Ecoregion
Northern Great Plains Reptiles and Amphibians by Month
The Northern Great Plains are open prairie with pothole ponds. Northern Leopard Frogs are the most-reported herp. Painted Turtles bask in the ponds. Gopher Snakes and Plains Garter Snakes are the common snakes. September is the busiest month, and the Prairie Rattlesnake lives here.
15 species1 venomous
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 Northern Great Plains, by group and month
| Group | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snakes | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | |||
| Lizards | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Turtles | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||
| Frogs and Toads | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | ||||
| Salamanders | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Numbers = species active that month (at peak or just starting / winding down).
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14 species at peak or shoulder in September
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shoulderAbout Northern Great Plains
When are reptiles and amphibians most active in the Northern Great Plains?
September is the busiest month in the Northern Great Plains, with 13 species at peak activity. At least half of the area's species are active from April through October.
What reptiles and amphibians live in the Northern Great Plains?
15 species have enough iNaturalist records to show here: 6 frogs and toads, 5 snakes, 2 turtles, 1 salamander, and 1 lizard. The most-reported are the Northern Leopard Frog, Painted Turtle, and Woodhouse's Toad.
Are there venomous snakes in the Northern Great Plains?
Yes. The Prairie Rattlesnake lives here. Don't handle them.
Which reptiles and amphibians in the Northern Great Plains are introduced?
The American Bullfrog 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.