Northern rubber boas are unique-looking snakes with chunky tails that can be found in both Canada and the United States. Docile by nature, these rubbery snakes are extremely unlikely to bite humans. If you want to learn more about these secretive snakes, then keep reading to learn all about the northern rubber boa.
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Quick Facts:
Scientific Name: Charina Bottae
Common Name: Rubber Boa, Coastal Rubber Boa, Northern Rubber Boa, Two-Headed Snake
Geographic Range: Western US and British Columbia Canada
Life Span: 25+ years
Conservation Status: Least concern
Top 10 List – Northern Rubber Boa
1. Northern Rubber Boas Enjoy A Variety Of Habitats
Northern rubber boas can be found in a variety of habitats. These habitats include forest clearings, woodlands, meadows, grassy savannas, and riparian areas. These areas are usually not too far from water and have covers like rocky outcrops, woody debris, and burrows. Even though northern rubber boas can live in a variety of habitats, they tend to avoid areas that are hot and dry, as they prefer more humid, mountainous lands.
2. Northern Rubber Boas Have Thicker Tails Than Other Snakes
Northern rubber boas definitely have a unique look to them. Their skin is usually loose and wrinkled, with small scales that are smooth and shiny. As their name suggests, this makes them look and even feel almost like rubber. Their bodies are short, thick, and uniform in color, and rubber boas rarely exceed 2 feet ( 61 cm) in length. The top of their bodies can range in color from dark olive green to brown, and their bellies are pale yellow or orange. These boas have interesting thick, blunt tails that closely resembles their blunt head. This is why they are occasionally referred to as the “two-headed snake”. The scales on top of their heads are large and irregular, unlike the scales on their bodies, and the eyes are small with vertical pupils.
3. Northern Rubber Boas Are Often Pink When They Are First Born
Northern rubber boas start their mating season after they emerge from hibernation, which is usually March or April and continues until sometime mid-May. Females do not mate every year, but usually only every 2. However, it can be up to every 4 years if the temperatures are too cold. The colder temperatures do not allow the embryo to properly develop. In late August and early September, females will give birth to 2 – 8 live offspring, instead of laying eggs like many snakes. The babies are around 7 – 11 inches (18 – 28cm) long and are born with a slightly transparent pink look to them. As the babies age, they will darken to their adult colors.
4. They Use Their Tails While Hunting For Food
Northern rubber boas have a main diet that includes nestling rodents such as mice, shrews, and voles. The way they hunt is by invading the nest of a rodent in order to feed on the nestlings. If the mother rodent is around and tries to attack the rubber boa, it will use its blunt and hardened tail as a decoy in order to distract the mother. This is why many northern rubber boas, especially adults, will have a bunch of scarring on their tails. Other than small rodents, northern rubber boas have also been known to occasionally consume things such as lizards and their eggs, bats, baby rabbits, small birds, bird eggs, salamanders, or bats.
5. They Are Very Secretive Snakes
Northern rubber boas are ground-dwelling snakes that are most active at night time. They spend most of their time underground in burrows or hiding under various wood debris and rocks. Since they often spend most of their time hiding they are not often spotted in the wild unless you go looking for them. During the winter they will hibernate in root hollows, old mammal burrows, rocky crevices, or generally any hiding area that falls below the frost line.
6. Northern Rubber Boas Have Various Threats To Deal With
While northern rubber boas are not considered endangered, they do still have threats to their safety out in the wild. One of the main threats to their population is common for many species – humans. Things like habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and pollution cause the northern rubber boa to have fewer places to call home and to hide or hunt for food. With the addition of more roads, there is a higher chance of the snakes being struck by cars as they cross the road.
The second main threat is being preyed upon by various other larger animals in their habitats. These can include animals like large birds, coyotes, raccoons, outdoor cats, etc. When threatened they may curl into a ball and hide their heads from the predators. They may also stick out their tail, which resembles their head. However, their best defense mechanism is their secretive nature and the fact they spend a large amount of time hiding.
7. While They Are Occasionally Kept As Pets, They Are Not Overly Common In The Pet Trade
Northern rubber boas are occasionally kept as pets, but they are not super common in the pet trade like corn snakes or ball pythons. One reason they may not be as common in the pet trade is the fact that several states have declared it illegal to breed rubber boas once you take them into captivity. This makes it very hard for breeders to get rubber boas in order to breed captive snakes for the pet trade.
While they are not the most popular pet snake, they do have many good qualities that would make them a good pet. They are gentle, slow-moving snakes that are docile by nature. They are also on the smaller side for boas, meaning you don’t need huge enclosures for them as you would for a boa constrictor. As with any pet that you are thinking of getting, it is important to do your research on how to properly care for them before you get your new pet. It is also important to make sure that the area you live in allows you to keep rubber boas as a pet, as some areas may forbid it.
8. Northern Rubber Boas Are Very Docile By Nature
Northern rubber boas are quite docile by nature and are actually considered one of the most docile of the boa species. Due to the fact they almost never strike at humans, they are great at helping people get over their fear of snakes. Most often when they are picked up, they will wrap themselves around the person’s hand, like in the picture above. At most, they may musk when frightened. Musking is when they release a foul-smelling substance from their back ends. While it may be a bit smelly, it is completely harmless.
9. Northern Rubber Boas Were Named For Their Rubbery Looking Skin
The common name of the northern rubber boa was given to them because of their skin. Their skin is usually loose and wrinkled, with small scales that are smooth and shiny like rubber. These traits put together give the snakes a rubbery look to them.
In 1835 the northern rubber boa was described by Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville. They were then given the scientific name Charina bottae. The generic name, Charina, is from the Ancient Greek word for “graceful” or “delightful”. The specific name bottae is in honor of Dr. Paolo E. Botta, an Italian ship’s surgeon, explorer, and naturalist.
10. The Northern Rubber Boa And The Southern Rubber Boa Are Sometimes Confused For Eachother
Photo Source
Photo Source
The southern rubber boa (Charina umbratica) was originally thought to be a subspecies of the northern rubber boa (Charina bottae), which is why it’s easy to see how people could get the two confused. Southern rubber boas, as their name suggests, are found in the southern part of California, while the northern rubber boa is found in western US states, all the way up to British Columbia, Canada. It is thought that northern rubber boas are much more tolerant of lower temperatures than southern rubber boas, as they are able to live in British Columbia, which can have cooler weather. The southern rubber boa is considered vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, and not as much is known about them as is known about the northern rubber boa.
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