Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I'm back on the Kingsnake 'Rosy, Rubber & Sand Boa' forum, asking for some more help. I got several great replies from my first post a month ago about possible locations for finding rubber boas in the near-Berkeley area (i.e., Santa Rosa, Richmond Hills), but after searching, have come up empty-handed time and time again. Very frustrating!

I am wondering if there is anyone out there who can provide me with more specific directions? Like the actual street where you found one or a few? Or something like "a mile into trail for the Santa Rosa Reservoir, slight left, and near the big oak tree stand"? I don't want to bother any more people unnecessarily--apparently, I've been 'prowling' and it's not appreciated by non-snake lovers.

Anyway, I figured it was worth a shot. It looks like some nice, rainy weather is headed our way (Berkeley area), and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be successful soon! Of course, I'd rather Kensington/Richmond locale rather than having to trek all the way back to Santa Rosa, but whatever. I'll have to go where the previous captures are, after all!

Thanks in advance.

HoggyMomma

I don't think you'll get the exact directions you want. Every self-respecting field herper I've ever met has their secret spots well guarded to ensure they can go back and get the same results. Posting it in a public spot is generally frowned upon.

My advice is to take that CB one offered, then go looking for them for fun and education. Bring a notepad and pencil and note every detail when you don't see any and then if you do. Re-read Richard's post. He flat out told you everything you need to know. I don't think he wasted a word in that post. I saw where, when and how in there. Doesn't get any better, at least not on a forum.

Years ago, I knew there "where", maybe even the "how" but not the "when". I was humbled when someone who did know the "when" uncovered 3 boas in a few minutes practically under my feet. He took notes and we left the boas alone. Two years vs 3 minutes. Take those notes.
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Antaresia maculosa
Antaresia childreni
"Pythons the size of kingsnakes and with slower metabolisms"

Mark G

On a really good day of searching you may even find these

Rosyluvr, if you were serious about giving away or trading baby rubbers i'd like to get some. I can easily drive to Santa Rosa.

Oh quit your bragging, lol. (Geez that's alot of worms..)
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Antaresia maculosa
Antaresia childreni
"Pythons the size of kingsnakes and with slower metabolisms"

Mark G

These pics are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! Love the snakes--and the dog is gorgeous, too!

Mark,
You're right--Mr. Hoyer did, indeed, already provide a wealth of information. And I have tried to follow it as best I could. Now I'll go back to the drawing board, so to speak.

And I did contact the person who originally offered me one, the person in Santa Rosa, but I never got any response to the 2 or 3 messages I sent since they originally posted their offer. I'm disappointed, of course, but trying not to dwell on it.

I will keep on truckin', and eventually, maybe I'll have my own pics to post. In the meantime, I will play with and try to be content with my Tricolor Hognoses, but will dream in Rubber Boa colors...

Strange, I never received any emails or anything from you. I still have not had babies yet, and may not this year as I am still waiting on two females I thought were gravid still have not popped.

Shoot! I sent two, too! Ok, that's understandable--can't make a snake pop what she doesn't got! I tried to "Connect" with you, but it says the response is still pending. Please keep me in mind if your girls do pop. Like I said, I'm happy to drive to Santa Rosa for one!!! Thanks!

It is silly to expect people to tell you where they found snakes. If you can't collect your own go buy some.

Laila
It would seem you didn't heed my advice with respect to when to make searches. By your message of Sept. 29, it appears you have been out searching for boas at next to worst time of year to find the species----when it is hot (or warm) and dry in Calif. With my wealth of experience with the Rubber Boa, I don't think I could find the species during August and Sept. in the East Bay area --- and I wouldn't even try during that time of year unless a good rain storm passed through. Then I would get out fairly early in the morning before surface temperatures got too warm..

By your making searches during the past month, I don't think the time you spent was a total waste as you likely gained some familiarity with localities that might be searched
when weather and temperature conditions improve your chances. Did you find places in boa habitat that have artificial cover to turn? If not, then you are likely spinning your wheels unless you found areas with rock / rock outcrops in boa habitat.

I haven't lived in that region since I was 15 but it would seem to me that the second season for finding the species would be after you have had a couple of fall rain storms accompanied by much cooler night time / early morning temperatures and day time temperatures in the 60's.

I suspect the time frame for such conditions might be from mid Oct. through mid to late November and possibly even later. I know the species can be found in the Santa Cruz Mts.
during the winter months of Dec., Jan. and Feb. when sunny conditions occur along with suitable temperatures but I am not certain if that holds true for the East Bay---but I wouldn't be surprised if it does as well.

Current plans are to travel to Calif. either in late April or early May as I have almost every year since 1993. I wish to visit Tilden Park when south so if you still haven't found a boa by then, you can contact me at charinabottae@earlhlnk in mid April and if you wish, you can accompany me to the area a large female boa (27" was found quite a few years ago.

Richard F. Hoyer

Mr. Hoyer,
Regardless of whether I find a RB on my own, I would jump at the chance to hike with you in Tilden! I value your knowledge, although I have obviously not paid thorough attention to your previous advice. I can certainly see if my husband will consider a family trip to the Santa Cruz area, specifically the mountains...

My searches were only in the mornings, which meant that there was heavy to medium amounts of drizzly fog, and cool temps. Yes, there were areas of rocks and large branches as ground cover.

While I had a sneaking suspicion that I would strike out, I was still motivated by my desire to find another one, regardless of the outcome. However, I was just as obviously disappointed by my lack of finding anything, so I keep posting on here...

Please let me know when you are in town, for the hike in Tilden. Like I said, I would jump at the chance to accompany you, fruitful search or not!

Thank you!

Laila:
I received a message from Kingsnake indicating I had a private message from you. For some reason, the message wasn't sent to the regular email box I have accessed in the past when others have contacted me via that route. I tried every link possible but couldn't access your message.

As for next spring, I have a specific reason for going back to Tilden. But as I mentioned, you need to contact me sometime in mid April and not the reverse. My phone number is 541-752-6888 or you can use my email address.

Questions: During your searches, did you find any places with junk that you could turn? if not, then I suggest you find some secluded areas in boa habitat and put out a few pieces of tin or thin plywood. Be sure to make a map of you site so you can find it later on. There would be some chance that by next April, some boas may find your cover objects.

Secondly, did you find any other species of snakes while you were searching for the boa?

In my message in early Sept., I asked where is Teheya, Washington? I can't find it on my atlas of Washington and wish to know if that area may represent a new locality for the species in Washington. I would put that type of information in my folder on locality records for the state of Washington.

Finally, you have mentioned something about a Santa Rosa Reservoir. Has someone said they have seen boas there and if so, where is that reservoir in relation to the city of Santa Rosa, to the west or east of that city? If the reservoir is located east of Santa Rosa in the shallow mts. between that city and the Napa Valley, then if boas have been sited there, I believe that would represent a new locality record for the species in Calif. Even if the reservoir is located west of the city, that too would likely represent at least a different locality sighting of the species in Sonoma County.

Richard F. Hoyer charinabottae@earthlink.net

If you can make it out to the Santa Cruz mountain range, especially a day or so after a nice rain, you will have luck at this time.
We had rain in the Bay Area yesterday and today in the morning, around 10am, I located a gorgeous Rubber Boa in San Mateo County under a large, heavy wooden board. Many other snakes were found throughout the mountain range today as well.

As stated by Richard Hoyer, the spreading of artificial cover, such as tin, wooden boards, tarp, etc will greatly improve your chances of locating a boa. Not only does it add more habitat cover for the boas, but it will also give you more items to flip, adding to a higher percentage of seeing something.