Brooke Fortune
July 19, 2023
Our latest Conservation Blog showcased some of the great reptile-centric conservation partnerships (in case you missed it, read here). That includes one of our most collaborative partnerships, the Eastern Indigo Snake Reintroduction Project with the Orian Society, Auburn University, and the Central Florida Zoo.
I understand that. Snakes give some people an eerie crawl (or eerie slimy?). But snakes are the unsung heroes of the ecosystem, helping to keep food webs in balance and control local pests. The Eastern Indigo Snake takes this a step further and helps control its population by eating venomous snakes. Unfortunately, this species, which lives in Southern Georgia and Alabama, is classified as endangered by the Federal Endangered Species Act due to habitat destruction and human intervention. We are very proud of the progress we are making towards reintroducing the Eastern Blue Snake into the Connek National Forest, but as always there are things we can do as individuals to strengthen our efforts.
Raising awareness of the negative impact of rattlesnake culling is one action that will have a significant impact on the conservation of the Eastern Indigo. Stopping the rattlesnake roundup will help not just the eastern indigo snake, but all the species that live in these habitats.
Rattlesnake plunders are contests that challenge hunters to bring in as many snakes as they can catch in a year, often sold for skin and meat. A common (albeit illegal) tactic during rattlesnake roundups is to spray turtle burrows with gasoline, which often kills more than 350 species, including the Eastern Indigo snake, which depends on turtle burrows for food and shelter.
The good news is that arrests are trending downward. In many roundups, the focus of the event turned to educational wildlife festivals, which still generate revenue for the host towns. But rattlesnake roundups are still widely attended by large numbers of participants across the South.You can find a list of current roundups and some action items here.
Even if you’re not personally a fan of snakes, you can’t deny the ecological contribution of our slimy brethren. Remember, here at the zoo, you can visit the Eastern Indigo Snake in person, and our support of the zoo will help continue conservation efforts to get their numbers back on track.
Sources and further information: