Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in Virginia in October

63 reptiles and amphibians are active in Virginia in October, and 39 are at peak. Peak species include the Eastern Red-backed Salamander, American Toad, Central Ratsnake, and American Bullfrog.

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

Full 12-month Virginia calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across Virginia, by group and month

Group
Snakes	4	12	21	24	24	24	23	22	22	20	16	7
Lizards		3	4	6	7	8	8	8	7	4	3
Turtles	3	7	8	8	9	9	8	8	8	7	6	3
Frogs and Toads	8	9	15	20	18	18	17	14	15	13	12	4
Salamanders	8	16	19	25	23	21	16	17	19	19	13	7

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

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At peak in October 39

Snakes

peak

SnakesCentral RatsnakePantherophis alleghaniensis

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

SnakesMole KingsnakeLampropeltis rhombomaculata

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

SnakesNorthern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus

venomous

peak

SnakesRed-bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculata

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SnakesRough EarthsnakeVirginia striatula

peak

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

peak

SnakesSmooth EarthsnakeVirginia valeriae

Lizards

peak

LizardsEastern Fence LizardSceloporus undulatus

peak

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

peak

LizardsMediterranean House GeckoHemidactylus turcicus

introduced

Turtles

peak

TurtlesEastern Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratus

peak

TurtlesNorthern Red-bellied CooterPseudemys rubriventris

peak

TurtlesRiver CooterPseudemys concinna

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

peak

Frogs and ToadsEastern SpadefootScaphiopus holbrookii

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen TreefrogDryophytes cinereus

peak

Frogs and ToadsPickerel FrogLithobates palustris

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern ToadAnaxyrus terrestris

peak

Frogs and ToadsSquirrel Tree FrogDryophytes squirellus

Salamanders

peak

SalamandersEastern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon cinereus

peak

SalamandersLong-tailed SalamanderEurycea longicauda

peak

SalamandersMarbled SalamanderAmbystoma opacum

peak

SalamandersNorthern Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus fuscus

peak

SalamandersNorthern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea bislineata

peak

SalamandersRavine SalamanderPlethodon richmondi

peak

SalamandersRed SalamanderPseudotriton ruber

peak

SalamandersSeal SalamanderDesmognathus monticola

peak

SalamandersSouthern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea cirrigera

peak

SalamandersThree-lined SalamanderEurycea guttolineata

peak

SalamandersWhite-spotted Slimy SalamanderPlethodon cylindraceus

Shoulder season in October 24

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

shoulder

SnakesCommon WormsnakeCarphophis amoenus

shoulder

SnakesEastern MilksnakeLampropeltis triangulum

shoulder

SnakesEastern RatsnakePantherophis quadrivittatus

shoulder

SnakesQueensnakeRegina septemvittata

shoulder

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

Turtles

shoulder

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

shoulder

TurtlesEastern Mud TurtleKinosternon subrubrum

shoulder

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

shoulder

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsCope's Gray Tree FrogDryophytes chrysoscelis

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsFowler's ToadAnaxyrus fowleri

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsGray TreefrogDryophytes versicolor

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsNorthern Cricket FrogAcris crepitans

Salamanders

shoulder

SalamandersAllegheny Mountain Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus ochrophaeus

shoulder

SalamandersBlacksburg SalamanderPlethodon jacksoni

shoulder

SalamandersBlue Ridge Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus orestes

shoulder

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

shoulder

SalamandersFour-toed SalamanderHemidactylium scutatum

shoulder

SalamandersKanawha Blackbelly SalamanderDesmognathus kanawha

shoulder

SalamandersNorthern Slimy SalamanderPlethodon glutinosus

shoulder

SalamandersSpring SalamanderGyrinophilus porphyriticus

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.

Virginia in October

What reptiles and amphibians are out in Virginia in October?

63 reptiles and amphibians are active in Virginia in October, and 39 are at peak. Peak species include the Eastern Red-backed Salamander, American Toad, Central Ratsnake, and American Bullfrog.

Are venomous snakes active in Virginia in October?

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