I dont know what part of Kansas you where in However if you return to Kansas. Check out the area around the ElDorado Lake mainly on the North Eastern edge I hope you will find a colorful Massauga rattle snake the adults Might reach 28 inches. But thay are colorful with Red Grey Black and White. El Dorado Lake Butler County Kansas.

[@MikeB-1965]

I'm surprised you didn't see a bunch of hog-nose snakes. When I lived in Kansas, we regularly found them in our yard. I never saw milk snakes around our yard. They are beautiful snakes.

[@petercarmeci8317]

Dude, great video!

[@43ShaDey]

Oh wow I bn hunting frogs for 15 years and I’ve never knew you could look at them and tell they’re gravid.....how do you do that exactly?🤔

[@nikkiolund3297]

Question, why was that one snake bleeding? Is that common/normal?

[@NKFherping]

Which snake? You have a time stamp?

[@Spacey7]

Great video again 👍 But are you allowed to go & stay in other states in us now? Weird to see you do a high five these days 😊 🐍

[@chasedudley7403]

I’m very surprised to see the milk Snakes hiding with multiple snakes

[@Brandoncox_photography]

Hey NKFHerping how many rattlesnakes have you caught?

[@sandraneamah4464]

i’ve never been herping but i am planning on going this weekend i was wondering y you were wearing gloves in this one ? and if i should ?

[@whisperingwayfarer1526]

How do you find so many snakes

[@magnuskarlsson2924]

Amazing density of snakes.

[@PhantomPanic]

This is almost the amount of snakes in my nightmares. No joke. 🐍

[@cantima5957]

i can never find snakes and I have looked where snakes are seen im in California does anyone know how to catch them here I also love your videos

[@NolanW.]

I’m not the best and only go about once a week but I guess just go to anywhere near a lake and just flip rocks is what works best for me

[@abramnilsen1527]

Get the inaturalist app! You can post pictures of animals and plants you've seen, and where you found it. You can search for a specific type of animal on the map. It will show other people's observations of that animal.

[@Darhan62]

In California you probably want to do your herping in April, May, and June. I used to live in Monterey County, and May seemed to be the best month. I would find garter snakes, ringnecks, gopher snakes, California kingsnakes, western yellow-bellied racers, California striped racers, sharptail snakes, and once in the coastal mountain range even a mountain kingsnake. I've never seen a rubber boa or a coachwhip in California, though, but I know they are there. Also, a friend I was with found a baby long-nosed snake in the desert near Barstow once. Each snake prefers a certain habitat or area. Garter snakes are generally near water. Ringnecks are under things on the forest floor. In May you can sometimes find large kingsnakes and gopher snakes out crawling around, or under wooden boards or other large pieces of ground cover. You might occasionally find rattlesnakes too so be careful for those.

[@S1am3s3F1sh1ng]

What’s your tip to finding snakes in Wisconsin?, because no matter where I go I can’t seem to find any herps (besides turtles)

[@caleb_davis7889]

Do u know where the palicades are in illinois. I went there foumd some hognoses Blue racers black rats Ringnecks Milks garters brown snake bull snakes fox snakes snakes and prolly more.

[@S1am3s3F1sh1ng]

@@caleb_davis7889 thanks for letting me know ill have to try there some time :D

[@wildlifephotography1337]

If I counted correctly 47 snakes in the first half and I stopped counting at 70 for the second half! Also, why does this vid not have over 1 mil views?

[@chaseofearth9280]

Why do so many wild snakes have prolapsed cloacas? I see a handful of the snakes you find have them. Is that from recent breeding? Or possibly parasites or infections found in wild snakes? If anyone can educate me a little on it I’d appreciate it!

[@NKFherping]

It happens when they’re releasing musk to deter “predators”, in this case, me.

[@chaseofearth9280]

@@NKFherping ohh ok that makes sense! Thanks for the quick response

[@NicLovin22]

Great video! Are there no venomous snakes in Kansas? I was expecting to see something of that sort if so.

[@jameswagner5149]

There's timber rattlesnakes, prairie rattlesnakes, massasauga rattlesnakes, copperheads.

[@NicLovin22]

@@jameswagner5149 I thought so, I am surprised none of them showed when flipping all the rocks and tin.

[@jameswagner5149]

There are big gaps in where they occur. The prairie rattlesnake and massasauga are more western Kansas, especially prairie. The timber and copperhead isn't as well suited for rocky open outcroppings but more timber areas where trees grow, specifically along where rivers are or areas that have more timber like NE Kansas. So specifically targeting areas where you're more likely to find them they're not difficult, but definitely different from what was explored here for the most part. The tin in timber would have been the best chance.

[@NicLovin22]

@@jameswagner5149 That's awesome, thanks for the reply and info!

[@Annika-xq3gv]

The fourth milk looked like it had a injury/deformity on its lip

[@gilbertcharles119]

@2:17 if you look to the corner it looks to be a second milk snake but i could be wrong

[@anthonypalmer1886]

Geez! Are snakes that common in the Kansas wilderness?