Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in Illinois in October

50 reptiles and amphibians are active in Illinois in October, and 35 are at peak. Peak species include the American Bullfrog, Common Garter Snake, DeKay's Brownsnake, and Blanchard's Cricket Frog.

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

Full 12-month Illinois calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across Illinois, by group and month

Group
Snakes		7	16	25	25	20	17	18	21	20	12	3
Lizards			3	5	5	5	4	4	4	3	1
Turtles	1	3	6	7	7	7	7	6	7	5	2	1
Frogs and Toads	1	9	10	12	11	9	10	9	12	12	10	3
Salamanders	2	9	11	11	7			1	9	10	9	1

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

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At peak in October 35

Snakes

peak

SnakesBlack KingsnakeLampropeltis nigra

peak

SnakesCentral RatsnakePantherophis alleghaniensis

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesDiamondback WatersnakeNerodia rhombifer

peak

SnakesEastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix

venomous

peak

SnakesEastern MilksnakeLampropeltis triangulum

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

SnakesNorthern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus

venomous

peak

SnakesPlain-bellied WatersnakeNerodia erythrogaster

peak

SnakesRed-bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculata

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

peak

SnakesSmooth EarthsnakeVirginia valeriae

peak

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

peak

SnakesWestern Ribbon SnakeThamnophis proximus

Lizards

peak

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

peak

LizardsEastern Fence LizardSceloporus undulatus

peak

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

Turtles

peak

TurtlesEastern Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratus

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

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 ToadsNorthern Leopard FrogLithobates pipiens

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

Salamanders

peak

SalamandersCave SalamanderEurycea lucifuga

peak

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

peak

SalamandersLong-tailed SalamanderEurycea longicauda

peak

SalamandersMarbled SalamanderAmbystoma opacum

peak

SalamandersMole SalamanderAmbystoma talpoideum

peak

SalamandersNorthern Slimy SalamanderPlethodon glutinosus

Shoulder season in October 15

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

shoulder

SnakesEastern FoxsnakePantherophis vulpinus

shoulder

SnakesPlains Garter SnakeThamnophis radix

shoulder

SnakesPrairie KingsnakeLampropeltis calligaster

Turtles

shoulder

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

shoulder

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

shoulder

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

shoulder

TurtlesSpiny SoftshellApalone spinifera

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsBoreal Chorus FrogPseudacris maculata

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSpring PeeperPseudacris crucifer

Salamanders

shoulder

SalamandersEastern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon cinereus

shoulder

SalamandersNorthern Zigzag SalamanderPlethodon dorsalis

shoulder

SalamandersSouthern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea cirrigera

shoulder

SalamandersSpotted SalamanderAmbystoma maculatum

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.

Illinois in October

What reptiles and amphibians are out in Illinois in October?

50 reptiles and amphibians are active in Illinois in October, and 35 are at peak. Peak species include the American Bullfrog, Common Garter Snake, DeKay's Brownsnake, and Blanchard's Cricket Frog.

Are venomous snakes active in Illinois in October?

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