Posted by VWillisJr on September 10, 2000 at 15:56:29:
In Reply to: Do TX Indigos keep Rattlers out of Santa Ana NWR? posted by jr on September 10, 2000 at 12:15:59:
: Santa Ana is a reminent Forest along the Rio Grande about 40 min. NW of Brownsville TX and a little closer to McAllen TX. Although the majority of this habitat has long been cleared for agriculture, this unique small area is home to many TX Indigos. Once, some visitors saw a Harris Hawk looking to make a meal of an Indigo, but the snake crawled into a groundsquirrel burrow just in time. I saw the Hawk and he kept waiting perched on a tree to see if he would get a second chance - which he did not.
: I have done several herp shows at Santa Ana NWR and I have been told there has never been a documented sighting of the Western Diamondback within the park even though they can be found just outside the refuge. People have asked, "Where are all the Western Diamondbacks?" They are answered "The Indigos have eaten them all."
: So what do you think? Has anyone seen an Indigo eat a Rattlesnake? I think many people would like to read your story.
: I would also love to get a picture of an Indigo devouring a Rattlesnake. It just might be the thing to convince locals to stop killing them. A friend's neighbor killed a 6-7ft Indigo last year due to fear. Perhaps some of you Photographers could post some pics showing how harmless these snakes are on the VHS forum as well and help us educate the locals not to kill them.
: Thank you.
: Joe Rigdon / VHS-Pres.2000
: Another interesting note: The last wild Jaguar in TX was sighted by Santa Ana NWR and sadly shot by a goat farmer, who was missing several goats, in the 1950s -or so I am told. If you ever come down, you should try to visit Santa Ana NWR among other neat places here.
I have never personally seen an Indigo eat a rattle snake, but nearly every article on Indigos makes the assertion that they do eat them. If kingsnakes can eat them, I see no reason to doubt that a much larger and stronger snake like the Indigo can do so. As for the Indigos eating all the rattle snakes, I think it is far more likely that people these days are eating more rattle snakes than Indigos are. I have seen the rattle snake round-ups on television and am appalled at this slaughter. I am not against some use of the resource, but this seems like an attempt to make the snakes extinct. It is just like people to blame another snake for the demise of a snake that they themselves are slaughtering. I think Indigos and rattlers existed just fine together before man began to exploit them both. Well, enough of the soapbox. I just hope Indigos won't be blamed and persecuted for endangering the rattlesnakes! VWillis