Ecoregion
Colorado Plateau Reptiles and Amphibians by Month
Canyons, mesas and slickrock make up the Colorado Plateau. Lizards are the easiest herps to see here. Plateau Fence Lizards, Eastern Collared Lizards and Common Side-blotched Lizards sun on the rocks. July is the busiest month. Gopher Snakes are common, and the Western Rattlesnake and Prairie Rattlesnake live here too.
34 species3 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 Colorado Plateau, by group and month
| Group | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snakes | 4 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 4 | |||
| Lizards | 1 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 1 |
| Turtles | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Frogs and Toads | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Numbers = species active that month (at peak or just starting / winding down).
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31 species at peak or shoulder in September
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shoulderAbout Colorado Plateau
When are reptiles and amphibians most active in the Colorado Plateau?
July is the busiest month in the Colorado Plateau, with 33 species at peak activity. At least half of the area's species are active from April through October.
What reptiles and amphibians live in the Colorado Plateau?
34 species have enough iNaturalist records to show here: 16 lizards, 11 snakes, 4 frogs and toads, and 3 turtles. The most-reported are the Common Side-blotched Lizard, Plateau Fence Lizard, and Eastern Collared Lizard.
Are there venomous snakes in the Colorado Plateau?
Yes. The Western Rattlesnake, Prairie Rattlesnake, and Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake live here. Don't handle them.
Which reptiles and amphibians in the Colorado Plateau are introduced?
The Pond Slider, American Bullfrog, New Mexico Whiptail, 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.