An extremely elusive species of snake has made a rare appearance in Alabama. The discovery was recently confirmed by the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, and is only the second instance in the past 60 years of an eastern indigo snake being sighted in the state.

However, the discovery was not a surprise, but rather the result of an effortless program aimed at repopulating Alabama’s wilderness with this species of snake. According to wildlife officials, the young snake is the result of pairs that were introduced into the Conecuh National Forest.

Alabama Division of Freshwater Fisheries and Wildlife

“The snake found yesterday indicates that the project is resulting in some thriving and reproducing indigos, just what we wanted,” the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries announced on Facebook. “Reintroducing a species into its native range is a daunting task, and we celebrate every step of its success!”

The Eastern Indigo Snake is native to Alabama, but the species unfortunately became extinct in the 1950s, primarily due to habitat loss. More than 50 years later, the Division of Wildlife reintroduced the snakes into the wild as part of a restocking program. This program began in 2006 and included snakes captured in Georgia. Four years later, the first snakes were released into the Conecuh National Forest. Therefore, the recent discovery confirms that the individuals released into the wild not only survived, but also managed to adapt to the environmental conditions.

Alabama Division of Freshwater Fisheries and Wildlife

“This is an excellent indicator that the snakes we’ve released that were born in captivity have been able to adapt to the wild, are functioning like wild snakes and are reproducing,” Jim Godwin, an animal biologist with the Alabama Natural Heritage Program, told CNN.

This is the second time an eastern indigo snake has been discovered (accidentally) since the program was launched. The first was seen in 2020. However, officials did not rule out the possibility that there are other wild-born indigo snakes in the region.

“It’s hard to go out and look for them because they’re small and can hide very easily,” Godwin said.