Snakes in California in March
Yes, March is a good month to see snakes in California. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 60,957 of the 524,712 sightings logged across the year (11.6%), 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.
Good month for snakes in California
11.6%
of yearly sightings
60,957
records in March
#4
busiest month of 12
524,712
verified records a year
February 4.4%, March 11.6%, April 20.1%. Busiest month is April at 20.1%.
524,712 verified observations of snakes in California, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When snakes are recorded in California
Peak month
April
105,404 records (20.1% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 9,035 | 1.7% |
| February | 23,346 | 4.4% |
| March | 60,957 | 11.6% |
| Aprilpeak | 105,404 | 20.1% |
| Maypeak | 102,178 | 19.5% |
| Junepeak | 66,485 | 12.7% |
| July | 40,533 | 7.7% |
| August | 33,653 | 6.4% |
| September | 36,791 | 7% |
| October | 27,469 | 5.2% |
| November | 12,812 | 2.4% |
| December | 6,049 | 1.2% |
Snakes you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Western Fence Lizard | 176,894 |
| Common Side-blotched Lizard | 49,750 |
| Southern Alligator Lizard | 38,101 |
| Gopher Snake | 37,833 |
| Western Rattlesnake | 27,886 |
| Western Whiptail | 13,973 |
| California King Snake | 12,092 |
| Western Terrestrial Garter Snake | 8,910 |
In California, March carries 11.6% of the year's snakes sightings, about 3.3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from February (4.4%) into March, and it heads toward April (20.1%) after. The busiest month is April (20.1%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The snakes most often recorded in California are Western Fence Lizard, Common Side-blotched Lizard and Southern Alligator Lizard. Those counts are annual totals rather than a March split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in March itself.
Which snakes you are most likely to see
- Western Fence Lizard176,894 records
- Common Side-blotched Lizard49,750 records
- Southern Alligator Lizard38,101 records
- Gopher Snake37,833 records
- Western Rattlesnake27,886 records
- Western Whiptail13,973 records
Plan your snake trip in California
Start with live tours near Alcatraz Island, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see snakes in California in March?+
Yes. March accounts for 60,957 of the 524,712 verified snakes sightings logged in California across the year, which is 11.6% of the annual total.
Is March a good time to see snakes in California?+
March is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though April and May is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
What month is best for snakes in California?+
April is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through April, May and June, based on 524,712 verified observations.
Which snakes are you most likely to see in California?+
The most-recorded species in California are Western Fence Lizard, Common Side-blotched Lizard and Southern Alligator Lizard, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See snakes in California in other months
More places to see snakes
More wildlife in California