Statewide

Maryland Reptiles and Amphibians by Month

Every reptile and amphibian with enough records anywhere in Maryland, counted from observations inside the state line. Seasons can differ a lot across the state, so for a closer match, pick your ecoregion on the Maryland page.

54 species2 venomous

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.

Species out in Maryland, by group and month

Group
Snakes	2	4	10	17	17	17	17	16	16	11	9	3
Lizards		1	2	4	4	3	3	4	4	2	1
Turtles	3	5	6	7	7	7	6	6	6	6	3	3
Frogs and Toads	1	8	11	13	11	11	11	11	11	11	8
Salamanders	3	8	12	13	11	9	8	9	10	10	6	3

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

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47 species at peak or shoulder in September

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesEastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix

venomous

peak

LizardsEastern Fence LizardSceloporus undulatus

peak

SnakesEastern Hognose SnakeHeterodon platirhinos

peak

TurtlesEastern Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratus

peak

Frogs and ToadsEastern SpadefootScaphiopus holbrookii

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen TreefrogDryophytes cinereus

peak

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

peak

SalamandersLong-tailed SalamanderEurycea longicauda

peak

SalamandersMarbled SalamanderAmbystoma opacum

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

Frogs and ToadsNorthern Cricket FrogAcris crepitans

peak

SalamandersNorthern Slimy SalamanderPlethodon glutinosus

peak

Frogs and ToadsPickerel FrogLithobates palustris

peak

SnakesQueensnakeRegina septemvittata

peak

SnakesRed-bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculata

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

peak

SalamandersSeal SalamanderDesmognathus monticola

peak

SnakesSmooth EarthsnakeVirginia valeriae

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

shoulder

SalamandersAllegheny Mountain Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus ochrophaeus

shoulder

LizardsBroad-headed SkinkPlestiodon laticeps

shoulder

SnakesCentral RatsnakePantherophis alleghaniensis

shoulder

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

shoulder

SnakesCommon Ribbon SnakeThamnophis saurita

shoulder

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

shoulder

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

shoulder

SnakesCommon WormsnakeCarphophis amoenus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsCope's Gray Tree FrogDryophytes chrysoscelis

shoulder

SnakesEastern MilksnakeLampropeltis triangulum

shoulder

TurtlesEastern Mud TurtleKinosternon subrubrum

shoulder

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

shoulder

SalamandersEastern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon cinereus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsFowler's ToadAnaxyrus fowleri

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsGray TreefrogDryophytes versicolor

shoulder

SalamandersNorthern Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus fuscus

shoulder

TurtlesNorthern Red-bellied CooterPseudemys rubriventris

shoulder

SalamandersNorthern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea bislineata

shoulder

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

shoulder

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

introduced

shoulder

SalamandersRed SalamanderPseudotriton ruber

shoulder

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

About Maryland

When are reptiles and amphibians most active in Maryland?

April is the busiest month in Maryland, with 47 species at peak activity. At least half of the area's species are active from March through November.

What reptiles and amphibians live in Maryland?

54 species have enough iNaturalist records to show here: 17 snakes, 13 frogs and toads, 13 salamanders, 7 turtles, and 4 lizards. The most-reported are the Pond Slider, Painted Turtle, and American Toad.

Are there venomous snakes in Maryland?

Yes. The Eastern Copperhead and Timber Rattlesnake live here. Don't handle them.

Which reptiles and amphibians in Maryland are introduced?

The Pond Slider is not native here.

Where does this data come from?

Activity calendars are built from iNaturalist research-grade observations (downloaded through GBIF, September 2026), corrected for how many people are out observing each month. Rare and protected species are left off on purpose.