Rubber Boa Snakes In Washington State

The only snakes i m used to seeing are garter snakes.

Rubber boa snakes in washington state.

They tend to be habitat generalists so finding one under a rock or log in the forest or field is possible. The first picture shows a northern rubber boa. They are one of the smaller boa species. Garter snakes rubber boas and western rattlesnakes bear live young from eggs retained in the body until hatching.

Coastal rubber boa northern rubber boa two headed snake. Garter snakes rubber boas and western rattlesnakes bear live young from eggs retained in the body until hatching. The western yellow bellied racer coluber constrictor mormon is a subspecies that can be found in eastern washington as well as california nevada western colorado oregon and southern british columbia. Young are born from july through september and fend for themselves after hatching.

Dark brown to tan back. Young are born pinkish but darken as they age. Young northern rubber boas move out during spring after their first hibernation and reach maturity at around 2 to 3. The generic name charina is from the ancient greek graceful or delightful and the specific name bottae honors dr.

Henri marie ducrotay de blainville described the rubber boa in 1835. Bull snake great basin gopher snake pituophis catenifer deserticola. 1 23 2 47 oz 35 70 g color. Nonvenomous but can be aggressive.

Three additional snakes in washington state get less attention because they live away from population centers and are somewhat secretive in their nature. All other washington snakes lay eggs in protected areas where the eggs receive enough external heat to hatch. The family boidae consists of the nonvenomous snakes commonly called boas and consists of 43 species. No longer present in washington.

The common name is derived from their skin which is often loose and wrinkled and consists of small scales that are smooth and shiny. Gopher snake pacific gopher snake pituophis catenifer catenifer. It s a pacific northwest specialty. All other washington snakes lay eggs in protected areas where the eggs receive enough external heat to hatch.

I m local to the area and have never seen a tan color snake. Reproduction courtship and mating occurs shortly after snakes emerge from hibernation. Young are born from july through september and fend for themselves. 15 33 inches 38 84 cm weight.

Botta an italian ship s surgeon explorer and naturalist. Rubber boas are nonvenomous snakes native to north america. Northern rubber boas can also feed on lizard and snake eggs. Racers are most often found in dry sunny areas with cover including open woodland open fields hedgerows thickets and wood edges.

Ventral side yellow olive green to orange. Each baby snake weighs only 7 5 grams and is 7 to 11 inches long. I found a snake of some kind on the pacific crest trail in washington state.