Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in Alabama in May

65 reptiles and amphibians are active in Alabama in May, and 60 are at peak. Peak species include the Green Anole, Pond Slider, Green Treefrog, and Central Ratsnake.

Counted from iNaturalist research-grade observations recorded inside Alabama. Seasons shift across the state, so for a closer match, pick your ecoregion.

Full 12-month Alabama calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across Alabama, by group and month

Group
Snakes	7	16	19	22	22	21	17	18	18	19	15	8
Lizards	4	5	9	9	9	9	8	8	8	8	6	4
Turtles	4	6	8	9	10	10	9	9	9	9	6	2
Frogs and Toads	11	15	17	16	15	14	14	14	16	14	13	9
Salamanders	11	12	13	11	8	7	5	3	6	9	9	9

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

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At peak in May 60

Snakes

peak

SnakesBanded WatersnakeNerodia fasciata

peak

SnakesBlack KingsnakeLampropeltis nigra

peak

SnakesCentral RatsnakePantherophis alleghaniensis

peak

SnakesCommon CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

SnakesCommon Ribbon SnakeThamnophis saurita

peak

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

peak

SnakesCommon WormsnakeCarphophis amoenus

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesEastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix

venomous

peak

SnakesEastern Diamondback RattlesnakeCrotalus adamanteus

venomous

peak

SnakesEastern Hognose SnakeHeterodon platirhinos

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

SnakesNorthern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus

venomous

peak

SnakesPlain-bellied WatersnakeNerodia erythrogaster

peak

SnakesQueensnakeRegina septemvittata

peak

SnakesRed CornsnakePantherophis guttatus

peak

SnakesRed-bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculata

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

peak

SnakesSmooth EarthsnakeVirginia valeriae

peak

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

Lizards

peak

LizardsBroad-headed SkinkPlestiodon laticeps

peak

LizardsBrown AnoleAnolis sagrei

introduced

peak

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

peak

LizardsEastern Fence LizardSceloporus undulatus

peak

LizardsEastern Glass LizardOphisaurus ventralis

peak

LizardsGreen AnoleAnolis carolinensis

peak

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

peak

LizardsSix-lined RacerunnerAspidoscelis sexlineatus

Turtles

peak

TurtlesBlack-knobbed Map TurtleGraptemys nigrinoda

peak

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

peak

TurtlesEastern Mud TurtleKinosternon subrubrum

peak

TurtlesEastern Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratus

peak

TurtlesIntermediate Musk TurtleSternotherus intermedius

peak

TurtlesNorthern Map TurtleGraptemys geographica

peak

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

peak

TurtlesRiver CooterPseudemys concinna

peak

TurtlesSpiny SoftshellApalone spinifera

peak

TurtlesStripe-necked Musk TurtleSternotherus peltifer

Alligators

peak

AlligatorsAmerican AlligatorAlligator mississippiensis

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

peak

Frogs and ToadsBarking Tree FrogDryophytes gratiosus

peak

Frogs and ToadsCope's Gray Tree FrogDryophytes chrysoscelis

peak

Frogs and ToadsEastern Narrow-mouthed ToadGastrophryne carolinensis

peak

Frogs and ToadsEastern SpadefootScaphiopus holbrookii

peak

Frogs and ToadsFowler's ToadAnaxyrus fowleri

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen TreefrogDryophytes cinereus

peak

Frogs and ToadsNorthern Cricket FrogAcris crepitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsPickerel FrogLithobates palustris

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Cricket FrogAcris gryllus

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern ToadAnaxyrus terrestris

peak

Frogs and ToadsSquirrel Tree FrogDryophytes squirellus

Salamanders

peak

SalamandersCave SalamanderEurycea lucifuga

peak

SalamandersLong-tailed SalamanderEurycea longicauda

peak

SalamandersMississippi Slimy SalamanderPlethodon mississippi

peak

SalamandersThree-lined SalamanderEurycea guttolineata

Shoulder season in May 5

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsMediterranean House GeckoHemidactylus turcicus

introduced

Salamanders

shoulder

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

shoulder

SalamandersNorthern Slimy SalamanderPlethodon glutinosus

shoulder

SalamandersRed SalamanderPseudotriton ruber

shoulder

SalamandersSpotted Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus conanti

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.

Alabama in May

What reptiles and amphibians are out in Alabama in May?

65 reptiles and amphibians are active in Alabama in May, and 60 are at peak. Peak species include the Green Anole, Pond Slider, Green Treefrog, and Central Ratsnake.

Are venomous snakes active in Alabama in May?

Yes. The Northern Cottonmouth, Timber Rattlesnake, Eastern Copperhead, and Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake can be active in May. Watch where you step and don't handle them.