Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in Kansas in May

58 reptiles and amphibians are active in Kansas in May, and 52 are at peak. Peak species include the Blanchard's Cricket Frog, Ornate Box Turtle, Ring-necked Snake, and Pond Slider.

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

Full 12-month Kansas calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across Kansas, by group and month

Group
Snakes		3	20	26	27	27	24	24	24	24	12	4
Lizards		1	8	10	10	9	8	9	9	7	1
Turtles	1	1	6	8	8	7	7	6	6	5	2	1
Frogs and Toads		4	9	11	11	11	9	9	8	7	3	1
Salamanders		1	1	1	2	2	1

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

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At peak in May 52

Snakes

peak

SnakesBroad-banded CopperheadAgkistrodon laticinctus

venomous

peak

SnakesCommon CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesDiamondback WatersnakeNerodia rhombifer

peak

SnakesEastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix

venomous

peak

SnakesFlat-headed SnakeTantilla gracilis

peak

SnakesGopher SnakePituophis catenifer

peak

SnakesGraham's Crawfish SnakeRegina grahamii

peak

SnakesGreat Plains RatsnakePantherophis emoryi

peak

SnakesLined SnakeTropidoclonion lineatum

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

SnakesPlain-bellied WatersnakeNerodia erythrogaster

peak

SnakesPlains Garter SnakeThamnophis radix

peak

SnakesPrairie KingsnakeLampropeltis calligaster

peak

SnakesPrairie RattlesnakeCrotalus viridis

venomous

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

peak

SnakesSpeckled KingsnakeLampropeltis holbrooki

peak

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

peak

SnakesWestern MassasaugaSistrurus tergeminus

venomous

peak

SnakesWestern MilksnakeLampropeltis gentilis

peak

SnakesWestern RatsnakePantherophis obsoletus

peak

SnakesWestern Ribbon SnakeThamnophis proximus

peak

SnakesWestern Worm SnakeCarphophis vermis

Lizards

peak

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

peak

LizardsEastern Collared LizardCrotaphytus collaris

peak

LizardsGreat Plains SkinkPlestiodon obsoletus

peak

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

peak

LizardsPrairie LizardSceloporus consobrinus

peak

LizardsPrairie SkinkPlestiodon septentrionalis

peak

LizardsSix-lined RacerunnerAspidoscelis sexlineatus

peak

LizardsSlender Glass LizardOphisaurus attenuatus

peak

LizardsTexas Horned LizardPhrynosoma cornutum

Turtles

peak

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

peak

TurtlesEastern Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratus

peak

TurtlesOrnate Box TurtleTerrapene ornata

peak

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

peak

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

peak

TurtlesSpiny SoftshellApalone spinifera

peak

TurtlesThree-toed Box TurtleTerrapene triunguis

peak

TurtlesYellow Mud TurtleKinosternon flavescens

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 ToadsGreat Plains ToadAnaxyrus cognatus

peak

Frogs and ToadsPlains SpadefootSpea bombifrons

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

peak

Frogs and ToadsWestern Narrow-mouthed ToadGastrophryne olivacea

Salamanders

peak

SalamandersWestern Tiger SalamanderAmbystoma mavortium

Shoulder season in May 6

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesEastern Hognose SnakeHeterodon platirhinos

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsItalian Wall LizardPodarcis siculus

introduced

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsBoreal Chorus FrogPseudacris maculata

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsPlains Leopard FrogLithobates blairi

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsWoodhouse's ToadAnaxyrus woodhousii

Salamanders

shoulder

SalamandersSmall-mouthed SalamanderAmbystoma texanum

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.

Kansas in May

What reptiles and amphibians are out in Kansas in May?

58 reptiles and amphibians are active in Kansas in May, and 52 are at peak. Peak species include the Blanchard's Cricket Frog, Ornate Box Turtle, Ring-necked Snake, and Pond Slider.

Are venomous snakes active in Kansas in May?

Yes. The Western Massasauga, Eastern Copperhead, Prairie Rattlesnake, Timber Rattlesnake, and Broad-banded Copperhead can be active in May. Watch where you step and don't handle them.