Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in Kansas in October

43 reptiles and amphibians are active in Kansas in October, and 24 are at peak. Peak species include the Blanchard's Cricket Frog, American Bullfrog, Western Ratsnake, and Common Garter Snake.

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 October 24

Snakes

peak

SnakesCommon CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesEastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix

venomous

peak

SnakesEastern Hognose SnakeHeterodon platirhinos

peak

SnakesGlossy SnakeArizona elegans

peak

SnakesGopher SnakePituophis catenifer

peak

SnakesLined SnakeTropidoclonion lineatum

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

SnakesPlains Garter SnakeThamnophis radix

peak

SnakesPrairie KingsnakeLampropeltis calligaster

peak

SnakesPrairie RattlesnakeCrotalus viridis

venomous

peak

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

peak

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

peak

SnakesWestern MassasaugaSistrurus tergeminus

venomous

peak

SnakesWestern RatsnakePantherophis obsoletus

peak

SnakesWestern Ribbon SnakeThamnophis proximus

Lizards

peak

LizardsItalian Wall LizardPodarcis siculus

introduced

peak

LizardsPrairie LizardSceloporus consobrinus

peak

LizardsSlender Glass LizardOphisaurus attenuatus

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsBlanchard's Cricket FrogAcris blanchardi

peak

Frogs and ToadsPlains Leopard FrogLithobates blairi

Shoulder season in October 19

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesDiamondback WatersnakeNerodia rhombifer

shoulder

SnakesGreat Plains RatsnakePantherophis emoryi

shoulder

SnakesPlain-bellied WatersnakeNerodia erythrogaster

shoulder

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

shoulder

SnakesSpeckled KingsnakeLampropeltis holbrooki

shoulder

SnakesWestern MilksnakeLampropeltis gentilis

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsEastern Collared LizardCrotaphytus collaris

shoulder

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

shoulder

LizardsSix-lined RacerunnerAspidoscelis sexlineatus

shoulder

LizardsTexas Horned LizardPhrynosoma cornutum

Turtles

shoulder

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

shoulder

TurtlesOrnate Box TurtleTerrapene ornata

shoulder

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

shoulder

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

shoulder

TurtlesThree-toed Box TurtleTerrapene triunguis

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsWestern Narrow-mouthed ToadGastrophryne olivacea

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsWoodhouse's ToadAnaxyrus woodhousii

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 October

What reptiles and amphibians are out in Kansas in October?

43 reptiles and amphibians are active in Kansas in October, and 24 are at peak. Peak species include the Blanchard's Cricket Frog, American Bullfrog, Western Ratsnake, and Common Garter Snake.

Are venomous snakes active in Kansas in October?

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