Terms of Use and Safety Disclaimer
Last updated: September 25, 2026
By using Herp Calendar you agree to these terms. Please read the safety disclaimer below. If you do not agree, please do not use this site.
Never handle a snake you can't identify for certain. Several US snakes are venomous, and some have harmless look-alikes. If you're bitten by a snake that might be venomous, call 911 or get to an emergency room right away.
Educational reference only
Herp Calendar is a free educational reference about when reptiles and amphibians are active across the United States. It is not a field identification guide, and it is not professional, medical, or legal advice. The calendars, descriptions, and photographs are general information.
Look, don't take
Many states regulate or ban collecting, keeping, or selling native reptiles and amphibians, and some species are protected by state or federal law. You are responsible for following those laws. Photograph what you find, leave it where you found it, and don't move animals between places. Rare and protected species are left off this site on purpose.
Assumption of risk
Looking for wildlife carries real risks, including snakebite, falls, heat, and traffic when checking roads at night. You go out entirely at your own risk and are responsible for your own safety and the safety of anyone with you.
No warranty
The information here is provided "as is", without warranty of any kind. Occurrence and seasonality data come from third-party sources (iNaturalist, through GBIF) and may contain errors, gaps, or regional inaccuracies. We do not guarantee that any content is accurate, complete, or current.
Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Herp Calendar and its operator are not liable for any injury, illness, loss, or damage arising from the use of this site or from encountering, handling, or collecting any wild animal.
Data, text and image attribution
Occurrence data are iNaturalist research-grade observations downloaded through GBIF. Species text is quoted word for word from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and Animal Diversity Web, each quote linked to its source. Photographs are used under CC0, CC BY, or CC BY-SA licenses; each image credits its photographer and links to its license. Our compiled calendars are offered under CC BY-NC 4.0, because some of the underlying records are licensed CC BY-NC.
Changes
We may update these terms. The "last updated" date above reflects the latest version.
Contact
Questions about these terms: nick@rarecombinations.com.