Statewide

Pennsylvania Reptiles and Amphibians by Month

Every reptile and amphibian with enough records anywhere in Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania page.

48 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 Pennsylvania, by group and month

Group
Snakes	2	2	7	15	15	15	15	14	14	13	6	2
Lizards			2	2	2	2	2	2	2	1
Turtles	1	3	4	7	7	7	7	7	7	6	3	2
Frogs and Toads		5	6	8	8	7	7	7	7	6	4
Salamanders	3	9	12	15	13	11	10	10	12	13	9	3

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

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42 species at peak or shoulder in September

peak

SalamandersAllegheny Mountain Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus ochrophaeus

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

peak

SnakesCentral RatsnakePantherophis alleghaniensis

peak

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

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

SnakesEastern MilksnakeLampropeltis triangulum

peak

TurtlesEastern Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratus

peak

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

peak

Frogs and ToadsGray TreefrogDryophytes versicolor

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

peak

SalamandersLong-tailed SalamanderEurycea longicauda

peak

SalamandersNorthern Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus fuscus

peak

Frogs and ToadsNorthern Leopard FrogLithobates pipiens

peak

SalamandersNorthern Slimy SalamanderPlethodon glutinosus

peak

SalamandersNorthern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea bislineata

peak

Frogs and ToadsPickerel FrogLithobates palustris

peak

SnakesQueensnakeRegina septemvittata

peak

SalamandersRed SalamanderPseudotriton ruber

peak

SnakesRed-bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculata

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SalamandersSeal SalamanderDesmognathus monticola

peak

SnakesShort-headed Garter SnakeThamnophis brachystoma

peak

SnakesSmooth GreensnakeOpheodrys vernalis

peak

SalamandersWehrle's SalamanderPlethodon wehrlei

shoulder

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

shoulder

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

shoulder

SalamandersEastern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon cinereus

shoulder

SalamandersFour-toed SalamanderHemidactylium scutatum

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsFowler's ToadAnaxyrus fowleri

shoulder

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

shoulder

TurtlesNorthern Map TurtleGraptemys geographica

shoulder

TurtlesNorthern Red-bellied CooterPseudemys rubriventris

shoulder

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

shoulder

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

introduced

shoulder

TurtlesSpiny SoftshellApalone spinifera

shoulder

SalamandersSpring SalamanderGyrinophilus porphyriticus

shoulder

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

About Pennsylvania

When are reptiles and amphibians most active in Pennsylvania?

May is the busiest month in Pennsylvania, with 39 species at peak activity. At least half of the area's species are active from March through October.

What reptiles and amphibians live in Pennsylvania?

48 species have enough iNaturalist records to show here: 15 snakes, 15 salamanders, 9 frogs and toads, 7 turtles, and 2 lizards. The most-reported are the American Toad, Common Garter Snake, and Eastern Red-backed Salamander.

Are there venomous snakes in Pennsylvania?

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

Which reptiles and amphibians in Pennsylvania 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.