The eastern indigo snake eats a variety of things including: birds, toads, frogs, turtles and their eggs, lizards, and small alligators. They also will eat other snakes, even venomous species like cottonmouths and rattlesnakes.

Eastern indigo snakes inhabit pine flatwoods, hardwood forests, moist hammocks (which is a closed canopy forest), and areas that surround cypress swamps. They notoriously live in longleaf pine forests and are the longest native snake on the continent. They are a crucial part of the ecosystem as they keep it balanced.

Eastern Indigo Snake: Federally Threatened

In 1978, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the eastern indigo snake as threatened. This is mostly due to habitat destruction, fragmentation, and degradation caused by urban development.

Indigo snakes lose more than 5% of their habitat each year in Florida (Kendrick and Mengak 2010). It’s important because these snakes need a lot of natural habitats, unfragmented by development and roads.

How You Can Help the Eastern Indigo Snake

You can help by making sure you follow these rules.

When driving in natural areas, make sure to watch out for snakes and other animals, especially at night.

Try to limit the use of pesticides and herbicides because they can harm several levels of the ecosystem by working their way up.

If you see a snake, DO NOT KILL IT. Snakes may be a little scary, but they are an important part of the ecosystem. If you need it to be removed, call a local snake rescuer.

Properly dispose of trash because animals like snakes can get stuck and trapped as well as choke or poisoned.

And most of all, spreading awareness. This can go a long way as can donating to charity.

It’s important to remember that change starts with you.