Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in South Carolina in October

59 reptiles and amphibians are active in South Carolina in October, and 35 are at peak. Peak species include the Green Anole, Southern Toad, Green Treefrog, and Squirrel Tree Frog.

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

Full 12-month South Carolina calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across South Carolina, by group and month

Group
Snakes	6	14	20	22	22	22	21	19	20	20	18	9
Lizards	3	6	8	10	10	10	10	10	10	9	6	4
Turtles	2	6	7	8	8	7	7	7	6	5	3	2
Frogs and Toads	10	15	18	18	16	16	17	17	17	16	11	10
Salamanders	8	12	12	12	10	8	4	3	4	8	5	5

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

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At peak in October 35

Snakes

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

SnakesCommon Ribbon SnakeThamnophis saurita

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesEastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix

venomous

peak

SnakesEastern Hognose SnakeHeterodon platirhinos

peak

SnakesEastern RatsnakePantherophis quadrivittatus

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

SnakesNorthern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus

venomous

peak

SnakesRed CornsnakePantherophis guttatus

peak

SnakesRed-bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculata

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

peak

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

Lizards

peak

LizardsBrown AnoleAnolis sagrei

introduced

peak

LizardsEastern Fence LizardSceloporus undulatus

peak

LizardsEastern Glass LizardOphisaurus ventralis

peak

LizardsGreen AnoleAnolis carolinensis

peak

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

peak

LizardsMediterranean House GeckoHemidactylus turcicus

introduced

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsEastern SpadefootScaphiopus holbrookii

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen TreefrogDryophytes cinereus

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreenhouse FrogEleutherodactylus planirostris

introduced

peak

Frogs and ToadsNorthern Cricket FrogAcris crepitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsPickerel FrogLithobates palustris

peak

Frogs and ToadsPine Woods Tree FrogDryophytes femoralis

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern ToadAnaxyrus terrestris

peak

Frogs and ToadsSquirrel Tree FrogDryophytes squirellus

Salamanders

peak

SalamandersAtlantic Coast Slimy SalamanderPlethodon chlorobryonis

peak

SalamandersBlue Ridge Two-lined SalamanderEurycea wilderae

peak

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

peak

SalamandersMarbled SalamanderAmbystoma opacum

peak

SalamandersSouthern Blackbelly SalamanderDesmognathus amphileucus

peak

SalamandersThree-lined SalamanderEurycea guttolineata

Shoulder season in October 24

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesBanded WatersnakeNerodia fasciata

shoulder

SnakesBrown WatersnakeNerodia taxispilota

shoulder

SnakesCentral RatsnakePantherophis alleghaniensis

shoulder

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

shoulder

SnakesCommon WormsnakeCarphophis amoenus

shoulder

SnakesEastern KingsnakeLampropeltis getula

shoulder

SnakesPlain-bellied WatersnakeNerodia erythrogaster

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

shoulder

LizardsSix-lined RacerunnerAspidoscelis sexlineatus

shoulder

LizardsSoutheastern Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon inexpectatus

Turtles

shoulder

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

shoulder

TurtlesEastern Mud TurtleKinosternon subrubrum

shoulder

TurtlesEastern Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratus

shoulder

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

shoulder

TurtlesRiver CooterPseudemys concinna

Alligators

shoulder

AlligatorsAmerican AlligatorAlligator mississippiensis

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsCope's Gray Tree FrogDryophytes chrysoscelis

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsEastern Narrow-mouthed ToadGastrophryne carolinensis

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsFowler's ToadAnaxyrus fowleri

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Cricket FrogAcris gryllus

Salamanders

shoulder

SalamandersRed SalamanderPseudotriton ruber

shoulder

SalamandersSouthern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea cirrigera

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.

South Carolina in October

What reptiles and amphibians are out in South Carolina in October?

59 reptiles and amphibians are active in South Carolina in October, and 35 are at peak. Peak species include the Green Anole, Southern Toad, Green Treefrog, and Squirrel Tree Frog.

Are venomous snakes active in South Carolina in October?

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