Rubber Boa Snake Information

The rubber boa acquired its name from its appearance, as the snake looks as if it is made of rubber. A snake of western North America, people seldom see this elusive reptile, as it forages for food during the evening hours.

Geography

The rubber boa is the northernmost member of the boa family, which includes such snakes as anacondas and boa constrictors. It lives from the southern parts of California northward to as far as British Columbia, with an eastward range to the Rocky Mountains.

Habitat

The rubber boa is highly adaptable, living in such ecosystems as arid regions, grasslands and the rainy forests of the Pacific Northwest.

Identification

Rubber boas rarely exceed more than 28 inches in length, and the tail looks the same as the head in terms of thickness. The coloring varies from tan to olive, with the belly typically a yellowish hue.

Hunting

The rubber boa is not a fast-moving snake, which limits its ability to hunt faster creatures such as small mammals and birds. This translates into the rubber boa hunting newborn rodents in their dens, like mice and shrews.

Habits

When a rubber boa feels threatened, it will roll itself into a ball for protection, with an enemy usually unable to distinguish the head from the tail. It almost never bites when defending itself.

References

• Montana.gov
• Washington.edu