Mary,



It appears that rubber boas are documented from the Tahuya peninsula:



http://www1.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/herp/html/map_chbo.html



They give birth to live young, rather than laying eggs in a ground nest that
incubates in the sun. So, in that way, they're like the majority of reptiles
that are native to western Washington. The Tahuya is one of very few places
in western Washington where a native egg-laying reptile species, the western
fence lizard, can be found extensively in upland areas away from marine
shorelines. So, the Tahuya appears to have some features that set it apart
from everywhere else. I agree with everything you cited about the rubber
boa's secretive habits and how rarely they are seen, despite being broadly
distributed and likely fairly abundant where they do occur.



I know there are places in western Washington where rubber boas can be
fairly easily seen by turning over cover objects like boards and rubbish but
those places are scattered and not particularly distinctive in any obvious
way.



Kelly McAllister

Olympia





From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of mary
hrudkaj
Sent: Sunday, May 29, 2016 10:04 AM
To: Tweeters Tweeters Bird Chat <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [Tweeters] Slightly off topic re Rubber Boa Snake



While replacing a window constantly hit by birds on the south side of my
house (the place from which to watch mountain quail) we found a tiny tan
rubber boa snake Saturday afternoon. It was about 8-9 inches long so
probably one of last year's kids. It was in a flower bed just under the
window. Why birds foraging there haven't eaten it and why it was there in
the first place are unknown.



My question is, how common are rubber boas in western WA and how common is
it to see one? My reptile book said it is pretty uncommon to find them as
they usually hang out under rotting logs or are alongside streams or lakes.
Nearest body of water here is about 700 feet west downslope at the Tahuya
River. Being chilly the little guy/gal allowed me to hold and measure it
and get a couple photos of it in my gloved hand. It was the tan (earthworm
color almost) version of the rubber boa.



Made my day getting a new reptile species for the yard.



Mary Hrudkaj

Belfair/Tahuya