Mel Ozman's guide to Creatures of the Pacific North West

Reptiles

Rubber Boa


Charina bottae
Boa Family

24" Thick; looks rubbery; tail short, scales smooth, shiny. Climbs trees; good burrower and swimmer. Feeds maily at night and on warm overcast days; constructs mine, shrews, and birds.
Habitat: Woodlands, grasslands, and sandy watersides.
Range: all the NW, except Columbia Basin of eastern Washington.

Western Skink


Eumeces skiltonianus
Skink Family

8". Adult brown above, with wide buff and blackish stripes from face to base of tail; gray below; til gray-brown. Body scales smooth and shiny, small; head scales large. Juv. stripes more black and white; tail bright blue. Hides under bark, logs, rocks.
Habitat: Grasslands, woodlands rocky streamsides
Activity: By day, May-Sept.
RangeEastern Washington and all of Oregon