Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in Virginia in May

81 reptiles and amphibians are active in Virginia in May, and 68 are at peak. Peak species include the American Toad, Painted Turtle, Eastern Newt, and Common Watersnake.

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

Full 12-month Virginia calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across Virginia, by group and month

Group
Snakes	4	12	21	24	24	24	23	22	22	20	16	7
Lizards		3	4	6	7	8	8	8	7	4	3
Turtles	3	7	8	8	9	9	8	8	8	7	6	3
Frogs and Toads	8	9	15	20	18	18	17	14	15	13	12	4
Salamanders	8	16	19	25	23	21	16	17	19	19	13	7

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

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At peak in May 68

Snakes

peak

SnakesBrown WatersnakeNerodia taxispilota

peak

SnakesCentral RatsnakePantherophis alleghaniensis

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

SnakesCommon Ribbon SnakeThamnophis saurita

peak

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

peak

SnakesCommon WormsnakeCarphophis amoenus

peak

SnakesEastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix

venomous

peak

SnakesEastern Hognose SnakeHeterodon platirhinos

peak

SnakesEastern KingsnakeLampropeltis getula

peak

SnakesEastern MilksnakeLampropeltis triangulum

peak

SnakesEastern RatsnakePantherophis quadrivittatus

peak

SnakesMole KingsnakeLampropeltis rhombomaculata

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

SnakesNorthern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus

venomous

peak

SnakesPlain-bellied WatersnakeNerodia erythrogaster

peak

SnakesQueensnakeRegina septemvittata

peak

SnakesRed CornsnakePantherophis guttatus

peak

SnakesRed-bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculata

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

peak

SnakesSmooth EarthsnakeVirginia valeriae

peak

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

Lizards

peak

LizardsBroad-headed SkinkPlestiodon laticeps

peak

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

peak

LizardsEastern Fence LizardSceloporus undulatus

peak

LizardsGreen AnoleAnolis carolinensis

introduced

peak

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

peak

LizardsSix-lined RacerunnerAspidoscelis sexlineatus

peak

LizardsSoutheastern Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon inexpectatus

Turtles

peak

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

peak

TurtlesEastern Mud TurtleKinosternon subrubrum

peak

TurtlesEastern Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratus

peak

TurtlesNorthern Map TurtleGraptemys geographica

peak

TurtlesNorthern Red-bellied CooterPseudemys rubriventris

peak

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

peak

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

peak

TurtlesRiver CooterPseudemys concinna

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

peak

Frogs and ToadsBarking Tree FrogDryophytes gratiosus

peak

Frogs and ToadsCope's Gray Tree FrogDryophytes chrysoscelis

peak

Frogs and ToadsEastern Narrow-mouthed ToadGastrophryne carolinensis

peak

Frogs and ToadsEastern SpadefootScaphiopus holbrookii

peak

Frogs and ToadsFowler's ToadAnaxyrus fowleri

peak

Frogs and ToadsGray TreefrogDryophytes versicolor

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsNorthern Cricket FrogAcris crepitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsPickerel FrogLithobates palustris

peak

Frogs and ToadsPine Woods Tree FrogDryophytes femoralis

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Cricket FrogAcris gryllus

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern ToadAnaxyrus terrestris

peak

Frogs and ToadsSquirrel Tree FrogDryophytes squirellus

Salamanders

peak

SalamandersAllegheny Mountain Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus ochrophaeus

peak

SalamandersBlue Ridge Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus orestes

peak

SalamandersCave SalamanderEurycea lucifuga

peak

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

peak

SalamandersKanawha Blackbelly SalamanderDesmognathus kanawha

peak

SalamandersLong-tailed SalamanderEurycea longicauda

peak

SalamandersNorthern Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus fuscus

peak

SalamandersNorthern Gray-cheeked SalamanderPlethodon montanus

peak

SalamandersNorthern Slimy SalamanderPlethodon glutinosus

peak

SalamandersRed SalamanderPseudotriton ruber

peak

SalamandersSeal SalamanderDesmognathus monticola

peak

SalamandersSpring SalamanderGyrinophilus porphyriticus

peak

SalamandersThree-lined SalamanderEurycea guttolineata

peak

SalamandersWhite-spotted Slimy SalamanderPlethodon cylindraceus

peak

SalamandersYonahlossee SalamanderPlethodon yonahlossee

Shoulder season in May 13

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

shoulder

SnakesRough EarthsnakeVirginia striatula

Turtles

shoulder

TurtlesStriped Mud TurtleKinosternon baurii

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsGreen TreefrogDryophytes cinereus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSpring PeeperPseudacris crucifer

Salamanders

shoulder

SalamandersAtlantic Coast Slimy SalamanderPlethodon chlorobryonis

shoulder

SalamandersBlacksburg SalamanderPlethodon jacksoni

shoulder

SalamandersEastern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon cinereus

shoulder

SalamandersFour-toed SalamanderHemidactylium scutatum

shoulder

SalamandersMarbled SalamanderAmbystoma opacum

shoulder

SalamandersNorthern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea bislineata

shoulder

SalamandersRavine SalamanderPlethodon richmondi

shoulder

SalamandersSouthern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea cirrigera

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.

Virginia in May

What reptiles and amphibians are out in Virginia in May?

81 reptiles and amphibians are active in Virginia in May, and 68 are at peak. Peak species include the American Toad, Painted Turtle, Eastern Newt, and Common Watersnake.

Are venomous snakes active in Virginia in May?

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