Snakes in Maryland in April
Yes, April is one of the best months to see snakes in Maryland. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 6,287 of the 35,955 sightings logged across the year (17.5%), 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 Maryland
17.5%
of yearly sightings
6,287
records in April
#2
busiest month of 12
35,955
verified records a year
March 4.4%, April 17.5%, May 25.3%. Busiest month is May at 25.3%.
35,955 verified observations of snakes in Maryland, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When snakes are recorded in Maryland
Peak month
May
9,079 records (25.3% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 108 | 0.3% |
| February | 141 | 0.4% |
| March | 1,569 | 4.4% |
| Aprilpeak | 6,287 | 17.5% |
| Maypeak | 9,079 | 25.3% |
| Junepeak | 5,704 | 15.9% |
| July | 3,119 | 8.7% |
| August | 3,242 | 9% |
| September | 3,287 | 9.1% |
| October | 2,477 | 6.9% |
| November | 761 | 2.1% |
| December | 181 | 0.5% |
Snakes you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Common Watersnake | 5,479 |
| Common Garter Snake | 4,893 |
| Common Five-lined Skink | 4,320 |
| DeKay's Brownsnake | 3,147 |
| Eastern Ratsnake | 2,606 |
| Ring-necked Snake | 1,604 |
| Eastern Fence Lizard | 1,343 |
| North American Racer | 1,268 |
In Maryland, April carries 17.5% of the year's snakes sightings, about 9.2 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 is rising from March (4.4%) into April, and it heads toward May (25.3%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so April is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The snakes most often recorded in Maryland are Common Watersnake, Common Garter Snake and Common Five-lined Skink. Those counts are annual totals rather than a April split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in April itself.
Which snakes you are most likely to see
- Common Watersnake5,479 records
- Common Garter Snake4,893 records
- Common Five-lined Skink4,320 records
- DeKay's Brownsnake3,147 records
- Eastern Ratsnake2,606 records
- Ring-necked Snake1,604 records
Plan your snake trip in Maryland
Start with live tours near Antietam National Battlefield, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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Live tours nearbySee live tours near Antietam National Battlefield
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main snake viewing area.
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Stay nearbyStay near Antietam National Battlefield
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see snakes in Maryland in April?+
Yes. April accounts for 6,287 of the 35,955 verified snakes sightings logged in Maryland across the year, which is 17.5% of the annual total.
Is April a good time to see snakes in Maryland?+
April is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of May, April and June.
What month is best for snakes in Maryland?+
May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, April and June, based on 35,955 verified observations.
Which snakes are you most likely to see in Maryland?+
The most-recorded species in Maryland are Common Watersnake, Common Garter Snake and Common Five-lined Skink, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See snakes in Maryland in other months
More places to see snakes
More wildlife in Maryland