Snakes in New York in September
Yes, September is a good month to see snakes in New York. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 3,596 of the 32,248 sightings logged across the year (11.2%), 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.
Good month for snakes in New York
11.2%
of yearly sightings
3,596
records in September
#5
busiest month of 12
32,248
verified records a year
August 10.9%, September 11.2%, October 7.6%. 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, September carries 11.2% of the year's snakes sightings, about 2.9 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 August and September, and it heads toward October (7.6%) after. The busiest month is May (20.7%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
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 September split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in September 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.
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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
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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 September?+
Yes. September accounts for 3,596 of the 32,248 verified snakes sightings logged in New York across the year, which is 11.2% of the annual total.
Is September a good time to see snakes in New York?+
September 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 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