Snakes in California in July
Yes, July is a good month to see snakes in California. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 13,018 of the 153,623 sightings logged across the year (8.5%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.
California Red-sided Garter Snake · kclarksdnhmorg CC BY
San Francisco Garter Snake · Amy CC BY-ND
Western Yellow-bellied Racer · Jonathan Eisen CC BY
Good month for snakes in California
8.5%
of yearly sightings
13,018
records in July
#5
busiest month of 12
153,623
verified records a year
June 14.4%, July 8.5%, August 6.2%. Busiest month is May at 21.7%.
153,623 verified observations of snakes in California, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When snakes are recorded in California
Peak month
May
33,334 records (21.7% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2,048 | 1.3% |
| February | 5,356 | 3.5% |
| March | 15,557 | 10.1% |
| Aprilpeak | 28,571 | 18.6% |
| Maypeak | 33,334 | 21.7% |
| Junepeak | 22,191 | 14.4% |
| July | 13,018 | 8.5% |
| August | 9,517 | 6.2% |
| September | 10,822 | 7% |
| October | 8,048 | 5.2% |
| November | 3,600 | 2.3% |
| December | 1,561 | 1% |
Snakes you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Gopher Snake | 37,989 |
| Western Rattlesnake | 28,084 |
| California King Snake | 12,177 |
| Western Terrestrial Garter Snake | 8,980 |
| Ring-necked Snake | 6,878 |
| Common Garter Snake | 5,541 |
| Striped Racer | 4,790 |
| Red Diamond Rattlesnake | 4,682 |
In California, July carries 8.5% of the year's snakes sightings, about 0.2 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 5th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is easing off from June (14.4%) into July, and it heads toward August (6.2%) after. The busiest month is May (21.7%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The snakes most often recorded in California are Gopher Snake, Western Rattlesnake and California King Snake. Those counts are annual totals rather than a July split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in July itself.
Which snakes you are most likely to see
- Gopher Snake37,989 records
- Western Rattlesnake28,084 records
- California King Snake12,177 records
- Western Terrestrial Garter Snake8,980 records
- Ring-necked Snake6,878 records
- Common Garter Snake5,541 records
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see snakes in California in July?+
Yes. July accounts for 13,018 of the 153,623 verified snakes sightings logged in California across the year, which is 8.5% of the annual total.
Is July a good time to see snakes in California?+
July is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though May and April is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
What month is best for snakes in California?+
May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, April and June, based on 153,623 verified observations.
Which snakes are you most likely to see in California?+
The most-recorded species in California are Gopher Snake, Western Rattlesnake and California King Snake, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See snakes in California in other months
More places to see snakes
More wildlife in California