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WWI 1011 ATTENTION: THREATENED EASTERN INDIGO SNAKES MAY BE PRESENT ON THIS SITE!!! IF YOU SEE A LIVE EASTERN INDIGO SNAKE ON THE SITE: �•Cease clearing activities and allow the eastern indigo snake sufficient time to move away from the site • without interference. • Personnel must NOT attempt to touch or handle snake due to protected status. •"' • • Take photographs of the snake, if possible, for identification and documentation purposes. Immediately notify supervisor or the applicant's designated agent, and the appropriate U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) office, with the location information and condition of the snake. • If the snake is located in a vicinity where continuation of the clearing or construction activities will cause harm to the snake, the activities must halt until such time that a representative of the USFWS returns the call (within one day) with further guidance as to when activities may resume. IF YOU SEE A DEAD EASTERN INDIGO SNAKE ON THE SITE: • Cease clearing activities and immediately notify supervisor or the applicant's designated agent, and the appropriate USFWS 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. IOW USFWS Florida Field Offices to be contacted if a live or dead eastern indigo snake is encountered: North Florida Field Office — (904) 731-3336 Panama City Field Office — (850) 769-0552 South Florida Field Office — (772) 562-3909 Killing, harming, or harassing indigo snakes is strictly prohibited and punishable under State and Federal Law. DESCRIPTION: The eastern indigo snake is one of the largest non -venomous snakes in North America, with individuals ,., often reaching up to 8 feet in length. They derive their name from the glossy, blue -black color of their scales above and uniformly slate blue below. Frequently, they have orange to coral reddish coloration in the throat area, yet some specimens have been reported to only have cream coloration on the throat. These snakes are not typically aggressive and will attempt to crawl away when disturbed. Though indigo snakes rarely bite, they should NOT be handled. SIMILAR SNAKES: The black racer is the only other solid black snake resembling the eastern indigo snake. However, black racers have a white or cream chin, thinner bodies, and WILL BITE if handled. LIFE HISTORY: The eastern indigo snake occurs in a wide variety of terrestrial habitat types throughout Florida. Although they have a preference for uplands, they also utilize some wetlands and agricultural areas. ,,. Eastern indigo snakes will often seek shelter inside gopher tortoise burrows and other below- and above- ground refugia, such as other animal burrows, stumps, roots, and debris piles. Females may lay from 4 -12 white eggs as early as April through June, with young hatching in late July through October. PROTECTION: The eastern indigo snake is classified as a Threatened species by both the USFWS and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "Taking" of eastern indigo snakes is prohibited by the Endangered Species Act without a permit. "Take" is defined by the USFWS as an attempt to kill, harm, harass, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, trap, capture, collect, or engage in any such conduct. Penalties include a maximum fine of $25,000 for civil violations and up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment for criminal offenses, if convicted. W. Only individuals currently authorized through an issued Incidental Take Statement in association with a USFWS Biological Opinion, or by a Section 10(a)(1)(A) permit issued by the USFWS, to handle an