Ecoregion

California Coast Ranges and Foothills Reptiles and Amphibians by Month

Oak woodland, chaparral and foggy canyons make up the Coast Ranges. Western Fence Lizards are everywhere once it warms up. The winter rains are the other season, when California Newts and Arboreal Salamanders come out. May is the busiest month overall. Gopher Snakes and California King Snakes are common, and the Western Rattlesnake is the only venomous snake here.

41 species1 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 California Coast Ranges and Foothills, by group and month

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

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

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25 species at peak or shoulder in September

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

introduced

peak

SnakesAquatic Garter SnakeThamnophis atratus

peak

SalamandersCalifornia Giant SalamanderDicamptodon ensatus

peak

LizardsCommon Side-blotched LizardUta stansburiana

peak

SnakesGopher SnakePituophis catenifer

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

LizardsNorthern Alligator LizardElgaria coerulea

peak

Frogs and ToadsPacific Chorus FrogPseudacris regilla

peak

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

introduced

peak

LizardsSouthern Alligator LizardElgaria multicarinata

peak

SnakesTwo-striped Garter SnakeThamnophis hammondii

peak

LizardsWestern Fence LizardSceloporus occidentalis

peak

SnakesWestern RattlesnakeCrotalus oreganus

venomous

peak

SnakesWestern Terrestrial Garter SnakeThamnophis elegans

peak

Frogs and ToadsWestern ToadAnaxyrus boreas

shoulder

SalamandersArboreal SalamanderAneides lugubris

shoulder

LizardsBlainville's Horned LizardPhrynosoma blainvillii

shoulder

SnakesCalifornia King SnakeLampropeltis californiae

shoulder

SnakesCoast Night SnakeHypsiglena ochrorhynchus

shoulder

LizardsCommon Sagebrush LizardSceloporus graciosus

shoulder

SnakesCommon Sharp-tailed SnakeContia tenuis

shoulder

SnakesNorthern Rubber BoaCharina bottae

shoulder

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

shoulder

LizardsWestern SkinkPlestiodon skiltonianus

shoulder

LizardsWestern WhiptailAspidoscelis tigris

About California Coast Ranges and Foothills

When are reptiles and amphibians most active in the California Coast Ranges and Foothills?

May is the busiest month in the California Coast Ranges and Foothills, with 28 species at peak activity. At least half of the area's species are active all year.

What reptiles and amphibians live in the California Coast Ranges and Foothills?

41 species have enough iNaturalist records to show here: 14 snakes, 12 salamanders, 10 lizards, 3 frogs and toads, and 2 turtles. The most-reported are the Western Fence Lizard, California Newt, and Pacific Chorus Frog.

Are there venomous snakes in the California Coast Ranges and Foothills?

Yes. The Western Rattlesnake lives here. Don't handle them.

Which reptiles and amphibians in the California Coast Ranges and Foothills are introduced?

The Pond Slider, American Bullfrog, and Spiny Softshell are 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.