Snakes in Maryland in October
Yes, October is a good month to see snakes in Maryland. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 2,300 of the 27,984 sightings logged across the year (8.2%), 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.
Eastern Hognose Snake · Matt Muir CC BY
Eastern Hognose Snake · Judy Gallagher CC BY-SA
Central Ratsnake · Antonia Bookbinder CC BY-SA
Good month for snakes in Maryland
8.2%
of yearly sightings
2,300
records in October
#5
busiest month of 12
27,984
verified records a year
September 9.2%, October 8.2%, November 2.6%. Busiest month is May at 24.4%.
27,984 verified observations of snakes in Maryland, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When snakes are recorded in Maryland
Peak month
May
6,835 records (24.4% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 100 | 0.4% |
| February | 124 | 0.4% |
| March | 1,342 | 4.8% |
| Aprilpeak | 5,015 | 17.9% |
| Maypeak | 6,835 | 24.4% |
| Junepeak | 4,409 | 15.8% |
| July | 2,293 | 8.2% |
| August | 2,091 | 7.5% |
| September | 2,579 | 9.2% |
| October | 2,300 | 8.2% |
| November | 731 | 2.6% |
| December | 165 | 0.6% |
Snakes you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Central Ratsnake | 5,916 |
| Common Watersnake | 5,520 |
| Common Garter Snake | 4,919 |
| DeKay's Brownsnake | 3,160 |
| Ring-necked Snake | 1,612 |
| North American Racer | 1,276 |
| Common Wormsnake | 1,207 |
| Rough Greensnake | 794 |
In Maryland, October carries 8.2% of the year's snakes sightings, about 0.1 points below 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 September and October, and it heads toward November (2.6%) after. The busiest month is May (24.4%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The snakes most often recorded in Maryland are Central Ratsnake, Common Watersnake and Common Garter Snake. Those counts are annual totals rather than a October split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in October itself.
Which snakes you are most likely to see
- Central Ratsnake5,916 records
- Common Watersnake5,520 records
- Common Garter Snake4,919 records
- DeKay's Brownsnake3,160 records
- Ring-necked Snake1,612 records
- North American Racer1,276 records
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see snakes in Maryland in October?+
Yes. October accounts for 2,300 of the 27,984 verified snakes sightings logged in Maryland across the year, which is 8.2% of the annual total.
Is October a good time to see snakes in Maryland?+
October 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 27,984 verified observations.
Which snakes are you most likely to see in Maryland?+
The most-recorded species in Maryland are Central Ratsnake, Common Watersnake and Common Garter Snake, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See snakes in Maryland in other months
More places to see snakes
More wildlife in Maryland