I rarely even see a bunch of alligators when going across Alligator Alley or Tamiami Trail anymore. Threats to the snake included loss of habitat, which continues today, and over-collection for the pet trade.Īs you probably know if you are local to South Florida, our Everglades are basically destroyed at this point. In 1978, eastern indigos were federally listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. I remember seeing Indigo Snakes in the Everglades as a kid - but that was over 30 years ago, and they are not a snake that you see very often in South Florida anymore. produces annual clutches of 6–12 eggs, Indigos may travel up to three miles during warmer seasons in search of new habitat and prey.Ī daytime hunter, the Indigo Snake was once a common sight throughout Florida, Georgia, southern Alabama and southeastern Mississippi.males commonly reach 7–9 feet in length, females are slightly smaller.orange-red on the chin, sides of the head and throat.bluish black in color, appearing iridescent purple in the light.When identifying the eastern indigo, look for the following characteristics: A non-venomous apex predator, it preys upon many species of animals including some venomous snakes, and it plays a critical role in keeping an ecosystem healthy and balanced. The eastern indigo snake is an icon of the southern longleaf pine forest and is the longest native snake on the continent.
They have shiny black scales on their back and a light colored belly, and their throat and chin are white.Īn Indigo Snake is non-venomous, and, at least as far as its diet goes, it is fond of its fellow snakes, particularly the dangerous venomous kind of other snake. So in a Nutshell, This is Why You Don't Kill Black Snakes - They EAT dangerous snakes!Įastern rat snakes, formerly known as black rat snakes, are large non-venomous snakes between 3.5 and 7 feet (one and two meters) long. That would have been my first instinct.Įither way, this black snake is totally #winning I am a little surprised the person taking this photo didn't run over and chop off the rattle, to be honest. I have not heard of anyone coming across a Rattlesnake of any kind in Miami in decades. Once upon a time, yes - there were actually rattlesnakes in the woods before Miami became so populated.īut those days are long gone. When my father in law sent this email me to, I was literally in AWE! Of course, I love snakes, period - and while I would kill a rattlesnake in my yard if I ever came across one, that just isn't something that we have to deal with in Miami. I always knew that king snakes ate other snakes - as we had a pair when I was a kid and one day.we no longer had a pair, but had one very, very fat male king snake. The black snake is eating the rattlesnake! It is literally eating that rattlesnake like nobody's business. Oh wait, what happened there? Do you happen to see what I see? Yep, this is happening! It's really happening! We had Boa Constrictors, Burmese Pythons, ball pythons, rat snakes - just about anything you can think of, we had it - except for venomous snakes, of course!Īnd this right here is This is Why You Don't Kill Black Snakes! I had pet snakes from the time I was a young child all the way until my 30s. I grew up with parents that were into snakes - our family was members of the Herpetological Society of Florida during my childhood and we ALWAYS had pet snakes. The Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake is an extremely dangerous, venomous snake. What is that right in front of the black snake? That is right, it's an Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links which means we receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase. However, before you rush off to grab a shovel to bash a black snakes brains in, check this out. Have you ever heard of a black snake? Otherwise known as a black rat snake or Eastern Indigo Snake, they are a pretty common non venomous snake found in the Southeast that can get pretty dang big.įor those people who are afraid of snakes, I realize that they can be utterly terrifying. Sometimes they are so entertaining that I have to share them, like this one about This is Why You Don't Kill Black Snakes! My father in law sends me the most random and entertaining email forwards.
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