Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in Michigan in March

26 reptiles and amphibians are active in Michigan in March, and 17 are at peak. Peak species include the Painted Turtle, Common Garter Snake, Eastern Red-backed Salamander, and Spring Peeper.

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

Full 12-month Michigan calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across Michigan, by group and month

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

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

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At peak in March 17

Snakes

peak

SnakesButler's Garter SnakeThamnophis butleri

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

SnakesCommon Ribbon SnakeThamnophis saurita

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

Turtles

peak

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

peak

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

introduced

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsSpring PeeperPseudacris crucifer

peak

Frogs and ToadsWestern Chorus FrogPseudacris triseriata

peak

Frogs and ToadsWood FrogLithobates sylvaticus

Salamanders

peak

SalamandersBlue-spotted SalamanderAmbystoma laterale

peak

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

peak

SalamandersEastern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon cinereus

peak

SalamandersEastern Tiger SalamanderAmbystoma tigrinum

peak

SalamandersFour-toed SalamanderHemidactylium scutatum

peak

SalamandersSpotted SalamanderAmbystoma maculatum

Shoulder season in March 9

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

shoulder

SnakesEastern Hognose SnakeHeterodon platirhinos

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

Turtles

shoulder

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

shoulder

TurtlesNorthern Map TurtleGraptemys geographica

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsGray TreefrogDryophytes versicolor

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsNorthern Leopard FrogLithobates pipiens

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.

Michigan in March

What reptiles and amphibians are out in Michigan in March?

26 reptiles and amphibians are active in Michigan in March, and 17 are at peak. Peak species include the Painted Turtle, Common Garter Snake, Eastern Red-backed Salamander, and Spring Peeper.

Are venomous snakes active in Michigan in March?

No venomous snakes on this list are active in Michigan in March.