Land & Conservation

Tangled Up in Indigo

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A captive four-and-a-half-foot adult Eastern indigo snake named Guinness.

A captive four-and-a-half-foot adult Eastern indigo snake named Guinness.

Photo: Greg Dupree

The indigo snake became federally protected in 1978.

The indigo snake became federally protected in 1978.

Photo: Greg Dupree

The indigo snake gets it name from the scales which appear purple in the sunlight.

The indigo snake gets it name from the scales which appear purple in the sunlight.

Greg Dupree

Indigo snakes can reach 8 feet in length.

Indigo snakes can reach 8 feet in length.

Greg Dupree

The indigo iridescence of the snake.

The indigo iridescence of the snake.

Greg Dupree

A swamp at the Orianne Indigo Snake Preserve in Georgia.

A swamp at the Orianne Indigo Snake Preserve in Georgia.

Photo: Greg Dupree

Orianne’s CEO, Chris Jenkins.

Orianne’s CEO, Chris Jenkins.

Photo: Greg Dupree

An indigo snake emerging from a gopher tortoise burrow.

An indigo snake emerging from a gopher tortoise burrow.

Photo: Greg Dupree

The indigo snake can be found in a wide range of habitats depending on its native region.

The indigo snake can be found in a wide range of habitats depending on its native region.

Photo: Greg Dupree

Longleaf pines line a road.

Longleaf pines line a road.

Photo: Greg Dupree

Over the years, indigo snakes have been displaced by habitat destruction.

Over the years, indigo snakes have been displaced by habitat destruction.