Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in Illinois in May

55 reptiles and amphibians are active in Illinois in May, and 35 are at peak. Peak species include the American Toad, Painted Turtle, Pond Slider, and American Bullfrog.

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

Full 12-month Illinois calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across Illinois, by group and month

Group
Snakes		7	16	25	25	20	17	18	21	20	12	3
Lizards			3	5	5	5	4	4	4	3	1
Turtles	1	3	6	7	7	7	7	6	7	5	2	1
Frogs and Toads	1	9	10	12	11	9	10	9	12	12	10	3
Salamanders	2	9	11	11	7			1	9	10	9	1

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

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At peak in May 35

Snakes

peak

SnakesBlack KingsnakeLampropeltis nigra

peak

SnakesCentral RatsnakePantherophis alleghaniensis

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

peak

SnakesCommon WormsnakeCarphophis amoenus

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesEastern FoxsnakePantherophis vulpinus

peak

SnakesEastern Hognose SnakeHeterodon platirhinos

peak

SnakesEastern MilksnakeLampropeltis triangulum

peak

SnakesGopher SnakePituophis catenifer

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

SnakesPlain-bellied WatersnakeNerodia erythrogaster

peak

SnakesPlains Garter SnakeThamnophis radix

peak

SnakesPrairie KingsnakeLampropeltis calligaster

peak

SnakesQueensnakeRegina septemvittata

peak

SnakesSmooth GreensnakeOpheodrys vernalis

Lizards

peak

LizardsBroad-headed SkinkPlestiodon laticeps

peak

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

peak

LizardsEastern Fence LizardSceloporus undulatus

peak

LizardsSix-lined RacerunnerAspidoscelis sexlineatus

Turtles

peak

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

peak

TurtlesEastern Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratus

peak

TurtlesFalse Map TurtleGraptemys pseudogeographica

peak

TurtlesNorthern Map TurtleGraptemys geographica

peak

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

peak

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

peak

TurtlesSpiny SoftshellApalone spinifera

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

peak

Frogs and ToadsBlanchard's Cricket FrogAcris blanchardi

peak

Frogs and ToadsCope's Gray Tree FrogDryophytes chrysoscelis

peak

Frogs and ToadsFowler's ToadAnaxyrus fowleri

peak

Frogs and ToadsGray TreefrogDryophytes versicolor

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsNorthern Leopard FrogLithobates pipiens

Shoulder season in May 20

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesDiamondback WatersnakeNerodia rhombifer

shoulder

SnakesEastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix

venomous

shoulder

SnakesNorthern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus

venomous

shoulder

SnakesRed-bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculata

shoulder

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

shoulder

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

shoulder

SnakesSmooth EarthsnakeVirginia valeriae

shoulder

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

shoulder

SnakesWestern Ribbon SnakeThamnophis proximus

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsBoreal Chorus FrogPseudacris maculata

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSpring PeeperPseudacris crucifer

Salamanders

shoulder

SalamandersCave SalamanderEurycea lucifuga

shoulder

SalamandersEastern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon cinereus

shoulder

SalamandersLong-tailed SalamanderEurycea longicauda

shoulder

SalamandersMarbled SalamanderAmbystoma opacum

shoulder

SalamandersNorthern Slimy SalamanderPlethodon glutinosus

shoulder

SalamandersSouthern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea cirrigera

shoulder

SalamandersWestern Lesser SirenSiren nettingi

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.

Illinois in May

What reptiles and amphibians are out in Illinois in May?

55 reptiles and amphibians are active in Illinois in May, and 35 are at peak. Peak species include the American Toad, Painted Turtle, Pond Slider, and American Bullfrog.

Are venomous snakes active in Illinois in May?

Yes. The Northern Cottonmouth, Eastern Copperhead, and Timber Rattlesnake can be active in May. Watch where you step and don't handle them.