The eastern indigo snake was listed under the ESA as threatened in 1978 throughout its range due to population declines caused by habitat modification, over-collecting for the pet trade and mortality from gassing gopher tortoise burrows (USFWS 1978). Based on the eastern indigo snake’s life history and habitat needs (section 2.5 above), we identified the potential negative and positive influencing factors and contributing sources of those influences that are likely to affect current and future species viability (Figure 17). In the following sections we discuss the specific influences most affecting the species.
- 4.1 Habitat Modification and Destruction
- 4.2 Direct Mortality
- 4.3 Climate Conditions
- 4.4 Disease
- 4.5 Gopher Tortoise Populations
- 4.6 Collection
- 4.7 Other
- 4.8 Conservation Efforts
- 4.8.1 Existing Regulatory Mechanisms
- 4.8.2 Federal Lands Agency Conservation Measures
- 4.8.3 State Wildlife Agency Conservation Measures
- 4.8.4 Conservation Efforts by Private Organizations and Multi-organizational Cooperation
- 4.9 Summary of Factors Influencing the Eastern Indigo Snake