Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, I just got back yesterday evening from a lovely 3-day jaunt to WA for a great family reunion--but my main ecstatic moment was finding a lovely female(?) NRB (Northern Rubber Boa). You know, the gorgeous greyish green/blue with a yellowish belly! I kept her with me for the 3 days, but ended up letting her go for 2 reasons: A) I had no way to get her home with a shortly coming up flight/no shipping options/fear of her being confiscated if caught by TSA (who cares if I go to jail or get a fine?!?!?!?!?); and 2) I felt bad about removing a wild-caught specimen when I believed that CB ones may be available. That's what I get for not having cell reception: if I had, I'd've figured out just how hard it is to find a CB NRB!!!! Grrrr! Anyway, I've (obviously) fallen in love with them, am kicking myself for not trying harder, and the main gist of this long, rambling post is: Does anyone have any suggestions of breeders who CURRENTLY offer NRBs? The likelihood of going back to WA is slim, and the likelihood of finding another one if I do even slimmer. The threads I've searched all over the web show posts and possibilities from 2005 or 2008, but nothing current! Frustrating!! Plus, I live in CA, so no one here breeds them (or admits to it), and my local herp store thought I was crazy for asking. I do love my Western Hognose, but have fallen hard for the NRB... Won't someone, somewhere, please take pity on a nice lady with a heart of scales!

where do you live in california, I am in santa rosa and have two females that I think are gravid and I cannot sell the babys, so I will have to give them away. if you are anywhere close and I do have babys you are more than welcome to have one.

I am in South Orange County if you ever get down this way and need a home for one of the possible babies. I'll be in up San Fransisco the 16-19th of September.

>>where do you live in california, I am in santa rosa and have two females that I think are gravid and I cannot sell the babys, so I will have to give them away. if you are anywhere close and I do have babys you are more than welcome to have one.

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~Markus

The very existence of flamethrowers means that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves..."You know, I really want to set those people over there on fire...but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."

Hoggymomma, Loving2Act:
Recreational collecting of non-protected species, including the Rubber Boa, I believe is allowed in all state in which the species is native with the exception of Washington and perhaps Wyoming. I do not know what the regulations are in Wyoming. I believe Idaho, Utah, Nevada, California all have bag and possession limits.

There are no such limits in Oregon and nor is a permit or license is needed in Oregon to collect. However it is not legal to either sell or barter captured non-game species of
wildlife in Oregon. I believe Montana is similar to Oregon in that regard but one should check each state's regulations or contact wildlife agency officials.

So it is my suggestion that should you live in or near any of the western states (except Washington and perhaps Wyoming), take time to learn when, where, and how to find the species and collect one of your own. Though often difficult to find, the species often is quite abundant in suitable habitat.

One of my son's is visiting from Florida and we went out yesterday to release 3 boas, two of which had just produced their litters. I normally do not go out in mid summer to search for the species. But to my surprise, we did encounter two female boas at one site northwest of where I live in Corvallis, Oregon and another female boa south of Salem. It had been overcast and somewhat cool in the morning and those conditions apparently were sufficient to bring those three boas to seek warmth under artificial cover objects.

Richard F. Hoyer

Rubber boas are great snakes. It sounds like you already have a good lead on one in the previous post.
I just wanted to mention that you might want to be careful with what you post concerning catching and releasing wild snakes. Most states (if not all) have laws against it.

Good luck finding a rubber boa.
Josh

I saw almost this same message a few years ago and it was from an agent.

That was my thought also when I read the post. But if not I was just trying to help them out.It is possible a legal gift scared them off.

Rosyluvr, I live in the East Bay and would be very happy to try
to raise a baby Charina. I kept one for a long time many years ago.