Rubber Boa

Rubber Boas have small, smooth scales giving them a shiny, loose skin that resembles rubber. They are small (1-2.5 ft) and thick-bodied with a light-brown back and a pale yellow belly. A small cap on the blunt tail makes it hard to distinguish head from tail.

Rubber Boas can be found from southern British Columbia to California and as far east as Idaho, western Utah, and Montana. They don't tolerate heat as well as other snakes and prefer cool, moist areas. They prefer sandy soils where they can burrow.

Rubber Boas are nocturnal and rarely seen. They specialize in squeezing and eating baby rodents, consuming whole nests when they find them.

Did you know? If threatened, Rubber Boas roll into a ball, hide their head, and raise their tail into the air as a decoy.

See Also: Bullsnake, Garter Snake, Hognose Snake, North American Racer, Rattlesnake

Hard - can be difficult to spot. They may be few in number or not readily visible (for example, underground).

Forests are large areas of trees growing close together.

Grasslands are large open areas covered with grasses. They have very few trees or shrubs. This habitat includes prairies and tundra.

Mountains are very high areas of land with steep sides leading to a peak. They are often connected to other mountains as part of a mountain range.