The Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi) is one of North America’s largest snake species. It is currently listed as threatened by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Its range extends across the southeastern United States, through Florida, South Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. This snake can be found in a variety of habitats including pine and scrubby flatwoods, longleaf pine sandhills, oak and sand pine scrub, dry prairies, tropical hardwood hammocks, marshes, coastal dunes, and some human-altered habitats such as silviculture. During the winter months, they brumate in Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) and mammal burrows. They also use rotted-out or burned-out root channels in upland habitats. After emerging in the spring, they roam their territory, which may be as large as 3,700 acres. While roaming, they hunt anything they can overpower, including venomous snakes, mammals, birds, lizards, and fish.
The USFWS recommends that surveys for Eastern Indigo Snakes be conducted between November and March during cooler weather when the snakes are less active. Surveying involves the use of transect surveys to visually identify active snakes. It also aims to identify and inspect underground refugia via scoping.
EDGE’s professional herpetologist, Mr. Tim Brust, has led numerous surveys for this species. Evaluating and managing potential disturbances to Eastern Indigo snakes is critical to the success of your project. Therefore, please reach out to Tim for #furtherinsight.
