Capital Area Greenway Reptiles & Amphibians

Turtles, snakes, frogs and other reptiles and amphibians are commonly seen along the trails of the Capital Area Greenway in Raleigh.  They are usually found close to rivers, lakes and other bodies of water.  The vast majority are completely harmless to people, but a few species of venomous snakes are native to the area.

Turtles:

Many species of turtles can be found around Raleigh.  One of the most common is the common box turtle (Terrapene carolina).

The yellow-bellied slider is a subspecies of pond slider (Trachemys scripta).

Painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) are another common turtle species found around bodies of water.

There are even a few common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) in the area.

Snakes:

Several species of snakes can be found around Raleigh and most are non-venomous.  One of the more common snakes is the eastern rat snake (P. alleghaniensis).  This one was eating a small rodent.

Here's a video of the snake feeding.

The rough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus) is a small snake that blends in well with vegetation.

Northern water snakes (Nerodia sipedon) can be found along water and in wet areas.  Although somewhat similar in pattern to copperheads, these snakes are not venomous.

Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) may be rarely found around the city.  As these snakes are venomous, use caution if you see one, particularly with children or pets.  Although they are venomous, copperheads are not aggressive towards humans and will only bite if provoked.

Frogs:

The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is a large species of frog that can be found in wetland areas.

External Links:

Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources website: https://raleighnc.gov/find-a-trail