A project to reintroduce eastern indigo snakes to Alabama moved one step closer to its goal with the release of 40 indigo snakes into Coneku National Forest last weekend. The reintroduction project aims to establish a viable population of the endangered species within its historic range on Alabama's Gulf Coast.

Representatives from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), Auburn University, the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Zoo Atlanta and the Central Florida Zoo's Orianne Indigo Conservation Center attended the indigo release in Connek National Forest in Covington and Escambia counties in south Alabama.

ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship said the project will restore lost sections of longleaf pine forest along the state's coast.

“Alabama is one of the most biodiverse states in the nation, and we are thrilled to play a part in restoring some of our lost natural history,” said Chairman Blankenship. “We are grateful to our partners in this important project.”

Jim Godwin of Auburn University's Alabama Natural Heritage Program said the Indigo reintroduction project is an example of the importance of the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) program in protecting and managing rare species not only in Alabama but across the nation. The SWG program provides federal grant funding to state fish and wildlife agencies to help develop and implement programs that benefit species and their habitats most in need of protection. ADCNR's State Wildlife Action Plans identify 366 species as most in need of protection.

“This release marks another step toward the reintroduction of indigo fish in Alabama,” Godwin said. “It also serves as a model for the Florida indigo reintroduction project and future reintroduction projects. What began as a local wildlife conservation project in Alabama has proven that successful long-term reintroduction efforts can pave the way for recovery.”

The Eastern Indigo Project began in 2006 and began releasing captive-raised indigos in 2010, releasing 17 adult snakes into the Coneque National Forest. The goal is to release 300 snakes to increase the chances of establishing a viable population. The current reintroduction project is modeled on work begun in the 1970s and 1980s by the late Auburn University professor Dr. Dan Speaks.

“Each snake we release into the forest represents a partnership that made this project possible,” Godwin said. “Each of our partners and collaborators contributed greatly to our success in releasing indigo snakes back into the wild.”

Traci Wood, habitat and species conservation coordinator for ADCNR’s Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division, emphasized the importance of the partnerships behind Alabama’s Eastern Indigo Reintroduction Project.

“This is a pivotal moment for the project,” Wood said. “We've released 40 snakes this year, bringing the total number of snakes released into Coneke National Forest over the past 14 years to 284. Returning an animal that's been missing for over 50 years to the Alabama landscape would not have been possible without our partners. This is an exceptional example of endangered species reintroduction.”

Once released, researchers will monitor the snake's movements with tracking devices called PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tags, and with game cameras placed in gopher tortoise burrows used by many of the animals, including Indigo.

The next indigo release in Coneque National Forest is scheduled for spring 2025.

About the Eastern Indigo Snake

The Eastern Indigo Snake is a protected and endangered species throughout its historic range, which includes parts of southeastern Mississippi, southern Alabama, southern Florida, and southern Georgia. This region was once covered primarily by longleaf pine forests, one of the most biodiverse habitats in North America. A recent study by herpetologists found that the 84,000-acre Conequa National Forest is home to more species of amphibians and reptiles than any other public land in the United States.

Indigo snakes disappeared from the Alabama landscape due to a decline in coastal longleaf pine habitat in the early 1900s. Prior to current reintroduction efforts, wild indigo snakes were last observed in Alabama in the 1950s. Efforts to restore longleaf pine throughout the indigo snake's range made the reintroduction efforts possible. Since 2020, two wild-born indigo snakes have been identified in Alabama as a result of the reintroduction project.

Sometimes confused with other black snakes found throughout Alabama, the Eastern Indigo Snake has several unique physical characteristics and a very restricted habitat range that distinguish it from other common species. The most notable features of the Eastern Indigo Snake are its iridescent blue-black body color and impressive size. As the longest snake in North America, it can reach a body length of over 8 feet. Additionally, its diet consists of small mammals, amphibians, lizards, and a large number of venomous snakes, including copperheads and rattlesnakes.

For more information on the Eastern Indigo Snake in Alabama, https://www.outdooralabama.com/non-venomous snakes/Eastern Indigo Snake.