Zach:
Your original post was completely accurate as far as the information at your disposal. Sorry if my responses appeared to be critical as that was not my intent.

I was just setting the record straight, particularly with respect to the listed Southern Rubber Boa as the CDFG documents and other semi-official sources contain erroneous or even outright false information.

In years past here on Kingsnake and on other herp forums, the topic of '"habitat destruction" has been discussed. From my point of view, that issue has been misunderstood as well. To me, habitat destruction is when habitat is altered to the extent that species can no longer sustain viable populations. Thus, bulldozers, graders, earth moving machinery and any other method used to clear land or degrade habitat (excessive use of chemicals) to the extent species can no longer sustain themselves is what I consider as habitat destruction.

Rock, woody debris, and artificial cover objects that have been moved and not put back has often been referred to as 'habitat destruction. To my way of thinking, those situations are simply habitat disturbances or a rearrangement of habitat features that are unlikely to have any negative effect on the numerical abundance or densities of species occupying such
habitat.

I would be interested to learn if the species still can be found in San Francisco County. A number of years ago, I traveled down highway 35 (Skyline Rd.) along the spine of the Santa Cruz Mts. from S.F. to San Mateo County on south. And although I couldn't tell just where the county line occurred, it seemed to me there still might be some suitable boa habitat at the extreme south end of S.F. county. Just in the back of my mind, I believe I once was told or perhaps there is a voucher specimen that was found on the Presidio back in the 1950's.

Richard F. Hoyer

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