State herp calendar
Reptiles and Amphibians of Iowa
Iowa is mostly farmland, so herps stick to rivers, ponds and parks. American Toads and American Bullfrogs are the most-reported herps. Northern Leopard Frogs and Blanchard's Cricket Frogs call in spring. April is the busiest month, and no venomous snakes made the list here.
19 species2 ecoregions
Search entire stateSpecies out across Iowa, by group and month
| Group | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snakes | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | ||
| Turtles | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | |||
| Frogs and Toads | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 3 | |||
| Salamanders | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Numbers = species active that month (at peak or just starting / winding down).
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Hi, I'm Nick. I built Herp Calendar on my own and I keep it free, with no ads. If it has helped you find a herp this season, a small tip goes straight into the hosting and the data work. Only if you can spare it. Either way, I'm glad you're here.
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Ecoregions of Iowa
Seasons shift a lot between Iowa's ecoregions. Pick the one nearest you for a 12-month calendar of what's out.
About Iowa
When are reptiles and amphibians most active in Iowa?
April is the busiest month in Iowa, with 15 species at peak activity. At least half of the area's species are active from March through October.
What reptiles and amphibians live in Iowa?
19 species have enough iNaturalist records to show here: 8 frogs and toads, 6 snakes, 4 turtles, and 1 salamander. The most-reported are the American Toad, American Bullfrog, and Painted Turtle.
Are there venomous snakes in Iowa?
No venomous snakes have enough records in Iowa to make this list.
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.