Snakes in California in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see snakes in California. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 102,178 of the 524,712 sightings logged across the year (19.5%), 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.
Peak month for snakes in California
19.5%
of yearly sightings
102,178
records in May
#2
busiest month of 12
524,712
verified records a year
April 20.1%, May 19.5%, June 12.7%. 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, May carries 19.5% of the year's snakes sightings, about 11.2 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity holds steady between April and May, and it heads toward June (12.7%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so May is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
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 May split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in May 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 May?+
Yes. May accounts for 102,178 of the 524,712 verified snakes sightings logged in California across the year, which is 19.5% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see snakes in California?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of April, May and June.
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