Snakes in Utah in May

Yes, May is one of the best months to see snakes in Utah. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 10,745 of the 43,387 sightings logged across the year (24.8%), 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 28, 2026.

Peak month for snakes in Utah

24.8%

of yearly sightings

10,745

records in May

#1

busiest month of 12

43,387

verified records a year

April 11.7%, May 24.8%, June 19.2%. Busiest month is May at 24.8%.

Best months: May, June, September

43,387 verified observations of snakes in Utah, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When snakes are recorded in Utah

Peak month

May

10,745 records (24.8% of the year)

Quietest month

January

57 records

MonthObservationsShare
January570.1%
February2540.6%
March1,7404%
April5,06611.7%
Maypeak10,74524.8%
Junepeak8,31119.2%
July4,87711.2%
August4,1349.5%
Septemberpeak5,45412.6%
October2,3085.3%
November3780.9%
December630.1%

Snakes you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Common Side-blotched Lizard7,872
Plateau Fence Lizard4,267
Gopher Snake3,626
Common Sagebrush Lizard3,512
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake3,502
Western Whiptail3,199
Western Rattlesnake2,588
Desert Spiny Lizard2,344

In Utah, May carries 24.8% of the year's snakes sightings, about 16.5 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 (11.7%) into May, and it heads toward June (19.2%) 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 Utah are Common Side-blotched Lizard, Plateau Fence Lizard and Gopher Snake. 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 Side-blotched Lizard7,872 records
  • Plateau Fence Lizard4,267 records
  • Gopher Snake3,626 records
  • Common Sagebrush Lizard3,512 records
  • Western Terrestrial Garter Snake3,502 records
  • Western Whiptail3,199 records
Plan your tripBryce Canyon National Park

Plan your snake trip in Utah

Start with live tours near Bryce Canyon National Park, 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 Utah in May?+

Yes. May accounts for 10,745 of the 43,387 verified snakes sightings logged in Utah across the year, which is 24.8% of the annual total.

Is May a good time to see snakes in Utah?+

May is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of May, June and September.

What month is best for snakes in Utah?+

May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, June and September, based on 43,387 verified observations.

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

The most-recorded species in Utah are Common Side-blotched Lizard, Plateau Fence Lizard and Gopher Snake, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.