Snakes in New Jersey in October
Yes, October is a good month to see snakes in New Jersey. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 1,125 of the 13,289 sightings logged across the year (8.5%), 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.
Eastern Kingsnake · Samuel Paul Galick CC BY
Common Watersnake · Alie / C.A. Kratzer CC BY-SA
Timber Rattlesnake · geosesarma CC BY
Good month for snakes in New Jersey
8.5%
of yearly sightings
1,125
records in October
#5
busiest month of 12
13,289
verified records a year
September 9.7%, October 8.5%, November 2.2%. Busiest month is May at 24.2%.
13,289 verified observations of snakes in New Jersey, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When snakes are recorded in New Jersey
Peak month
May
3,216 records (24.2% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 47 | 0.4% |
| February | 52 | 0.4% |
| March | 668 | 5% |
| Aprilpeak | 2,025 | 15.2% |
| Maypeak | 3,216 | 24.2% |
| Junepeak | 2,286 | 17.2% |
| July | 1,115 | 8.4% |
| August | 1,094 | 8.2% |
| September | 1,294 | 9.7% |
| October | 1,125 | 8.5% |
| November | 297 | 2.2% |
| December | 70 | 0.5% |
Snakes you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Common Garter Snake | 4,108 |
| Common Watersnake | 2,767 |
| Central Ratsnake | 1,644 |
| North American Racer | 792 |
| DeKay's Brownsnake | 766 |
| Eastern Milksnake | 514 |
| Ring-necked Snake | 452 |
| Common Wormsnake | 327 |
In New Jersey, October carries 8.5% of the year's snakes sightings, about 0.2 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 is easing off from September (9.7%) into October, and it heads toward November (2.2%) after. The busiest month is May (24.2%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The snakes most often recorded in New Jersey are Common Garter Snake, Common Watersnake and Central Ratsnake. 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
- Common Garter Snake4,108 records
- Common Watersnake2,767 records
- Central Ratsnake1,644 records
- North American Racer792 records
- DeKay's Brownsnake766 records
- Eastern Milksnake514 records
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see snakes in New Jersey in October?+
Yes. October accounts for 1,125 of the 13,289 verified snakes sightings logged in New Jersey across the year, which is 8.5% of the annual total.
Is October a good time to see snakes in New Jersey?+
October is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though May and June is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
What month is best for snakes in New Jersey?+
May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, June and April, based on 13,289 verified observations.
Which snakes are you most likely to see in New Jersey?+
The most-recorded species in New Jersey are Common Garter Snake, Common Watersnake and Central Ratsnake, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See snakes in New Jersey in other months
More places to see snakes