Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in Arkansas in October

52 reptiles and amphibians are active in Arkansas in October, and 31 are at peak. Peak species include the Prairie Lizard, Blanchard's Cricket Frog, American Toad, and Northern Cottonmouth.

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

Full 12-month Arkansas calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across Arkansas, by group and month

Group
Snakes	2	16	26	26	26	24	19	20	20	20	15	5
Lizards	2	4	6	7	7	7	7	7	7	5	4	4
Turtles	2	4	8	10	10	11	11	11	9	6	3	2
Frogs and Toads	5	9	13	13	11	11	11	11	11	10	9	4
Salamanders	9	12	12	12	6	5	5	4	7	10	11	9

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

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At peak in October 31

Snakes

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesEastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix

venomous

peak

SnakesEastern Hognose SnakeHeterodon platirhinos

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

SnakesNorthern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus

venomous

peak

SnakesPrairie KingsnakeLampropeltis calligaster

peak

SnakesPygmy RattlesnakeSistrurus miliarius

venomous

peak

SnakesRed-bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculata

peak

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

peak

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

Lizards

peak

LizardsGreen AnoleAnolis carolinensis

peak

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

peak

LizardsMediterranean House GeckoHemidactylus turcicus

introduced

peak

LizardsPrairie LizardSceloporus consobrinus

Turtles

peak

TurtlesRiver CooterPseudemys concinna

Alligators

peak

AlligatorsAmerican AlligatorAlligator mississippiensis

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

peak

Frogs and ToadsBlanchard's Cricket FrogAcris blanchardi

peak

Frogs and ToadsCope's Gray Tree FrogDryophytes chrysoscelis

peak

Frogs and ToadsFowler's ToadAnaxyrus fowleri

peak

Frogs and ToadsGray TreefrogDryophytes versicolor

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen TreefrogDryophytes cinereus

peak

Frogs and ToadsPickerel FrogLithobates palustris

Salamanders

peak

SalamandersCave SalamanderEurycea lucifuga

peak

SalamandersDark-sided SalamanderEurycea melanopleura

peak

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

peak

SalamandersOuachita Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus brimleyorum

peak

SalamandersRinged SalamanderAmbystoma annulatum

Shoulder season in October 21

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesBanded WatersnakeNerodia fasciata

shoulder

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

shoulder

SnakesDiamondback WatersnakeNerodia rhombifer

shoulder

SnakesPlain-bellied WatersnakeNerodia erythrogaster

shoulder

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

shoulder

SnakesRough EarthsnakeVirginia striatula

shoulder

SnakesSpeckled KingsnakeLampropeltis holbrooki

shoulder

SnakesWestern RatsnakePantherophis obsoletus

shoulder

SnakesWestern Ribbon SnakeThamnophis proximus

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

Turtles

shoulder

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

shoulder

TurtlesEastern Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratus

shoulder

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

shoulder

TurtlesSpiny SoftshellApalone spinifera

shoulder

TurtlesThree-toed Box TurtleTerrapene triunguis

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

Salamanders

shoulder

SalamandersMarbled SalamanderAmbystoma opacum

shoulder

SalamandersOklahoma SalamanderEurycea tynerensis

shoulder

SalamandersOzark Zigzag SalamanderPlethodon angusticlavius

shoulder

SalamandersSouthern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon serratus

shoulder

SalamandersWestern Slimy SalamanderPlethodon albagula

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.

Arkansas in October

What reptiles and amphibians are out in Arkansas in October?

52 reptiles and amphibians are active in Arkansas in October, and 31 are at peak. Peak species include the Prairie Lizard, Blanchard's Cricket Frog, American Toad, and Northern Cottonmouth.

Are venomous snakes active in Arkansas in October?

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