Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in Mississippi in May

46 reptiles and amphibians are active in Mississippi in May, and 39 are at peak. Peak species include the Green Anole, American Alligator, Pond Slider, and Green Treefrog.

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

Full 12-month Mississippi calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across Mississippi, by group and month

Group
Snakes	3	10	16	17	16	15	14	13	13	11	6	5
Lizards	2	5	5	6	6	5	5	6	6	4	4	4
Turtles	2	4	6	7	7	7	7	5	4	4	3	2
Frogs and Toads	9	12	13	13	13	14	13	13	11	10	8	8
Salamanders	4	4	5	4	3	2	1	1	2	3	3	2

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

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At peak in May 39

Snakes

peak

SnakesBanded WatersnakeNerodia fasciata

peak

SnakesCentral RatsnakePantherophis alleghaniensis

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

SnakesCommon Ribbon SnakeThamnophis saurita

peak

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesDiamondback WatersnakeNerodia rhombifer

peak

SnakesEastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix

venomous

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

SnakesNorthern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus

venomous

peak

SnakesPlain-bellied WatersnakeNerodia erythrogaster

peak

SnakesRed CornsnakePantherophis guttatus

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

peak

SnakesSpeckled KingsnakeLampropeltis holbrooki

peak

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

Lizards

peak

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

peak

LizardsEastern Fence LizardSceloporus undulatus

peak

LizardsEastern Glass LizardOphisaurus ventralis

peak

LizardsGreen AnoleAnolis carolinensis

peak

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

Turtles

peak

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

peak

TurtlesEastern Mud TurtleKinosternon subrubrum

peak

TurtlesEastern Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratus

peak

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

peak

TurtlesRiver CooterPseudemys concinna

peak

TurtlesSpiny SoftshellApalone spinifera

peak

TurtlesThree-toed Box TurtleTerrapene triunguis

Alligators

peak

AlligatorsAmerican AlligatorAlligator mississippiensis

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsBarking Tree FrogDryophytes gratiosus

peak

Frogs and ToadsBird-voiced TreefrogDryophytes avivoca

peak

Frogs and ToadsCope's Gray Tree FrogDryophytes chrysoscelis

peak

Frogs and ToadsEastern Narrow-mouthed ToadGastrophryne carolinensis

peak

Frogs and ToadsFowler's ToadAnaxyrus fowleri

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen TreefrogDryophytes cinereus

peak

Frogs and ToadsOak ToadAnaxyrus quercicus

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern ToadAnaxyrus terrestris

peak

Frogs and ToadsSquirrel Tree FrogDryophytes squirellus

Shoulder season in May 7

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsMediterranean House GeckoHemidactylus turcicus

introduced

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Cricket FrogAcris gryllus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

Salamanders

shoulder

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

shoulder

SalamandersMississippi Slimy SalamanderPlethodon mississippi

shoulder

SalamandersThree-lined SalamanderEurycea guttolineata

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.

Mississippi in May

What reptiles and amphibians are out in Mississippi in May?

46 reptiles and amphibians are active in Mississippi in May, and 39 are at peak. Peak species include the Green Anole, American Alligator, Pond Slider, and Green Treefrog.

Are venomous snakes active in Mississippi 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.