Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have some ideas about how to save all snakes including our beloved dry clan from suffering the fate wich meet so many. That is the fate of being needlesly killed by automobiles. I have some ideas about how to create a system to discourage them from crossing roads at all points exept certain safe passage points, or culverts under the roads. If my theories prove correct we might just be able to link enough habitat together, to maintain a viable gene pool in the wild! If we can link together enough fragmented habitat, we just might be able to create a large enough area to support a self sufficient wild community.

I also have a dream to create an indigo research and conservation foundation. Part of the mission of this organization would be to maintain a bloodline registry of D.N.A. for all captive bred indies. We could then monitor and help to guide people in thier breeding efforts to diversify the captive gene pool. Another part of the mission would be to work with legislators and the powers that be in any future legislation wich concernes the drymachon clan. And lastly it would continue to actively raise money for research and conservation efforts.

Am I crazy? Absolutly! Am I opinionated? Who among us is not? Do some of you find me anoying? I'm sure you do? But I am not going away. I am full of ideas and ambition. Some would say that I am full of something else. I realy don't give a damn, Scarlet.
I am hear because I beleive I can, and therefore must, make a difference. I am here because I love snakes, and I am very much in love with the eastern indigo. I have a boundless imagination, tons of enthusiasm and lot's of time. I will not quit or go away.

I believe that these are things which we must do. We are not doing enough. Land is disapearing at a phenominal rate. We have to get busy. So now I have two questions,... Where can I find grants for research? And who is with me?

There are research projects currently underway & many here have been involved by donating funds. In fact, there are a few breeders who frequent these forums who donated a portion of the proceeds from every indigo sale they make to the indigo research in Georgia.
there are people here much more knowledgeable on this issue than I & i'm sure they'll add to what i've said here.

Eric

First let me say I like your enthusiasm. You remind me of the way I was 12 years ago when I first started working with indigos.

There are currently several research projects being conducted with eastern indigo snakes, one in GA and one in Florida.

The GA site is currently monitoring over 20 snakes by radio-telemetry.

Natalie Hyslop, a PHD student from the University of GA, is the lead biologist in this project, and is working closely with the GA DNR.

Some key elements are to define home ranges and habitat preferences, mating habits, find nest areas and get data on juvenile activity , define mortality issues, etc.

As it sounds like you probably already know from reading about the results from the Florida study, road mortality is one of the key issues in indigo snake deaths. This is because of the tremendous home ranges and high activity levels of these snakes.

After the papers are written from these studies, it would seem a natural next step to attempt to section off areas where heathly populations exist and close off major roads that cut through the habitat, This should immediately cut down on road mortality.

I have heard of underground tunnels being used in some areas to encourage amphibians to cross under roads rather than on them. It would be an exciting project to see if some method to get the snakes not to cross major roads, but go under or “cross at certain points” as you suggested, could be feasible.

Here’s the problem: These animals are federally protected. You are not going to get permission to work with wild indigo snakes unless you are associated with a government agency like DNR, USFWS, or a major university or zoo. Are you?

If not…I would say the best course of action would be to try to “sell” the idea to research scientists who are. Otherwise, you are going to be wasting your time trying to get grants.

I have been working with indigo snake research scientists for many years and have been invited to contribute to some of the research, but it has been a long time coming that I have been allowed into “the circle”. Even now, I would not attempt to get grants for my research, but maybe assist in getting grants for
projects being conducted through universities, zoos, etc.

I think a good first course of action would be to see what projects like this have ever been conducted in the past. I don’t mean to discourage your enthusiasm, but if you don’t go through the proper channels, no one in the world of academia or with the government agencies that protect these snakes are going to take you seriously.

Yes land in the natural range of these animals is being developed very rapidly. The somewhat bleak outlook for indigos in my opinion is that where land is developed, the populations will eventually vanish.
If we can keep some large tracts of suitable habitat undisturbed, however, the populations there should continue to thrive. We need to learn how to pick our battles. Keeping healthy populations healthy and keeping existing habitat intact where healthy populations exist as “sanctuaries” should be a top priority.

But we can’t do this on our own. We need groups like WWF and The Nature Conservancy to assist with habitat conservation. We need to educate people. We can’t take on Wal-mart on our own and expect them not to build stores. And, simply stated…habitat preservation is the single biggest thing we can do for the indigo snake.