Rubber Boa {Char via boltae) 



Description: The Rubber Boa looks and feels like rubber, hence its name. It is a small snake 

 (14-33" length), stout, and uniformly-colored either brown or green on the dorsal side. The 

 ventral surface is cream to tan in color. The scales are small and smooth, except for those on 

 the head which are enlarged. The tail is short and blunt and the eyes are very small. It is a 

 very slow moving snake which can easily be caught if detected. 



Young: Rubber Boas are born alive and young are more tan (or even pinkish) than the adults 

 on both the dorsal and ventral surfaces. 



Similar species: The Racer is much quicker and more active, has larger eyes, and a thin, tapered 

 (not blunt) tail. 



Habitat and Habits: The Rubber Boa is a secretive, slow-moving, docile snake, usually found 

 under logs and rocks in either moist or dry forest habitats, but rarely in marsh or bog 

 situations. Denning locations are typically in areas with fractured rock on south facing 

 slopes; recent data indicates it rarely moves more than a short distances from its den 

 (Peterson pers. comm). Occasionally this snake is seen sunning itself on a road, trail, or open 

 area, but it is primarily nocturnal. Feeding is primarily on small mice, but also on slirews, 

 salamanders, snakes and lizards. Two to eight young are bom alive in late summer or early 

 fall. 



Surveying: There are no practical methods for surveying other than systematic searches of a 

 given area rolling over rocks, logs, etc. Driving roads at night, particularly after a rain when 

 the temperature is > 10° C, may be more effective, especially on roads which follow a stream. 

 Previous sightings are of value in locating general areas of activity and demiing sites. Funnel 

 traps may be effective. 



Status: Sightings of Rubber Boas are infrequent, but they are widely distributed and probably 

 common throughout western Montana. They were not found during this surv-ey, nor are there 

 historic records of their presence definitely located on the HNF. However, a record from 

 Grizzly Gulch in 1994 may have been on the forest. They probably occur tliroughout the 

 Rocky Mountains of the HNF at low to mid-elevations. They should be watched for on the 

 HNF; any sightings should be documented. Of particular interest would be any reports of this 

 species from the Elkhom or Big Belt Mountains or documentation of any denning sites 

 located. 



Montana Natural Heritage Program Rank: G5 S4. 



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