Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in Louisiana in December

36 reptiles and amphibians are active in Louisiana in December, and 19 are at peak. Peak species include the American Alligator, Pond Slider, Brown Anole, and Northern Cottonmouth.

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

Full 12-month Louisiana calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across Louisiana, by group and month

Group
Snakes	11	17	19	19	19	17	17	16	15	16	15	12
Lizards	6	8	8	9	9	9	9	8	7	7	7	5
Turtles	5	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	7	6	2
Frogs and Toads	12	13	15	15	13	13	12	11	11	11	12	12
Salamanders	6	7	7	6	4	2	1	2	2	2	4	4

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

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At peak in December 19

Snakes

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesEastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix

venomous

peak

SnakesMississippi Green WatersnakeNerodia cyclopion

peak

SnakesNorthern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus

venomous

Lizards

peak

LizardsBrown AnoleAnolis sagrei

introduced

peak

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

peak

LizardsSpotted House GeckoHemidactylus parvimaculatus

introduced

Turtles

peak

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

peak

TurtlesRiver CooterPseudemys concinna

Alligators

peak

AlligatorsAmerican AlligatorAlligator mississippiensis

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsBlanchard's Cricket FrogAcris blanchardi

peak

Frogs and ToadsCajun Chorus FrogPseudacris fouquettei

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreenhouse FrogEleutherodactylus planirostris

introduced

peak

Frogs and ToadsSpring PeeperPseudacris crucifer

peak

Frogs and ToadsSquirrel Tree FrogDryophytes squirellus

Salamanders

peak

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

peak

SalamandersMarbled SalamanderAmbystoma opacum

peak

SalamandersMississippi Slimy SalamanderPlethodon mississippi

peak

SalamandersWestern Dwarf SalamanderEurycea paludicola

Shoulder season in December 17

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesBanded WatersnakeNerodia fasciata

shoulder

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

shoulder

SnakesDiamondback WatersnakeNerodia rhombifer

shoulder

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

shoulder

SnakesPlain-bellied WatersnakeNerodia erythrogaster

shoulder

SnakesSpeckled KingsnakeLampropeltis holbrooki

shoulder

SnakesWestern RatsnakePantherophis obsoletus

shoulder

SnakesWestern Ribbon SnakeThamnophis proximus

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsGreen AnoleAnolis carolinensis

shoulder

LizardsMediterranean House GeckoHemidactylus turcicus

introduced

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsCope's Gray Tree FrogDryophytes chrysoscelis

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsEastern Narrow-mouthed ToadGastrophryne carolinensis

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsFowler's ToadAnaxyrus fowleri

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsGreen TreefrogDryophytes cinereus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsGulf Coast ToadIncilius nebulifer

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

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.

Louisiana in December

What reptiles and amphibians are out in Louisiana in December?

36 reptiles and amphibians are active in Louisiana in December, and 19 are at peak. Peak species include the American Alligator, Pond Slider, Brown Anole, and Northern Cottonmouth.

Are venomous snakes active in Louisiana in December?

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