Some of the Good Guys (2008)

(This was passed on to me after seeing my gopher snake commentary)

I always heard my Dad talk about the Blue Indigo Snakes he use to see while ranching in the Brackettville/Spofford area before moving to the present ranch around 1932. He always said no one bothered them  because they killed and ate rattlesnakes. Of course I thought it was a tall tale. I never saw one on the present ranch although while working for the King Ranch down in deep South Texas, I saw several of these snakes. They were big, long and the color of Indigo or Bluing they use to use in dying clothes. Never saw one eat a rattler but I guess the truth does come out now and then. Enjoy the attached photos. Send to all your friends in South Texas and those who hunt down that way to let them know there are good snakes out there. Bubba

I have a soft spot for reptiles.  I worked for a venomologist in the summer months in high school, caring for
some of the most venomous reptiles in the world.



Quite an interest was evolving around snake venoms,  their hemotoxic properties in particular and their
uses in the treatment of blood disorders.  

By the way, snakes are not poisonous....they are venomous.



Rattlesnakes  and other venomous snakes don't bother me at all and they usually don't bother anyone else
either.  If you encounter one in the wild, stand still if close and give the snake an opportunity to leave.
Otherwise slowly back up and the snake will generally lose its defensive posture and head in the
opposite direction.



Indigo snakes, Gopher Snakes, Bull Snakes and Cobras  all have been known to eat other snakes.
Gopher and Bull Snakes are constrictors.  Indigos grab and thrash.  Cobras use venom.



It's been a while but I think the rattlesnake pictured here (or what's left of it) is C. Atrox, one of the
nastier customers down south.



The world can do with a few less of these, especially around pressure tanks.



Heads and Tails



I would imagine this meal took around half an hour to get down the pipe.



The Indigo snake is a very large snake and the color shown here really doesn't do it justice.
They are in my opinion one of the most attractive snakes in the US and on a bright sunny day
they literally glisten in indigo.

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2014 - Wow!  After how many years, some recent commentary!

Re: Other South Texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 9:55 pm to 911Moto) We've been hunting that property for 10 years now (hour south of San Antonio) and thats first one spotted. I'm liking these snakes more and more. after watching multiple videos they may be the coolest looking snake I've ever seen. thanks for the responses fellas. re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 6:04 pm to roguetiger15) Black Mamba would be my guess.     re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 6:29 pm to roguetiger15) lots of big indigo snakes in south texas. they're relatively harmless/docile with people. re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 6:30 pm to roguetiger15) Black indigo "Kinda hard to be depressed when you have two new coon dogs." -downshift re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 6:34 pm to KingRanch) it just seems out of place for that kind of environment. i wonder if years ago they were brought over from the african jungles or some shite. re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 6:35 pm to roguetiger15) Blue indigo. Only snake not shot on sight at our place. re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 6:45 pm to MillerMan) Definitely a blue indigo. They have encroached from Mexico and are welcome to stay. They get huge. They will wipe out the rattlebugs. I will see if I can find pics of these monsters. re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 7:04 pm to hardhead) What is a rattlebug?     re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 7:18 pm to roguetiger15) man, that is a hell of a big snake... re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 7:24 pm to Nodust)     quote:     What is a rattlebug? It's a buzzworm re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 7:29 pm to cchoque93)     quote:     buzzworm That clears it up re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 7:31 pm to Nodust) Guessing its like a king snake. And eats other snakes that are unwanted. re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 7:35 pm to beebefootballfan) I like them now.     re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 7:55 pm to beebefootballfan) damn, that is a hell of a cool-looking snake...no doubt why it is called "indigo"..... re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 8:11 pm to Spankum) Color re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 8:44 pm to Nodust) Rattlebug= rattlesnake re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 8:49 pm to roguetiger15) Not to get Technical but if it was in South Texas then it was a Texas indigo snake. If it was in Along the coast of Mississippi or a small portion of LA then it's a eastern indigo snake or a blue indigo. Texas Indigo in pic.     re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 8:58 pm to Rize) damn, those big bastards live in LA in MS?....     re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 9:31 pm to roguetiger15) Indigo. And they fetch about $1,500 at reptile shows. Re: other ob south texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 9/30/14 at 10:50 pm to Spankum) Yes. The eastern indigo ranges from a small portion in LA to I think Florida but don't quote me on that. Texas indigo snakes are Mexico and South Texas. Re: other ob South Texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 10/1/14 at 12:52 pm to roguetiger15) They have these blueish snakes around there that are large! I think they call them Blue runners or something like that. I think they are good and eat other snakes. Re: other ob South Texas hunters, snake related  (Posted on 10/1/14 at 1:45 pm to GeeOH) Blue runners (racers) top out around 5 ft., and they are fairly skinny snakes. Nowhere near the size of a big Indigo. Comment:  You leave the most obscure stuff up long enough and everything eventually finds a home. Credits go to LSU!