Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in Virginia in September

71 reptiles and amphibians are active in Virginia in September, and 37 are at peak. Peak species include the American Toad, Central Ratsnake, Green Frog, and American Bullfrog.

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 September 37

Snakes

peak

SnakesCentral RatsnakePantherophis alleghaniensis

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

SnakesEastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix

venomous

peak

SnakesEastern Hognose SnakeHeterodon platirhinos

peak

SnakesEastern MilksnakeLampropeltis triangulum

peak

SnakesMole KingsnakeLampropeltis rhombomaculata

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

SnakesNorthern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus

venomous

peak

SnakesQueensnakeRegina septemvittata

peak

SnakesRed-bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculata

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

peak

SnakesSmooth EarthsnakeVirginia valeriae

Lizards

peak

LizardsEastern Fence LizardSceloporus undulatus

peak

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

peak

LizardsMediterranean House GeckoHemidactylus turcicus

introduced

peak

LizardsSix-lined RacerunnerAspidoscelis sexlineatus

peak

LizardsSoutheastern Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon inexpectatus

Turtles

peak

TurtlesEastern Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratus

peak

TurtlesNorthern Map TurtleGraptemys geographica

peak

TurtlesNorthern Red-bellied CooterPseudemys rubriventris

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 ToadsEastern SpadefootScaphiopus holbrookii

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen TreefrogDryophytes cinereus

peak

Frogs and ToadsPickerel FrogLithobates palustris

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern ToadAnaxyrus terrestris

peak

Frogs and ToadsSquirrel Tree FrogDryophytes squirellus

Salamanders

peak

SalamandersLong-tailed SalamanderEurycea longicauda

peak

SalamandersNorthern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea bislineata

peak

SalamandersRed SalamanderPseudotriton ruber

peak

SalamandersSeal SalamanderDesmognathus monticola

peak

SalamandersThree-lined SalamanderEurycea guttolineata

peak

SalamandersWhite-spotted Slimy SalamanderPlethodon cylindraceus

Shoulder season in September 34

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesCommon Ribbon SnakeThamnophis saurita

shoulder

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

shoulder

SnakesCommon WormsnakeCarphophis amoenus

shoulder

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

shoulder

SnakesEastern KingsnakeLampropeltis getula

shoulder

SnakesEastern RatsnakePantherophis quadrivittatus

shoulder

SnakesPlain-bellied WatersnakeNerodia erythrogaster

shoulder

SnakesRough EarthsnakeVirginia striatula

shoulder

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsBroad-headed SkinkPlestiodon laticeps

shoulder

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

Turtles

shoulder

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

shoulder

TurtlesEastern Mud TurtleKinosternon subrubrum

shoulder

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

shoulder

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

shoulder

TurtlesRiver CooterPseudemys concinna

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsEastern Narrow-mouthed ToadGastrophryne carolinensis

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsFowler's ToadAnaxyrus fowleri

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsGray TreefrogDryophytes versicolor

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsNorthern Cricket FrogAcris crepitans

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Cricket FrogAcris gryllus

Salamanders

shoulder

SalamandersAllegheny Mountain Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus ochrophaeus

shoulder

SalamandersBlue Ridge Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus orestes

shoulder

SalamandersCave SalamanderEurycea lucifuga

shoulder

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

shoulder

SalamandersEastern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon cinereus

shoulder

SalamandersFour-toed SalamanderHemidactylium scutatum

shoulder

SalamandersKanawha Blackbelly SalamanderDesmognathus kanawha

shoulder

SalamandersMarbled SalamanderAmbystoma opacum

shoulder

SalamandersNorthern Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus fuscus

shoulder

SalamandersNorthern Slimy SalamanderPlethodon glutinosus

shoulder

SalamandersRavine SalamanderPlethodon richmondi

shoulder

SalamandersSouthern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea cirrigera

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.

Virginia in September

What reptiles and amphibians are out in Virginia in September?

71 reptiles and amphibians are active in Virginia in September, and 37 are at peak. Peak species include the American Toad, Central Ratsnake, Green Frog, and American Bullfrog.

Are venomous snakes active in Virginia in September?

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