Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in North Carolina in January

39 reptiles and amphibians are active in North Carolina in January, and 18 are at peak. Peak species include the Eastern Newt, White-spotted Slimy Salamander, Southern Leopard Frog, and Marbled Salamander.

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

Full 12-month North Carolina calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across North Carolina, by group and month

Group
Snakes	7	15	24	28	28	28	27	27	27	26	22	11
Lizards	3	6	7	9	9	10	9	10	9	7	5	3
Turtles	3	7	8	9	10	10	9	9	8	7	6	4
Frogs and Toads	11	14	19	19	18	18	17	17	17	17	14	15
Salamanders	14	23	29	37	34	29	28	28	31	29	25	16

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

Keep Herp Calendar free

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.

Leave a tip

At peak in January 18

Snakes

peak

SnakesRough EarthsnakeVirginia striatula

Lizards

peak

LizardsEastern Glass LizardOphisaurus ventralis

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsEastern SpadefootScaphiopus holbrookii

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

peak

Frogs and ToadsUpland Chorus FrogPseudacris feriarum

peak

Frogs and ToadsWood FrogLithobates sylvaticus

Salamanders

peak

SalamandersAtlantic Coast Slimy SalamanderPlethodon chlorobryonis

peak

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

peak

SalamandersEastern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon cinereus

peak

SalamandersMarbled SalamanderAmbystoma opacum

peak

SalamandersPiedmont Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus bairdi

peak

SalamandersSeal SalamanderDesmognathus monticola

peak

SalamandersSouthern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon serratus

peak

SalamandersSouthern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea cirrigera

peak

SalamandersSpotted SalamanderAmbystoma maculatum

peak

SalamandersSpring SalamanderGyrinophilus porphyriticus

peak

SalamandersWhite-spotted Slimy SalamanderPlethodon cylindraceus

peak

SalamandersWolf Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus lycos

Shoulder season in January 21

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

shoulder

SnakesCommon WormsnakeCarphophis amoenus

shoulder

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

shoulder

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

shoulder

SnakesRed-bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculata

shoulder

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsGreen AnoleAnolis carolinensis

shoulder

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

Turtles

shoulder

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

shoulder

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

shoulder

TurtlesRiver CooterPseudemys concinna

Alligators

shoulder

AlligatorsAmerican AlligatorAlligator mississippiensis

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsNorthern Cricket FrogAcris crepitans

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsPickerel FrogLithobates palustris

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSpring PeeperPseudacris crucifer

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSquirrel Tree FrogDryophytes squirellus

Salamanders

shoulder

SalamandersBlue Ridge Two-lined SalamanderEurycea wilderae

shoulder

SalamandersRed SalamanderPseudotriton ruber

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.

North Carolina in January

What reptiles and amphibians are out in North Carolina in January?

Are venomous snakes active in North Carolina in January?

No venomous snakes on this list are active in North Carolina in January.