State herp calendar
Reptiles and Amphibians of North Dakota
North Dakota is prairie and pothole ponds with a short season. Northern Leopard Frogs and Woodhouse's Toads are the most-reported herps. Painted Turtles bask in the ponds. June is the busiest month, and the Prairie Rattlesnake lives in the southwest.
8 species2 ecoregions1 venomous
Search entire stateSpecies out across North Dakota, by group and month
| Group | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snakes | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Turtles | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Frogs and Toads | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Numbers = species active that month (at peak or just starting / winding down).
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Hi, I'm Nick. I built Herp Calendar on my own and I keep it free, with no ads. If it has helped you find a herp this season, a small tip goes straight into the hosting and the data work. Only if you can spare it. Either way, I'm glad you're here.
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Ecoregions of North Dakota
Seasons shift a lot between North Dakota's ecoregions. Pick the one nearest you for a 12-month calendar of what's out.
Northern Great Plains
15 speciesOpen prairie and pothole ponds with leopard frogs, painted turtles and rattlesnakes.
View calendar →Central Great Plains
49 speciesPrairie, farm ponds and river bottoms with toads, turtles and collared lizards.
View calendar →Venomous here: Prairie Rattlesnake. Don't handle any snake you can't identify.
About North Dakota
When are reptiles and amphibians most active in North Dakota?
June is the busiest month in North Dakota, with 8 species at peak activity. At least half of the area's species are active from May through September.
What reptiles and amphibians live in North Dakota?
8 species have enough iNaturalist records to show here: 4 frogs and toads, 3 snakes, and 1 turtle. The most-reported are the Northern Leopard Frog, Woodhouse's Toad, and Painted Turtle.
Are there venomous snakes in North Dakota?
Yes. The Prairie Rattlesnake lives here. Don't handle them.
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.