Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in Arizona in October

67 reptiles and amphibians are active in Arizona in October, and 27 are at peak. Peak species include the Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Common Side-blotched Lizard, Gopher Snake, and Canyon Tree Frog.

Counted from iNaturalist research-grade observations recorded inside Arizona. Seasons shift across the state, so for a closer match, pick your ecoregion.

Full 12-month Arizona calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across Arizona, by group and month

Group
Snakes	1	6	15	29	32	34	35	35	34	31	11	2
Lizards	5	10	24	31	32	30	30	31	30	24	12	5
Turtles	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	1
Frogs and Toads	1	3	5	5	7	12	12	12	12	10	5	1

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

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At peak in October 27

Snakes

peak

SnakesBanded Sand SnakeSonora cincta

peak

SnakesBig Bend Patch-nosed SnakeSalvadora deserticola

peak

SnakesDesert NightsnakeHypsiglena chlorophaea

peak

SnakesGopher SnakePituophis catenifer

peak

SnakesGreen Rat SnakeSenticolis triaspis

peak

SnakesMexican Hognose SnakeHeterodon kennerlyi

peak

SnakesMountain Patch-nosed SnakeSalvadora grahamiae

peak

SnakesPrairie RattlesnakeCrotalus viridis

venomous

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SnakesSidewinderCrotalus cerastes

venomous

peak

SnakesSonoran WhipsnakeMasticophis bilineatus

peak

SnakesWestern Diamond-backed RattlesnakeCrotalus atrox

venomous

peak

SnakesWestern Glossy SnakeArizona occidentalis

peak

SnakesWestern RattlesnakeCrotalus oreganus

venomous

peak

SnakesWestern Terrestrial Garter SnakeThamnophis elegans

Lizards

peak

LizardsCommon Side-blotched LizardUta stansburiana

peak

LizardsDesert Collared LizardCrotaphytus bicinctores

peak

LizardsKeeled Rock GeckoCyrtopodion scabrum

introduced

peak

LizardsMadrean Alligator LizardElgaria kingii

peak

LizardsMediterranean House GeckoHemidactylus turcicus

introduced

peak

LizardsRegal Horned LizardPhrynosoma solare

peak

LizardsWestern Banded GeckoColeonyx variegatus

Turtles

peak

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

introduced

peak

TurtlesSpiny SoftshellApalone spinifera

introduced

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

introduced

peak

Frogs and ToadsCanyon Tree FrogDryophytes arenicolor

peak

Frogs and ToadsLowland Leopard FrogLithobates yavapaiensis

Shoulder season in October 40

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesArizona Black RattlesnakeCrotalus cerberus

venomous

shoulder

SnakesBlack-necked Garter SnakeThamnophis cyrtopsis

shoulder

SnakesCalifornia King SnakeLampropeltis californiae

shoulder

SnakesCheckered Garter SnakeThamnophis marcianus

shoulder

SnakesChihuahuan Mountain KingsnakeLampropeltis knoblochi

shoulder

SnakesCommon CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum

shoulder

SnakesDesert KingsnakeLampropeltis splendida

shoulder

SnakesGround SnakeSonora semiannulata

shoulder

SnakesLong-nosed SnakeRhinocheilus lecontei

shoulder

SnakesMojave RattlesnakeCrotalus scutulatus

venomous

shoulder

SnakesSonoran CoralsnakeMicruroides euryxanthus

venomous

shoulder

SnakesSouthwestern Speckled RattlesnakeCrotalus pyrrhus

venomous

shoulder

SnakesStriped WhipsnakeMasticophis taeniatus

shoulder

SnakesTiger RattlesnakeCrotalus tigris

venomous

shoulder

SnakesWestern Black-tailed RattlesnakeCrotalus molossus

venomous

shoulder

SnakesWestern Patch-nosed SnakeSalvadora hexalepis

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsClark's Spiny LizardSceloporus clarkii

shoulder

LizardsCommon ChuckwallaSauromalus ater

shoulder

LizardsDesert Grassland WhiptailAspidoscelis uniparens

shoulder

LizardsDesert IguanaDipsosaurus dorsalis

shoulder

LizardsDesert Spiny LizardSceloporus magister

shoulder

LizardsEastern Collared LizardCrotaphytus collaris

shoulder

LizardsElegant Earless LizardHolbrookia elegans

shoulder

LizardsGreater Earless LizardCophosaurus texanus

shoulder

LizardsGreater Short-horned LizardPhrynosoma hernandesi

shoulder

LizardsLong-nosed Leopard LizardGambelia wislizenii

shoulder

LizardsOrnate Tree LizardUrosaurus ornatus

shoulder

LizardsPlateau Fence LizardSceloporus tristichus

shoulder

LizardsPlateau Striped WhiptailAspidoscelis velox

shoulder

LizardsSouthwestern Fence LizardSceloporus cowlesi

shoulder

LizardsWestern WhiptailAspidoscelis tigris

shoulder

LizardsYarrow's Spiny LizardSceloporus jarrovii

shoulder

LizardsZebra-tailed LizardCallisaurus draconoides

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsArizona Tree FrogDryophytes wrightorum

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsCouch's SpadefootScaphiopus couchii

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsGreat Plains ToadAnaxyrus cognatus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsMexican SpadefootSpea multiplicata

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsRed-spotted ToadAnaxyrus punctatus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSonoran Desert ToadIncilius alvarius

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsWoodhouse's ToadAnaxyrus woodhousii

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.

Arizona in October

What reptiles and amphibians are out in Arizona in October?

Are venomous snakes active in Arizona in October?

Yes. The Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Western Black-tailed Rattlesnake, Mojave Rattlesnake, Sidewinder, Tiger Rattlesnake, Arizona Black Rattlesnake, Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake, Sonoran Coralsnake, Western Rattlesnake, and Prairie Rattlesnake can be active in October. Watch where you step and don't handle them.