I love these little guys - the only boa found in canada. We used to catch them as kids - in addition to various garters and bulls. the rubber boas are were the only ones that never bit or musked. We'd carry them around for a bit or keep them a couple days, then let them go where we found them. We even found an old one that my dad ran over with the lawn mower the previous year. Truly THE snake for people who don't dig snakes :)
@makeitatriple I did not realize they went up into Canada--that's great that you found them regularly! I agree that they have a wonderful personality and are perfect for introducing people to snakes. We have moved to southern Arizona--I'll have to get some video of shovel-nosed snakes. More squirmy than a rubber boa, but they are super cute.
@D0UCHEN0ZZLE At that altitude I have seen no other species of snake in this area. A bit lower down there are garter snakes and occasional Great-basin rattlesnakes and gopher snakes. Oh, and sometimes a yellow-bellied racer.
I love seeing how calm the children are with the snake :) I was lucky to have a childhood out in the desert where all sorts of critters were around, and my grandparents encouraged me to interact with them! Too many of my friends are terrified and misinformed about animals and nature, it's refreshing to see some kiddos not shrieking or yelling "It's poisonous!" ugh... If I had a penny for every time someone says poisonous instead of venomous ^^;
you people need to chill out. you shouldn't expect every kid to handle a snake like a herpetologist. I think it's very cool to see young kids interested in great snake.
I have kept snakes from the wild before--mainly as a kid when I would catch various snakes, keep them for a time, then release them where I found them. I have participated in various studies, some of which collected snakes either as voucher specimens or for physiological studies. I understand the ethical concerns with keeping a wild animal (or, for that matter, a domesticated or captive-bred animal). Personally I am more concerned with our societal disconnect with the natural world.
Those kids should have been taught how to handle a snake in a much gentler manner. Truth be told, no kid should be encouraged to disturb or handle wildlife - no matter how docile the species. Scary event for the snake (who sees anything larger than it as a predator), and all for a youtube video?
I appreciate your concern for the well-being of the snake--yes, I'm sure it was stressful on the snake but I certainly don't think there is any longterm distress. No, it wasn't all for a YouTube video--we love to catch snakes whether we film or not. Humans can (and I think) should be a part of nature and interact with other species in a variety of ways. But, as I say, I appreciate your concern for the snake.
Rosy boas can be found in southern AZ and southern CA. Do a search for "rosy boa" or Charina trivirgata and you will find a lot of info. FYI, there are strict rules regarding collecting them as pets.
yeah, they're sweet critters. i stumbled on one while hunting blacktail deer and it wrapped itself around the stock of my rifle... nice seeing them around.
Rubber boas are very gentle. I have never known one to bite. They tend to be slow-moving snakes that are active at cool temperatures in moist mountain environments. We have only found a few of them, so this was a treat for us.
Cute snake, cuter kids! I'm so happy to see children appreciating the beauty of our planet and all of it's wonderful wildlife. Thanks for sending me the video, I enjoyed it.
I love these little guys - the only boa found in canada. We used to catch them as kids - in addition to various garters and bulls. the rubber boas are were the only ones that never bit or musked. We'd carry them around for a bit or keep them a couple days, then let them go where we found them. We even found an old one that my dad ran over with the lawn mower the previous year. Truly THE snake for people who don't dig snakes :)
makeitatriple 11 months ago
@makeitatriple I did not realize they went up into Canada--that's great that you found them regularly! I agree that they have a wonderful personality and are perfect for introducing people to snakes. We have moved to southern Arizona--I'll have to get some video of shovel-nosed snakes. More squirmy than a rubber boa, but they are super cute.
flattail 11 months ago
@D0UCHEN0ZZLE At that altitude I have seen no other species of snake in this area. A bit lower down there are garter snakes and occasional Great-basin rattlesnakes and gopher snakes. Oh, and sometimes a yellow-bellied racer.
flattail 1 year ago
nice vid. your kids did no harm at all. how else are they going to learn snakes are not evil. thanks
deppideppi2 1 year ago
It would be a good idea for these kids to learn how to handle a snake. This is an animal not a toy. They should stick to lego
Ultimategrid 1 year ago
i found a small rubber boa under a rock in my front yard once
TitWarlord 1 year ago
I love seeing how calm the children are with the snake :) I was lucky to have a childhood out in the desert where all sorts of critters were around, and my grandparents encouraged me to interact with them! Too many of my friends are terrified and misinformed about animals and nature, it's refreshing to see some kiddos not shrieking or yelling "It's poisonous!" ugh... If I had a penny for every time someone says poisonous instead of venomous ^^;
StarisX 1 year ago
That Was a big one nice!
HerperAmerica 1 year ago
you people need to chill out. you shouldn't expect every kid to handle a snake like a herpetologist. I think it's very cool to see young kids interested in great snake.
keep it up!
zoologistdude 2 years ago
wow i caght one yesterday a big one two and i cept it and they dont bite either
mistyzeldaforest 2 years ago
Flattail,
reading "we decided not to keep it" made my heart sink. Do you keep ANY wild snakes that you find?
ConservationBoy 3 years ago
I have kept snakes from the wild before--mainly as a kid when I would catch various snakes, keep them for a time, then release them where I found them. I have participated in various studies, some of which collected snakes either as voucher specimens or for physiological studies. I understand the ethical concerns with keeping a wild animal (or, for that matter, a domesticated or captive-bred animal). Personally I am more concerned with our societal disconnect with the natural world.
flattail 3 years ago
The biggest one I ever found was barely over a foot long...
blamecanada123456789 3 years ago
I live in Northern Utah (UMP), it is unlawful to keep any wild snake that you find, according to state law.
thediscgolfkid 3 years ago
The snake was released about a minute after this video was taken. Collecting laws vary by state, and Utah is very strict.
flattail 3 years ago
Those kids should have been taught how to handle a snake in a much gentler manner. Truth be told, no kid should be encouraged to disturb or handle wildlife - no matter how docile the species. Scary event for the snake (who sees anything larger than it as a predator), and all for a youtube video?
RavenInTheTowerclock 3 years ago
I appreciate your concern for the well-being of the snake--yes, I'm sure it was stressful on the snake but I certainly don't think there is any longterm distress. No, it wasn't all for a YouTube video--we love to catch snakes whether we film or not. Humans can (and I think) should be a part of nature and interact with other species in a variety of ways. But, as I say, I appreciate your concern for the snake.
flattail 3 years ago 2
get over it. use common sense there is no way that snake was actually mentally or physically hurt
dillballplayer42 2 years ago
i just got a rubber boa for Mother's Day. He is just the sweetest thing.
Emastiffs125 3 years ago
How cool is that?! And to think--we caught this one on Mother's Day two years ago. Great snake, but we decided not to keep it.
flattail 3 years ago
whats the other boa found in the u.s.?
ReptilesXrule 3 years ago
Rosy boas are also found in the U.S.
flattail 3 years ago
oh really? what part?
ReptilesXrule 3 years ago
Rosy boas can be found in southern AZ and southern CA. Do a search for "rosy boa" or Charina trivirgata and you will find a lot of info. FYI, there are strict rules regarding collecting them as pets.
flattail 3 years ago
awesome kids. most kids are scared, but nice job to those guys
doristheBINGOfairy 4 years ago
most kids wouldn't be scared of these guys, they're pretty small AND the most docile boa :)
razorsrocker991 3 years ago
yeah, they're sweet critters. i stumbled on one while hunting blacktail deer and it wrapped itself around the stock of my rifle... nice seeing them around.
jazzfolkrocker 4 years ago
lol you guys are CRAZY!!! i love it haha if i saw a snake i woulda peed my pants XXXXXXD
ecooli 4 years ago
Great kids! Rubbers are such sweet snakes!
Lampropeltis001 4 years ago
what northern part east or western?
wierdswisher 4 years ago
northeastern Utah, up Logan Canyon on the trail to Jardine Juniper (though we have seen them in several canyons around Logan)
flattail 4 years ago
Rubber boas are very gentle. I have never known one to bite. They tend to be slow-moving snakes that are active at cool temperatures in moist mountain environments. We have only found a few of them, so this was a treat for us.
flattail 4 years ago
are they not mean at all
gipsonmckinney 4 years ago
i want my kids to be that cool.
nickbachman 5 years ago 2
awesome to see kids not afraid of snakes
badkittyamy 5 years ago
Hooray! nice find, nice boa, CUTE kids.
ImaMuffin 5 years ago
Cute snake, cuter kids! I'm so happy to see children appreciating the beauty of our planet and all of it's wonderful wildlife. Thanks for sending me the video, I enjoyed it.
wildstar1 5 years ago