Northern Rubber Boa

Charina bottae bottae

Venom Status:

Non Venomous

 

Characteristics:

Adult at about 2 ½’, the northern rubber boa can be described as blunt-nosed, blunt-tailed, and loose skinned. Dorsal color of the adults may be blackish-brown to olive, but they are most often just a plain warm brown. Belly mostly dark. Neonates are orangish to tan dorsally and salmon to yellowish below. Basically a burrower in high, cool, woodland/forest situations, this snake can also be quite common beneath tin or lumber lying on damp ground in edge situations. When frightened this snake will coil, elevate and with its tail above the coils, ostensibly to draw attention away from more vulnerable areas of its body. Ovoviviparous.

 

Unique Features:

Broad but blunt nose, heavy body, elliptical pupils, blunt tail.

 

Habitat and Diet:

High, cool, woodland/forest situations, this snake can also be quite common beneath tin or lumber lying on damp ground in edge situations. Preferred prey items are small rodents.

 

Geographic Range:

CA, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY, OR, WA,