Rubber Boa (Charina bottae). 



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

 (30-70 cm snout- vent length), stout, and uniformly-colored from brown to 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. Two to eight young are 

 bom alive. Young Rubber Boas are more tan (or even pinkish) than the adults on both the 

 dorsal and ventral surfaces. 



Habitat and Habits: The Rubber Boa is a secretive snake, usually found under logs and rocks in 

 either moist or dry forest habitats. Occasionally they are seen suiming themselves on roads, 

 trails or in open areas. Rarely are they seen in marsh or bog situations. In the BNF area they 

 are most often reported in June and July on mountain trails, generally below 7000' elevation. 

 Surface activity in the BNF area has been reported from 22 March to 3 October, the extreme 

 dates from elevations below 4000' in the Bitterroot Valley. They will constrict small prey 

 (i.e. shrews, small mice, salamanders, etc.) but also feed on various insects and invertebrates. 

 The young are bom 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. Previous sightings are of value in locating general 

 areas of activity. 



Status: Sightings of Rubber Boas are infrequent; they were reported from the BNF area four 

 times in 1995, from the Stevensville and Darby districts. There are, as yet, no reports from 

 the West Fork District, but Rubber Boas probably occur throughout the BNF at low to mid- 

 elevations. 



Montana Natural Heritage Program Rank: G5 S4. 



28 



