Snakes in Maryland in August

Yes, August is a good month to see snakes in Maryland. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 3,242 of the 35,955 sightings logged across the year (9%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Eastern Garter Snake photographed in MarylandDeKay's Brownsnake photographed in MarylandNorthern Watersnake photographed in Maryland
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for snakes in Maryland

9%

of yearly sightings

3,242

records in August

#5

busiest month of 12

35,955

verified records a year

July 8.7%, August 9%, September 9.1%. Busiest month is May at 25.3%.

Best months: May, April, June

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)

Quietest month

January

108 records

MonthObservationsShare
January1080.3%
February1410.4%
March1,5694.4%
Aprilpeak6,28717.5%
Maypeak9,07925.3%
Junepeak5,70415.9%
July3,1198.7%
August3,2429%
September3,2879.1%
October2,4776.9%
November7612.1%
December1810.5%

Snakes you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Common Watersnake5,479
Common Garter Snake4,893
Common Five-lined Skink4,320
DeKay's Brownsnake3,147
Eastern Ratsnake2,606
Ring-necked Snake1,604
Eastern Fence Lizard1,343
North American Racer1,268

In Maryland, August carries 9% of the year's snakes sightings, about 0.7 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 5th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity holds steady between July and August, and it heads toward September (9.1%) after. The busiest month is May (25.3%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

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 August split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in August 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 tripAntietam National Battlefield

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.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see snakes in Maryland in August?+

Yes. August accounts for 3,242 of the 35,955 verified snakes sightings logged in Maryland across the year, which is 9% of the annual total.

Is August a good time to see snakes in Maryland?+

August is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though May and April is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

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.