Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in Tennessee in October

64 reptiles and amphibians are active in Tennessee in October, and 41 are at peak. Peak species include the Central Ratsnake, Cope's Gray Tree Frog, Eastern Newt, and American Toad.

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

Full 12-month Tennessee calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across Tennessee, by group and month

Group
Snakes	4	13	19	22	21	20	18	19	19	18	13	5
Lizards	1	5	7	7	8	7	6	7	5	5	5	3
Turtles	2	6	9	11	11	11	10	9	8	7	3	2
Frogs and Toads	10	11	13	13	12	12	12	12	12	11	10	9
Salamanders	16	19	26	29	23	21	18	15	19	23	21	14

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

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At peak in October 41

Snakes

peak

SnakesCentral RatsnakePantherophis alleghaniensis

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

SnakesNorthern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus

venomous

peak

SnakesQueensnakeRegina septemvittata

peak

SnakesRed CornsnakePantherophis guttatus

peak

SnakesRed-bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculata

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

Lizards

peak

LizardsEastern Fence LizardSceloporus undulatus

peak

LizardsGreen AnoleAnolis carolinensis

peak

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

peak

LizardsMediterranean House GeckoHemidactylus turcicus

introduced

Turtles

peak

TurtlesOuachita Map TurtleGraptemys ouachitensis

peak

TurtlesRiver CooterPseudemys concinna

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

peak

Frogs and ToadsCope's Gray Tree FrogDryophytes chrysoscelis

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen TreefrogDryophytes cinereus

peak

Frogs and ToadsNorthern Cricket FrogAcris crepitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsPickerel FrogLithobates palustris

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

Salamanders

peak

SalamandersBlue Ridge Blackbelly SalamanderDesmognathus mavrokoilius

peak

SalamandersBlue Ridge Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus orestes

peak

SalamandersBlue Ridge Two-lined SalamanderEurycea wilderae

peak

SalamandersCave SalamanderEurycea lucifuga

peak

SalamandersCherokee Blackbelly SalamanderDesmognathus gvnigeusgwotli

peak

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

peak

SalamandersEastern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon cinereus

peak

SalamandersImitator SalamanderDesmognathus imitator

peak

SalamandersLong-tailed SalamanderEurycea longicauda

peak

SalamandersMarbled SalamanderAmbystoma opacum

peak

SalamandersMole SalamanderAmbystoma talpoideum

peak

SalamandersNorthern Slimy SalamanderPlethodon glutinosus

peak

SalamandersRed SalamanderPseudotriton ruber

peak

SalamandersSeal SalamanderDesmognathus monticola

peak

SalamandersSouthern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea cirrigera

peak

SalamandersSpotted Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus conanti

peak

SalamandersWhite-spotted Slimy SalamanderPlethodon cylindraceus

Shoulder season in October 23

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesBlack KingsnakeLampropeltis nigra

shoulder

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

shoulder

SnakesCommon WormsnakeCarphophis amoenus

shoulder

SnakesEastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix

venomous

shoulder

SnakesEastern MilksnakeLampropeltis triangulum

shoulder

SnakesPlain-bellied WatersnakeNerodia erythrogaster

shoulder

SnakesSmooth EarthsnakeVirginia valeriae

shoulder

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

Turtles

shoulder

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

shoulder

TurtlesEastern Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratus

shoulder

TurtlesNorthern Map TurtleGraptemys geographica

shoulder

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

shoulder

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsEastern Narrow-mouthed ToadGastrophryne carolinensis

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsFowler's ToadAnaxyrus fowleri

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSpring PeeperPseudacris crucifer

Salamanders

shoulder

SalamandersNorthern Zigzag SalamanderPlethodon dorsalis

shoulder

SalamandersRed-cheeked SalamanderPlethodon jordani

shoulder

SalamandersSouthern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon serratus

shoulder

SalamandersSouthern Zigzag SalamanderPlethodon ventralis

shoulder

SalamandersSpotted SalamanderAmbystoma maculatum

shoulder

SalamandersSpring SalamanderGyrinophilus porphyriticus

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.

Tennessee in October

What reptiles and amphibians are out in Tennessee in October?

64 reptiles and amphibians are active in Tennessee in October, and 41 are at peak. Peak species include the Central Ratsnake, Cope's Gray Tree Frog, Eastern Newt, and American Toad.

Are venomous snakes active in Tennessee in October?

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