Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I decided to be more specific... in my earlier post, I said I was turkey hunting. That is incorrect. I was quail hunting at Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area early that morning, and once we had finished, I removed my hunting clothes and boots and had every intention of taking a nap.
My father decided to scout an area just prior to turkey season, which had just been burned a month or so before. He had only been gone five minutes or so when I heard him yelling in the distance, "Snake!" I thought nothing of it an figured it to be a black racer which we see every day. Then I heard "INDIGO!" I took off through the burnt palmetto in sandals and shorts and when I got to where my father was I saw the snake.
Being a Missouri boy, I had never seen a snake in the wild quite that thick. I hesitated, then I picked it up gently using a stick I had broken off nearby.
I still can't describe my elation, after all of the snakes I have seen, kept, handled, or photographed - the indigo was more impressive to me than any snake I've ever seen or handled. I think about it everyday.
I've attached two more pictures of the encounter, one of my father, and one of the snake alone. You should also note that I dropped the stick and free handled the snake for about 15 minutes, gave it a kiss and then I placed it into the nearest gopher tortoise burrow and walked away...
One week later and about 100 yards from where I found the indigo I found a large eastern diamondback and got great shots of it as well, I'll post those another day.
To this day, after a full year of searching, I have yet to see another indigo. Although, not for a lack of trying - as I go look almost every weekend.
I hope I haven't bored anyone too much, I just love the story and tell it as often as I can in my educational programs and to just about anyone that will listen...
Take care,
Justin

np

Seven days and 100 yards apart... About 5' or so. Impressive to say the least.

Great photos, Justin,

I have found quite a few wild couperi, while living in Homestead, FL and each time I found one proved to be just as exciting as the first one.
On a side note, I'd be a bit more cautious about posting photographs of myself holding one, as you can get into a bit of trouble for doing so, but then again, I can certainly relate to the amount of restraint it would take to refrain from doing so..

Best regards,

Jeff

Thanks for your concern.
Your advice of caution is heeded. BTW, you are not the first to warn me since posting. I will reconsider next time, I assure you.
Although, I have to say - The joy of sharing the photos of one of the greatest finds of my life, far outweighs any punishment there could ever be...
If only those who seek to punish could truly feel how I regard the indigo, they would leave me be and pursue real threats to the most spectacular snake on earth.
Thanks again-
Justin

Beautifull pics of very intrigueing animals; thanks superbly for posting them, warnings are whatever.

I find it just fantastic that these animals truely are still in the wild, as it is easy to forget when talking about captive breds all the time and living so far north even the garters are asleep for 9 months of the year.