Rubber Boas: The Amazing Reptiles Used to Cure Snake Phobias (6 Photos)
Anyone who grew up in the '90s likely remembers toy rubber snakes. Some looked so realistic they were perfect for playing pranks. Yet few people know that real rubber boas (Charina bottae) actually exist—fascinating North American creatures that, despite their alarming appearance, are completely harmless to humans. 
They get their name from their smooth, rubbery skin and their habit of constricting prey like true boas. However, their size is far from intimidating. While many boa species can reach up to 16 feet in length, the rubber boa grows to a modest 30 inches (80 cm). It is also exceptionally adaptable, ranging all the way from sun-drenched California to the chilly wilderness of British Columbia, Canada. 
Evolution's Generous Gifts
Many zoologists consider the rubber boa to be among the most resilient reptiles on the planet. It thrives in arid scrublands, high-altitude mountains up to 10,000 feet (3,000 meters), and lush temperate forests. Even freezing Canadian winters don't bother this little snake. Unlike most cold-blooded reptiles, it can slightly warm its own blood by increasing its heart rate when temperatures plummet, allowing it to survive harsh conditions.
Rubber boas pose no threat to humans or medium-to-large mammals. Lacking venom, their small teeth are not meant for a lethal bite. Because of their harmless nature, they face numerous predators in the wild, ranging from coyotes, raccoons, and cats to overly curious humans. 
This species might have gone extinct long ago were it not for a unique defense strategy. Anyone seeing a rubber boa for the first time is often baffled. The snake lacks a distinct neck, making its head blend seamlessly into its body. Furthermore, its tail is blunt and rounded, closely mimicking the shape of its head. Telling one end from the other can be surprisingly tricky.
A Clever Survival Strategy
When faced with danger, the little boa tries to flee. If cornered, it assumes a defensive posture and strikes—not with its head, but with its tail. Fooled by the bluff, the predator repeatedly attacks the tail, which contains no vital organs, giving the snake precious time to slip away. 
The snake relies on a similar decoy tactic while hunting. Although its primary diet consists of small rodents and birds, acquiring a meal often involves dangerous encounters with protective parents. The boa jabs its tail toward the parent animal to draw its defense, buying time to strike and constrict its target.
In some cases, while an adult rodent wages a fierce battle against the snake's tail, the boa's head quietly swallows the offspring one by one. Because of this high-risk strategy, older rubber boas rarely have pristine tails—most are heavily scarred from a lifetime of combat. 
Rubber boas are ovoviviparous, meaning females carry their eggs internally and give birth to live young. Each year, a female produces a litter of 3 to 4 babies measuring about 6 inches (15 cm) long. If they manage to avoid predators, rubber boas can live up to 20 years.
Unfortunately, human activity accounts for many of their casualties, as these gentle snakes are often picked up as pets or accidentally run over by cars. Yet, rubber boas benefit humans far beyond basic rodent control. 
They are frequently kept in terrariums by therapists to treat herpetophobia—the fear of snakes and reptiles. Holding such a docile, charming creature helps patients overcome their anxiety and view snakes in a whole new light. By the way, did you know that the world's most venomous snake isn't actually the most dangerous?
