Snakes in Minnesota in June

Yes, June is one of the best months to see snakes in Minnesota. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 1,373 of the 8,243 sightings logged across the year (16.7%), 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 30, 2026.

Common Garter Snake photographed in MinnesotaPlains Hognose Snake photographed in MinnesotaEastern Hognose Snake photographed in Minnesota
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for snakes in Minnesota

16.7%

of yearly sightings

1,373

records in June

#2

busiest month of 12

8,243

verified records a year

May 21.3%, June 16.7%, July 11.9%. Busiest month is May at 21.3%.

Best months: May, June, September

8,243 verified observations of snakes in Minnesota, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When snakes are recorded in Minnesota

Peak month

May

1,752 records (21.3% of the year)

Quietest month

January

5 records

MonthObservationsShare
January50.1%
February60.1%
March941.1%
April91811.1%
Maypeak1,75221.3%
Junepeak1,37316.7%
July98511.9%
August1,02912.5%
Septemberpeak1,16614.1%
October82710%
November801%
December80.1%

Snakes you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Common Garter Snake3,946
Red-bellied Snake1,147
Prairie Skink538
Gopher Snake479
Western Foxsnake472
Plains Garter Snake339
Eastern Hognose Snake251
Common Watersnake246

In Minnesota, June carries 16.7% of the year's snakes sightings, about 8.4 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 (21.3%) into June, and it heads toward July (11.9%) 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 Minnesota are Common Garter Snake, Red-bellied Snake and Prairie Skink. 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 Snake3,946 records
  • Red-bellied Snake1,147 records
  • Prairie Skink538 records
  • Gopher Snake479 records
  • Western Foxsnake472 records
  • Plains Garter Snake339 records
Plan your tripGrand Portage National Monument

Plan your snake trip in Minnesota

Start with live tours near Grand Portage National Monument, 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 Minnesota in June?+

Yes. June accounts for 1,373 of the 8,243 verified snakes sightings logged in Minnesota across the year, which is 16.7% of the annual total.

Is June a good time to see snakes in Minnesota?+

June is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of May, June and September.

What month is best for snakes in Minnesota?+

May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, June and September, based on 8,243 verified observations.

Which snakes are you most likely to see in Minnesota?+

The most-recorded species in Minnesota are Common Garter Snake, Red-bellied Snake and Prairie Skink, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.