Ecoregion

New England Highlands Reptiles and Amphibians by Month

Northern hardwood forest covers these hills. Eastern Newts are the most-reported herp. Wood Frogs and Spring Peepers call as soon as the ice goes out, and Spotted Salamanders head to vernal pools. May is the busiest month. The season is short, so things go quiet by fall.

25 species

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 New England Highlands, by group and month

Group
Snakes			4	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	6	1
Turtles			2	3	4	4	4	4	4	2
Frogs and Toads		2	6	7	8	7	6	8	8	6	1
Salamanders	1	3	5	6	6	5	4	4	4	4	4	2

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

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23 species at peak or shoulder in September

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

peak

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesEastern MilksnakeLampropeltis triangulum

peak

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

peak

SalamandersEastern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon cinereus

peak

Frogs and ToadsGray TreefrogDryophytes versicolor

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsMink FrogLithobates septentrionalis

peak

TurtlesNorthern Map TurtleGraptemys geographica

peak

SalamandersNorthern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea bislineata

peak

Frogs and ToadsPickerel FrogLithobates palustris

peak

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

introduced

peak

SnakesRed-bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculata

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SnakesSmooth GreensnakeOpheodrys vernalis

shoulder

SalamandersNorthern Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus fuscus

shoulder

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSpring PeeperPseudacris crucifer

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsWood FrogLithobates sylvaticus

About New England Highlands

When are reptiles and amphibians most active in the New England Highlands?

May is the busiest month in the New England Highlands, with 21 species at peak activity. At least half of the area's species are active from March through October.

What reptiles and amphibians live in the New England Highlands?

25 species have enough iNaturalist records to show here: 8 frogs and toads, 7 snakes, 6 salamanders, and 4 turtles. The most-reported are the Eastern Newt, American Toad, and Green Frog.

Are there venomous snakes in the New England Highlands?

No venomous snakes have enough records in the New England Highlands to make this list.

Which reptiles and amphibians in the New England Highlands are introduced?

The Pond Slider is 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.