Story by Roger Edison

As spring rapidly approaches, the end of hibernation comes upon us as many animal species begin to be seen throughout the nation. South Texas is no exception as Dalton Edison, from Helotes, Texas comes across this seven foot plus size Blue Indigo Snake at the ranch near Cotulla while working over the first weekend of March .

The Blue Indigo, Squamata reptilia class is north Americas largest non-venomous natural snake reaching 9 feet long.

In the United States its color is blue-black. called the blue indigo and often called a black snake along the east coast of the United States, though southward into Central and South America it may have brown foreparts, there called the brown snake in those lower tropical regions.

The Indigo's kill small vertebrate animals, including venomous snakes such as the many rattle snakes found in the South Texas region by crushing with its jaws and the weight of its coils but is not a constrictor.

The Indigo makes hisses and vibrates its tail but is loath to strike in defense. Since 1978 it has been listed under the Endangered Species Act within the United States.

Snakes hibernate and estivate to get away from the cold or heat. When their nights are cool, they will go out in the daytime and lay on a rock in the sun until they warm up. In some climates, the cold would kill them so they hibernate. Snakes are cold-blooded and their body temperatures are about the same as the air temperature around them. In the winter they seek refuge under rocks, in caves, borrows and such to hibernate until spring and in the middle of summer often will hide in similar areas avoiding the extreme heat of the day as they adapt to the environment.

This Blue Indigo was released back into the wilderness as they are a good creature ridding unwanted animals such as the rattle snakes and field mice along with other snake breeds such as the Texas Hognose which looks like the diamond back rattler. Rest assured, if you have either breed on your ranch you likely will never see the makes of rattle snakes.