Rubber boa
For protection, the rubber boa curls into a ball with its head hidden away. It holds its blunt tail up like a fake head and makes striking motions with it to confuse attackers. The tale bone are joined into a strong solid block so it provides a pretty good thump for startle value as well. However, the main use of the hard tail seems to be keeping mouse mothers at bay while the boa gobbles up the young mice.
- Conservation StatusLeast Concern
- Life span7.5-30 years
- Body size15-33.1 in.
- Native habitat Forests, shrublands, and grasslands of the Pacif Northwest United States
- DietRodents, eggs, lizards, birds, bats, and other snakes
