Snakes in Virginia in July

Yes, July is a good month to see snakes in Virginia. It is the 6th busiest month of the year, with 5,613 of the 59,803 sightings logged across the year (9.4%), 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.

Eastern Garter Snake photographed in VirginiaTimber Rattlesnake photographed in VirginiaEastern Kingsnake photographed in Virginia
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for snakes in Virginia

9.4%

of yearly sightings

5,613

records in July

#6

busiest month of 12

59,803

verified records a year

June 15.4%, July 9.4%, August 9.5%. Busiest month is May at 24.4%.

Best months: May, April, June

59,803 verified observations of snakes in Virginia, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When snakes are recorded in Virginia

Peak month

May

14,605 records (24.4% of the year)

Quietest month

January

233 records

MonthObservationsShare
January2330.4%
February3210.5%
March3,3275.6%
Aprilpeak9,99116.7%
Maypeak14,60524.4%
Junepeak9,18315.4%
July5,6139.4%
August5,6719.5%
September5,6949.5%
October3,6536.1%
November1,2182%
December2940.5%

Snakes you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Common Five-lined Skink7,590
Common Watersnake7,505
Common Garter Snake4,869
Eastern Ratsnake4,096
DeKay's Brownsnake3,848
Eastern Fence Lizard3,327
Common Wormsnake2,794
Ring-necked Snake2,350

In Virginia, July carries 9.4% of the year's snakes sightings, about 1.1 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 6th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from June (15.4%) into July, and it heads toward August (9.5%) after. The busiest month is May (24.4%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The snakes most often recorded in Virginia are Common Five-lined Skink, Common Watersnake and Common Garter Snake. Those counts are annual totals rather than a July split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in July itself.

Which snakes you are most likely to see

  • Common Five-lined Skink7,590 records
  • Common Watersnake7,505 records
  • Common Garter Snake4,869 records
  • Eastern Ratsnake4,096 records
  • DeKay's Brownsnake3,848 records
  • Eastern Fence Lizard3,327 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your snake trip in Virginia

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.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see snakes in Virginia in July?+

Yes. July accounts for 5,613 of the 59,803 verified snakes sightings logged in Virginia across the year, which is 9.4% of the annual total.

Is July a good time to see snakes in Virginia?+

July is the 6th busiest month. It is workable, though May and April is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for snakes in Virginia?+

May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, April and June, based on 59,803 verified observations.

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

The most-recorded species in Virginia are Common Five-lined Skink, Common Watersnake and Common Garter Snake, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.