Snakes in Iowa in June
Yes, June is one of the best months to see snakes in Iowa. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 727 of the 4,327 sightings logged across the year (16.8%), 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 Iowa
16.8%
of yearly sightings
727
records in June
#2
busiest month of 12
4,327
verified records a year
May 23.2%, June 16.8%, July 9.1%. Busiest month is May at 23.2%.
4,327 verified observations of snakes in Iowa, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When snakes are recorded in Iowa
Peak month
May
1,006 records (23.2% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2 | 0% |
| February | 11 | 0.3% |
| March | 126 | 2.9% |
| Aprilpeak | 569 | 13.1% |
| Maypeak | 1,006 | 23.2% |
| Junepeak | 727 | 16.8% |
| July | 394 | 9.1% |
| August | 383 | 8.9% |
| September | 553 | 12.8% |
| October | 454 | 10.5% |
| November | 98 | 2.3% |
| December | 4 | 0.1% |
Snakes you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Common Garter Snake | 818 |
| DeKay's Brownsnake | 748 |
| Common Watersnake | 686 |
| Western Foxsnake | 617 |
| Plains Garter Snake | 363 |
| Eastern Milksnake | 172 |
| Western Ratsnake | 109 |
| North American Racer | 95 |
In Iowa, June carries 16.8% of the year's snakes sightings, about 8.5 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 is easing off from May (23.2%) into June, and it heads toward July (9.1%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so June is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The snakes most often recorded in Iowa are Common Garter Snake, DeKay's Brownsnake and Common Watersnake. Those counts are annual totals rather than a June split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in June itself.
Which snakes you are most likely to see
- Common Garter Snake818 records
- DeKay's Brownsnake748 records
- Common Watersnake686 records
- Western Foxsnake617 records
- Plains Garter Snake363 records
- Eastern Milksnake172 records
Plan your snake trip in Iowa
Start with live tours near Effigy Mounds National Monument, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main snake viewing area.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see snakes in Iowa in June?+
Yes. June accounts for 727 of the 4,327 verified snakes sightings logged in Iowa across the year, which is 16.8% of the annual total.
Is June a good time to see snakes in Iowa?+
June is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of May, June and April.
What month is best for snakes in Iowa?+
May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, June and April, based on 4,327 verified observations.
Which snakes are you most likely to see in Iowa?+
The most-recorded species in Iowa are Common Garter Snake, DeKay's Brownsnake and Common Watersnake, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See snakes in Iowa in other months
More places to see snakes
More wildlife in Iowa