State herp calendar
Reptiles and Amphibians of West Virginia
West Virginia is steep, forested mountains. Salamanders are the biggest group, and Eastern Newts are the most-reported herp. Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamanders live along streams. May is the busiest month. The Timber Rattlesnake and Eastern Copperhead live here.
38 species2 ecoregions2 venomous
Search entire stateSpecies out across West Virginia, by group and month
| Group | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snakes | 1 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 2 | ||
| Lizards | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | ||||
| Turtles | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | ||||
| Frogs and Toads | 2 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 1 | ||
| Salamanders | 2 | 6 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 2 |
Numbers = species active that month (at peak or just starting / winding down).
Keep Herp Calendar free
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.
Pick your ecoregion
Loading map…
Tap a region to see what's out
Ecoregions of West Virginia
Seasons shift a lot between West Virginia's ecoregions. Pick the one nearest you for a 12-month calendar of what's out.
Central Appalachians
54 speciesForested ridges and hollows full of salamanders, with ratsnakes on the rocks.
View calendar →Northern and Central Appalachians
40 speciesPlateau forest and streams with newts, red-backed salamanders and ratsnakes.
View calendar →Venomous here: Eastern Copperhead, Timber Rattlesnake. Don't handle any snake you can't identify.
About West Virginia
When are reptiles and amphibians most active in West Virginia?
May is the busiest month in West Virginia, with 30 species at peak activity. At least half of the area's species are active from March through October.
What reptiles and amphibians live in West Virginia?
38 species have enough iNaturalist records to show here: 14 salamanders, 10 snakes, 9 frogs and toads, 3 turtles, and 2 lizards. The most-reported are the Eastern Newt, American Toad, and Eastern Red-backed Salamander.
Are there venomous snakes in West Virginia?
Yes. The Timber Rattlesnake and Eastern Copperhead live 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.