22 threatened eastern indigo snakes released in Florida

https://apnews.com/c088f94c3abb613cb26612f1a6030083

22 threatened eastern indigo snakes released in Florida
May 9, 2020 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Another 22 threatened eastern indigo snakes have been released in northern Florida, wildlife officials said.

The reptiles were set loose Friday at The Nature Conservancy’s Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve west of Tallahassee, the group said in a news release. It’s the fourth year in a 10-year effort to return the native, nonvenomous apex predator to the region. Similar releases were conducted the past three years.

“Today’s eastern indigo snakes release furthers the collaborative effort to bring this beautiful and important snake back to where it belongs in north Florida, and to secure its future here,” said Steve Coates, with The Nature Conservancy in Florida. “We continue to protect and restore the species and landscapes that are critical to supporting nature across our state.”

The snakes released this years were bred and hatched in 2018 by the Central Florida Zoo’s Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation. Previously released snakes have been observed in good health.

The eastern indigo snake is the longest snake native to North America, growing to over 8 feet long (2.4 meters). Scientists say it serves a critical function in its environment, consuming a variety of small animals. The snakes were historically found in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida, though their range is now more restricted.

Hopefully they start making a comeback. They are such beautiful snakes.

Really lovely to see this. Indigos are such a spectacular snake - one of our real gems here in N. America. I'd love to see these guys really establish a healthy presence. All through undergrad school I worked during the summers for The Peregrine Fund, helping raise and release young Peregrine Falcons back to the wild. It was incredibly fun, and so satisfying to be part of helping this beautiful bird come back from its endangered status. Though it ruined me for wildnerness camping. Camping for so long in quite isolated and sometimes extreme conditions may be fun for a few days, or a week or so, but it kinda gets rough after that.

Here's hoping these beautiful snakes do well and establish a stronger population in the wild.