Broad-banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata confluens).Mississippi Green Water Snake (Nerodia cyclopion).Northern and Midland Water Snakes (Nerodia sipedon).Plain-bellied Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster).Orange Striped Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus proximus).Eastern and Red-sided Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis).Plains Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus nasicus).Eastern Hognose Snake(Heterodon platirhinos).Eastern Black Kingsnake (Lampropeltis nigra).Western Milksnake (Lampropeltis gentilis).Eastern and Red Milksnakes (Lampropeltis triangulum).Speckled Kingsnake (Lampropeltis holbrooki).Prarie Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster).To date, these are the only two sites designated for indigo snake release in the United States. Multiple partners collaborated to bring the more than eight-foot long apex predator back to Alabama and the success of the project has led to an additional reintroduction site in North Florida. It serves a critical function to balance the wildlife community. The eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) is the longest snake native to North America and an essential component of the now rare southern longleaf pine forest. Prior to the reintroduction efforts, there had been no confirmed sights of the snake in Alabama since the mid-1950s. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act. In 1978, the lustrous, blue-black, non-venomous snake was listed as “threatened” by the U.S. “Multiple agencies focused on restoring the entire ecosystem, and the reintegration of the indigo snake species to the whole system is very satisfying.” “Restoration of longleaf pine and fire management are very important for this ecosystem to support all of the animal species native to this area,” said Tim Mersmann, District Ranger for the Conecuh National Forest in Alabama. The snake release project is an example of how collaboration can solve ecological issues. The most recent release of 15 additional snakes occurred on and elevated the total number of released snakes to 170 on the Conecuh National Forest since the start of the project more than nine years ago. The Central Florida Zoo and Tampa Zoo have joined the project in recent years. Fish and Wildlife Service, Orianne Society and Zoo Atlanta were essential partners in the early stages of the project. Auburn University scientists, along with biologists and forest managers from the USDA Forest Service, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the U.S. The first eastern indigo snakes were released into the Conecuh National Forest in June of 2010. Dubbed the Eastern Indigo Snake Reintroduction Project, the collaborative and active restoration efforts from private, local, state and federal government organizations, created a perfect haven to reintegrate the indigo snake in Alabama.Įxperts from various state and federal organizations chose Alabama’s Conecuh National Forest because of its restored longleaf ecosystem, providing the best available habitat in Alabama for bringing indigo snakes back to the state. Photo courtesy of Christopher Smith.ĪLABAMA – We all love a good comeback story, and as for America’s longest native snake, it’s been a long time coming. Tim Mersmann, district ranger for the Conecuh National Forest, releases an indigo snake into a gopher tortoise burrow.
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