Snakes in Iowa in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see snakes in Iowa. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 1,006 of the 4,327 sightings logged across the year (23.2%), 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
23.2%
of yearly sightings
1,006
records in May
#1
busiest month of 12
4,327
verified records a year
April 13.1%, May 23.2%, June 16.8%. 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, May carries 23.2% of the year's snakes sightings, about 14.9 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 1st busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from April (13.1%) into May, and it heads toward June (16.8%) 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 Iowa are Common Garter Snake, DeKay's Brownsnake and Common Watersnake. 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
- 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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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see snakes in Iowa in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 1,006 of the 4,327 verified snakes sightings logged in Iowa across the year, which is 23.2% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see snakes in Iowa?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 1st 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