Ecoregion

Great Lakes and Hudson Lowlands Reptiles and Amphibians by Month

These lowlands have plenty of wetlands and woodlots. Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs start calling as the ice melts. Eastern Red-backed Salamanders live under logs, and Eastern Newts are common in ponds. Painted Turtles bask everywhere. April is the busiest month, and no venomous snakes made the list here.

28 species

Peak and shoulder ratings are rough guidance, not a schedule. Weather, elevation and the year can shift any species by weeks.

Rare and protected species are left off on purpose. Look, don't take, and never handle a venomous snake.

Species out in Great Lakes and Hudson Lowlands, by group and month

Group
Snakes	2	5	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	5
Turtles	2	3	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	2
Frogs and Toads	5	8	8	8	6	6	7	8	8	4	1
Salamanders	7	10	10	8	8	7	8	8	8	7	3

Numbers = species active that month (at peak or just starting / winding down).

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26 species at peak or shoulder in September

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesEastern MilksnakeLampropeltis triangulum

peak

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

peak

SalamandersEastern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon cinereus

peak

Frogs and ToadsGray TreefrogDryophytes versicolor

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

peak

SalamandersLong-tailed SalamanderEurycea longicauda

peak

SalamandersNorthern Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus fuscus

peak

Frogs and ToadsNorthern Leopard FrogLithobates pipiens

peak

SalamandersNorthern Slimy SalamanderPlethodon glutinosus

peak

SalamandersNorthern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea bislineata

peak

Frogs and ToadsPickerel FrogLithobates palustris

peak

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

introduced

peak

SalamandersRed SalamanderPseudotriton ruber

peak

SnakesRed-bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculata

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SalamandersSpring SalamanderGyrinophilus porphyriticus

shoulder

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

shoulder

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

shoulder

TurtlesNorthern Map TurtleGraptemys geographica

shoulder

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSpring PeeperPseudacris crucifer

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsWood FrogLithobates sylvaticus

About Great Lakes and Hudson Lowlands

When are reptiles and amphibians most active in the Great Lakes and Hudson Lowlands?

April is the busiest month in the Great Lakes and Hudson Lowlands, with 24 species at peak activity. At least half of the area's species are active from February through November.

What reptiles and amphibians live in the Great Lakes and Hudson Lowlands?

28 species have enough iNaturalist records to show here: 10 salamanders, 8 frogs and toads, 6 snakes, and 4 turtles. The most-reported are the American Toad, Common Garter Snake, and Painted Turtle.

Are there venomous snakes in the Great Lakes and Hudson Lowlands?

No venomous snakes have enough records in the Great Lakes and Hudson Lowlands to make this list.

Which reptiles and amphibians in the Great Lakes and Hudson Lowlands are introduced?

The Pond Slider is not native here.

Where does this data come from?

Activity calendars are built from iNaturalist research-grade observations (downloaded through GBIF, September 2026), corrected for how many people are out observing each month. Rare and protected species are left off on purpose.