Lets talk snakes! Specifically, the Texas Blue Indigo!
Recently I came across a Texas Blue Indigo snake on my ranch. After posting a few photos and a short video, my message box was inundate with questions about the stunning specimen. It didn’t take long to realize that few people had ever seen one in person, yet alone know anything about them. So for those of you who asked and I was unable to get back to in a timely manner… this brief article is for you.
What is a Blue Indigo?
The Texas Blue Indigo (Drymarchon melanurus erebennus) is a Protected non-venomous snake native to Texas and portions of Mexico. It is one of the largest snakes in North America, smaller only than the rarer and protected Eastern Blue Indigo found mainly in Florida and Georgia. This is an important fact as unlike most non-venomous snakes in North America, the Blue Indigo snake is NOT a constrictor. The Blue Indigo uses its massive size (commonly 6-8 foot in length) and overwhelming strength to kill their pray using brute force and their powerful jaw strength.
While Blue Indigos will feed on many of the same small mammals, Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians that other local snakes eat. They have another food source that makes them very beneficial to keep around. The Texas Blue Indigo will kill and eat every Venomous species of snake found in Texas. That’s right. If you are looking to keep the dangerous and possibly deadly local snakes away from your home and family, this is the last snake you want to kill!
How do I identify a Blue Indigo?
Thankfully, the Blue indigo is one of the easier species to identify. The first thing most people notice is unsurprisingly the size. Its hard to miss a giant black snake averaging close to 6 foot in length. But lets get into a little more of the specific characteristics that set this snake apart. The most notable of these is the brilliant iridescent glow the snake is named after.
If the snake is moving, it almost appears there are small blue tinted rainbows radiating across its smooth and glossy scales. This is a dead giveaway that you have found a Blue Indigo. The belly of the snake will be a grey-blue hue transitioning to a salmon or cream color with dark stripes as it nears the head, sometimes all the way up onto its cheeks. The entire snake will maintain the beautiful iridescence throughout.
Mating and offspring
The Texas Blue Indigo like most snake species, is an egg layer. Mating occurs from October to February with egg laying taking place in May and June. The females will find an abandoned den and lay a single clutch of 3-12 eggs. As I mentioned above, these are large snakes and this correlates directly to the size of their offspring. Blue Indigo snakes are born at an astonishing 14-16 inches in length!
What I hope you take away from this brief article is the ability to identify a Blue Indigo from a distance.This way you can squash a little of the fear involved in seeing a 6+ foot “Nope Rope” slithering around your property. They are what I consider the GOAT of all North American snake species and a friend to anyone wanting to enjoy the great outdoors with peace of mind.
Their benefits to you and your property are incalculable. They are well equipped to eradicate the venomous snakes and will never cause harm to you or your livestock. Next time you see one while enjoying your favorite outdoor activity, tip your hat its way and say a little thank you. After all, you never know if it just finished eating the rattler that might have otherwise ruined your day.
