The eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi), the largest North American snake species, has been federally listed as threatened since 1978, due to population declines caused primarily by anthropogenic habitat loss and degradation. Despite its federal protective status,relatively little research has been conducted on this species across its remaining geographic range of southeastern Georgia and Florida.

In Georgia, for example, indigo snakes are known to use xeric sandhill habitats during their winter breeding season; however, warm season habitat use is virtually unknown. In addition, no reliable methods of locating and surveying this species in Georgia, other than winter gopher tortoise burrow searches, are known.

As upland habitat loss and alteration continues across the southeastern United States, it is important to determine site fidelity to winter sandhill habitats and the dependency of the snakes on gopher tortoise burrows on these sand ridges. The goals of this research are to determine indigo snake seasonal habitat use and spatial ecology in Georgia.

In addition, we will examine annual survival, mortality factors, site fidelity, and develop survey techniques for the species during the late spring through early fall. Results of this research will contribute to the knowledge of the eastern indigo snake while providing accurate information for management and conservation. –Natalie Hyslop, Ph.D. student.