Indigo_Snake_Poster.pdf
PDF 297 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Construction of Clay County Fire Station No. 24
- Solicitation number
- 25/26-042
- Issued by
- Clay County, Harold CDP, Florida
About this file
This is an environmental compliance poster distributed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and state wildlife agencies in Florida and Georgia regarding protection of the federally-threatened Eastern Indigo Snake. The poster provides identification guidance, site response protocols, and regulatory penalties for contractors and workers on projects where this protected species may be present. When a live Eastern Indigo Snake is encountered, work must cease immediately, the snake must not be touched, photographs should be taken for documentation, and the USFWS must be notified at either the Florida office (352-448-9151) or Georgia office (706-613-9493); if construction activities would harm the snake, work must pause until USFWS provides guidance within one business day. When a dead specimen is discovered, work must stop, the USFWS and project supervisor must be notified immediately, photographs must be taken, and the snake must be thoroughly soaked in water and frozen for agency retrieval. The Eastern Indigo Snake is described as one of North America's largest non-venomous snakes, reaching up to eight feet in length with distinctive glossy blue-black upper scales, slate-blue undersides, and orange to reddish throat coloring that distinguishes it from the similar-appearing black racer species.
Violations of the Endangered Species Act carry severe penalties, including civil fines up to $25,000 and criminal penalties of up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment, with only authorized permit holders or individuals with an Incidental Take Statement may handle the species. The poster emphasizes that Eastern Indigo Snakes inhabit diverse terrestrial environments including uplands, wetlands, and agricultural areas, often sheltering in gopher tortoise burrows, stumps, roots, and debris piles, with breeding occurring April through June and hatchlings emerging July through October. This compliance poster is directly applicable to the Clay County Fire Station No. 24 construction project in Green Cove Springs, Florida, where Eastern Indigo Snakes and Tri-Colored Bats are identified as protected species requiring implementation of specific protective measures in coordination with qualified environmental professionals and compliance with state and federal wildlife guidelines throughout all construction phases.
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Text version
ATTENTION
Federally-Threatened Eastern Indigo Snakes may be present on this site!
Killing, harming, or harassing eastern indigo snakes is strictly prohibited and punishable under
State and Federal Law.
If you see a LIVE eastern indigo snake or any black snake on the site:
• Stop land disturbing activities and allow the snake time to move away from the site without interference. Do NOT attempt to touch or handle the snake.
• Take photographs of the snake, if possible, for identification and documentation purposes.
• Immediately notify supervisor/agent, and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Ecological
Services Field Office, with the location information and condition of the snake.
• If the snake is located near clearing or construction activities that will cause harm to the snake, the activities must pause until a representative of the USFWS returns the call (within one day) with further guidance.
If you see a DEAD eastern indigo snake on the site:
• Stop land disturbing activities and immediately notify supervisor/applicant, and a USFWS Ecological Services Field Office, with the location information and condition of the snake.
• Take photographs of the snake, if possible, for identification and documentation purposes.
• Thoroughly soak the dead snake in water and then freeze the specimen. The appropriate wildlife agency will retrieve the dead snake.
DESCRIPTION. The eastern indigo snake is one of the largest non-venomous snakes in North America, reaching up to 8 ft long. Named for the glossy, blue-black scales above and slate blue below, they often have orange to reddish color (cream color in some cases) in the throat area. They are not typically aggressive.
SIMILAR SPECIES. The black racer resembles the eastern indigo snake. However, black racers have a white or cream chin, and thinner bodies.
LIFE HISTORY. Eastern indigo snakes live in a variety of terrestrial habitat types. Although they prefer uplands, they also use wetlands and agricultural areas. They will shelter inside gopher tortoise burrows, other animal burrows, stumps, roots, and debris piles. Females may lay from 4 to 12 white eggs as early as April through June, with young hatching in late July through October.
PROTECTED STATUS. The eastern indigo snake is protected by the USFWS, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Any attempt to kill, harm, harass, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, trap, capture, collect, or engage eastern indigo snakes is prohibited by the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Penalties include a maximum fine of $25,000 for civil violations and up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment for criminal offenses. Only authorized individuals with a permit (or an Incidental Take Statement associated with a USFWS Biological Opinion) may handle an eastern indigo snake.
Please contact your nearest USFWS Ecological Services Field Office if a live or dead eastern indigo snake is encountered:
Florida Office: (352) 448-9151 Georgia Office: (706) 613-9493
Gopher tortoise and burrow. Credit: James Hunt
Eastern indigo snake. Credit: Dirk Stevenson
Credit: Dirk Stevenson
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .