Ecoregion

Southern Appalachians Reptiles and Amphibians by Month

Wooded ridges and valleys make up the Southern Appalachians. Northern Slimy Salamanders are the most-reported herp. Cave Salamanders live around limestone caves and springs. Green Anoles and Eastern Fence Lizards sun on logs and fences. June is the busiest month, and the Eastern Copperhead and Timber Rattlesnake live here.

46 species3 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 Southern Appalachians, by group and month

Group
Snakes		5	12	13	13	13	13	13	12	10	2
Lizards	1	2	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	2	2	1
Turtles		2	2	3	3	3	3	2	2	1	1
Frogs and Toads	3	6	11	10	12	12	10	10	10	9	4
Salamanders	10	11	11	9	8	6	6	5	8	10	10	9

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

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36 species at peak or shoulder in September

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

peak

Frogs and ToadsBarking Tree FrogDryophytes gratiosus

peak

SalamandersCave SalamanderEurycea lucifuga

peak

SnakesCentral RatsnakePantherophis alleghaniensis

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

peak

Frogs and ToadsCope's Gray Tree FrogDryophytes chrysoscelis

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesEastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix

venomous

peak

LizardsEastern Fence LizardSceloporus undulatus

peak

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen TreefrogDryophytes cinereus

peak

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

peak

SalamandersLong-tailed SalamanderEurycea longicauda

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

SnakesNorthern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus

venomous

peak

Frogs and ToadsNorthern Cricket FrogAcris crepitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsPickerel FrogLithobates palustris

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

peak

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

shoulder

SnakesBlack KingsnakeLampropeltis nigra

shoulder

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

shoulder

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

shoulder

SnakesCommon WormsnakeCarphophis amoenus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsFowler's ToadAnaxyrus fowleri

shoulder

LizardsGreen AnoleAnolis carolinensis

shoulder

SalamandersMarbled SalamanderAmbystoma opacum

shoulder

SalamandersNorthern Slimy SalamanderPlethodon glutinosus

shoulder

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

shoulder

SalamandersRed SalamanderPseudotriton ruber

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

shoulder

SalamandersSouthern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea cirrigera

shoulder

SalamandersSpotted Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus conanti

About Southern Appalachians

When are reptiles and amphibians most active in the Southern Appalachians?

June is the busiest month in the Southern Appalachians, with 33 species at peak activity. At least half of the area's species are active from February through October.

What reptiles and amphibians live in the Southern Appalachians?

46 species have enough iNaturalist records to show here: 13 salamanders, 13 snakes, 13 frogs and toads, 4 lizards, and 3 turtles. The most-reported are the Northern Slimy Salamander, Green Anole, and Central Ratsnake.

Are there venomous snakes in the Southern Appalachians?

Yes. The Eastern Copperhead, Timber Rattlesnake, and Northern Cottonmouth live here. Don't handle them.

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.