Rubber boa

Kids catching a rubber boa (Charina bottae) in northern Utah. This is only one of two species in the boa family that occurs in the U.S.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• snake
• kids
• hike
• rubber boa
• hiking
• outdoors
• nature
• family
• Mother's
• Day
• herping

[makeitatriple]

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 :)

[flattail]

@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.

[ConservationBoy]

Flattail,

reading "we decided not to keep it" made my heart sink. Do you keep ANY wild snakes that you find?

[flattail]

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.

[thediscgolfkid]

I live in Northern Utah (UMP), it is unlawful to keep any wild snake that you find, according to state law.

[flattail]

The snake was released about a minute after this video was taken. Collecting laws vary by state, and Utah is very strict.

[SeherCinema]

the last kid was making scary vadar noises

[flattail]

@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.

[deppideppi2]

nice vid. your kids did no harm at all. how else are they going to learn snakes are not evil. thanks

[Ultimategrid]

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

[TitWarlord]

i found a small rubber boa under a rock in my front yard once

[StarisX]

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 ^^;

[HerperAmerica]

That Was a big one nice!

[mistyzeldaforest]

wow i caght one yesterday a big one two and i cept it and they dont bite either