Lake Lynn Reptiles & Amphibians

The shallow waters of the lake and forested shoreline at Lake Lynn make excellent habitat for snakes, turtles, frogs and others.  The boardwalks along Lake Lynn Loop Trail are close to the lake and provide great views of the herps.

Turtles:

A number of turtles live in Lake Lynn.  On a warm day, various turtles line up on logs sticking out of the water to warm up.  When the log fills up, the turtles climb on top of each other to maximize catching the sun's rays.

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

Painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) are one of the most common turtles found in the lake.

There are even a few common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) in the lake, who occasionally make themselves known.

Snakes:

Northern water snakes (Nerodia sipedon) are one of the more common species of snake in the area.

They typically bask along stumps and branches along the shore, waiting for fish, frogs, and other prey.  Although somewhat similar in pattern to copperheads, these snakes are not venomous.

Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) may be rarely found around the lake.  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 shallow headwaters and tributaries.

External Links:

City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation website: https://raleighnc.gov/places/lake-lynn-park