Snakes in New York in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see snakes in New York. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 6,685 of the 32,248 sightings logged across the year (20.7%), 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 New York
20.7%
of yearly sightings
6,685
records in May
#1
busiest month of 12
32,248
verified records a year
April 14%, May 20.7%, June 19.4%. Busiest month is May at 20.7%.
32,248 verified observations of snakes in New York, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When snakes are recorded in New York
Peak month
May
6,685 records (20.7% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 37 | 0.1% |
| February | 62 | 0.2% |
| March | 799 | 2.5% |
| Aprilpeak | 4,515 | 14% |
| Maypeak | 6,685 | 20.7% |
| Junepeak | 6,241 | 19.4% |
| July | 3,800 | 11.8% |
| August | 3,519 | 10.9% |
| September | 3,596 | 11.2% |
| October | 2,463 | 7.6% |
| November | 439 | 1.4% |
| December | 92 | 0.3% |
Snakes you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Common Garter Snake | 14,673 |
| Common Watersnake | 4,502 |
| Eastern Milksnake | 2,523 |
| DeKay's Brownsnake | 1,843 |
| Italian Wall Lizard | 1,580 |
| Ring-necked Snake | 1,073 |
| Eastern Ratsnake | 887 |
| Red-bellied Snake | 824 |
In New York, May carries 20.7% of the year's snakes sightings, about 12.4 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 1st busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from April (14%) into May, and it heads toward June (19.4%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so May is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The snakes most often recorded in New York are Common Garter Snake, Common Watersnake and Eastern Milksnake. Those counts are annual totals rather than a May split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in May itself.
Which snakes you are most likely to see
- Common Garter Snake14,673 records
- Common Watersnake4,502 records
- Eastern Milksnake2,523 records
- DeKay's Brownsnake1,843 records
- Italian Wall Lizard1,580 records
- Ring-necked Snake1,073 records
Plan your snake trip in New York
Start with live tours near Appalachian National Scenic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Appalachian National Scenic Trail
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 Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best snake viewing area in New York.
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Broader backupBook a snake tour in New York
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see snakes in New York in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 6,685 of the 32,248 verified snakes sightings logged in New York across the year, which is 20.7% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see snakes in New York?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of May, June and April.
What month is best for snakes in New York?+
May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, June and April, based on 32,248 verified observations.
Which snakes are you most likely to see in New York?+
The most-recorded species in New York are Common Garter Snake, Common Watersnake and Eastern Milksnake, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See snakes in New York in other months
More places to see snakes