The rubber boa is BLUE-listed. In B.C., this species may be threatened by habitat loss in the southern portion of its range. In the United States, it is a popular species with reptile collectors and overcollecting is a significant threat.
The rubber boa occurs in a variety of habitats throughout its range. It occurs from sea level to 3050 m. In B.C., it is widely distributed in the southern part of the province but appears to be present in low densities. It is secretive and semi-fossorial, usually occurring in rotting logs or under rocks, logs or bark. Like other species of snakes, it is active between April and November. Mating occurs in late spring and live young are born in the fall. During the rest of the year, it hibernates in dens that may be communal but rarely contain other species of snakes. When the snakes leave the dens in spring, they disperse to summer foraging areas. This species often forages in riparian areas. It primarily preys on rodents, which it kills by constriction. Home ranges may be smaller than those of other snake species.
COM: NWC, EPR, SPR
GED: FRL
CEI: CAB, CHP, FRB
SIM: SCM, SFH, EKT, (CCM, MCR, SHH possible)
SOI: LPR, PAR, SCR, SOB, SOH, HOR, OKR, NOB, NOH,
NTU, STU, THB
BG: BGxh, BGxw
CWH: CWHxm, CWHdm, CWHmm, CWHwm, CWHvm, CWHds, CWHms, CWHws
ICH: ICHxw, ICHdw, ICHdk, ICHmk, ICHmw, ICHmm
IDF: IDFxh, IDFxw, IDFxm, IDFmw
PP: PPxh
AB, BS, CL, CR, DF, DL, DP, ER, IH, IS, LP, ME, PP, RO, RR, SS, TA
1a to 7: non-vegetated to old forest
This species burrows in wildlife trees (upright or on the ground) and lives under loose bark or between the soil-tree interface of fallen trees. Coarse woody debris between decay classes 6 and 9, and larger debris pieces (>10 cm diameter) are particularly important. It appears to require plenty of low cover (e.g., coarse woody debris) or soil suitable for burrowing. Rock outcrops provide hibernating and nest sites, sunning areas and support prey species.
Hoyer, R.F. 1974. Description of a rubber boa (Charina bottae) population from
western Oregon. Herpetologica 30(3):275-283.
Nussbaum, R.A. and R.F. Hoyer. 1974. Geographic variation and the validity of
subspecies in the rubber boa, Charina bottae (Blainville). NW Sc. 48(4):219-229.
Sarell, M.J. 1993. Snake hibernacula in the South Okanagan. Unpubl. report for the B.C.
Min. Environ., Lands and Parks, Penticton, B.C.
Shewchuck, C.H. and P.T. Gregory. [1994]. Methods for sampling snakes in British
Columbia. B.C. Min. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Br., Victoria, B.C. (In press.)
