20
federally threatened eastern indigo snakes were recently released in
northern Florida.
The
snakes were released at the Nature Conservancy’s Apalachicola
Bluffs and Ravines Preserve in Liberty County as part of an effort to
return the native, nonvenomous apex predator to the region.
The
release of the snakes marks the second year of the reintroduction
effort; Last year 12 snakes were released in the same area.
The
snakes have been implanted with radio transmitters so they can be
tracked and monitored.
The
program is expected to release more snakes for the next 8 years.
The
eastern indigo snake has been listed as threatened under the
Endangered Species Act since 1978.
The
indigo can grow to be between 8 and 9 feet long, and is the longest
native snake in the U.S.
The
indigo was largely eliminated from northern Florida due to habitat
loss and fragmentation - the species was last seen in the Liberty
County preserve in 1982.
The
eastern indigo serves a critical function to balance the wildlife
community – it consumes a variety of small animals including both
venomous and nonvenomous snakes.
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