Sssnakessss!

My beautiful snakes! Did you know that Canada has a native species of boa? The Rubber Boa is native to the Okanagan and bears live young!

Super cool. I did not know that. I have missed the interesting things I learn from you!

Norma Y wrote:Super cool. I did not know that. I have missed the interesting things I learn from you!

And I, you! Glad you are here!

Rubber boas are fairly common here. I had never seen one until moving up onto this bedrock hillside. When we were building our house I found one and took it to the high school biology teacher to see if she could identify it. She did not know what it was either. They are not quick, like the garter snakes. Much more sluggish. I have to rescue one from the hens every now and then. A hen on each end yanking for all their worth, thus the name rubber boa, likely to get stretched between two chickens! I would love to see one have babies! As pets, do they bite? I know a garter snake will chomp you if it feels the need.

They are the most gentle snake ever. No bite, they just curl up around your arm and hold on tight.

SchipperkeSue wrote:My beautiful snakes!  Did you know that Canada has a native species of boa?  The Rubber Boa is native to the Okanagan and bears live young!

That is pretty cool. I didn't know that!

So...my daughter would love one like that, but, she's got a baby. She played with garter snakes since she was 2. We kept some in a tank outside for a bit. The next day after capture, it had babies. We also kept some I'm a tank indoors for a few months. That was fun.

How safe are these around little ones? How big do they get, and can you actually legally keep them as pets?

They are similar to Garter snakes as they are live bearers, but dissimilar because they are constrictors. They only get a couple- 3 feet long maximum and that would be rare. They are legal to have in Alberta but in BC you cannot have them nor can you collect them.