The eastern indigo snake is the longest snake in the United States. Adults can reach six to eight and a half feet in length. They are stocky and colored glossy blue-black. The black racer, sometimes confused with the indigo snake, has a white chin, and is a slender, fast-moving snake.
The eastern indigo snake is more docile and much slower moving than the black racer, characteristics that have made it popular with collectors. This pressure from collectors, coupled with disappearing habitat, has hurt the population and earned it federal and state protection as a threatened species. Historically, the eastern indigo snake was found from southern Georgia to the Florida Keys and west to Alabama, but today, it is mostly restricted to Florida and southern Georgia, where it is often found in association with gopher tortoise burrows in well-drained scrub and sandhill habitats. This snake, though, is not found just in dry areas. It readily moves through a variety of habitats, especially those that border marshes and swamps, in search of prey such as birds, young turtles, frogs, and other snakes, including rattlesnakes. Look for the eastern indigo snake along both trails at the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center - Alligator Creek Site. As with all snakes, admire the indigo from a respectful distance. More Information |