Reptiles of BC

Of the 14 reptile species found in this province, 9 of them are found nowhere else in Canada, as indicated in bold below. One lizard species has been introduced to Vancouver Island, and two sea turtle species are occasionally spotted off the western coast the island. 

• Northern alligator lizard 
• Common wall lizard - introduced 
• Western skink 
• Rubber boa 
• Western yellow-bellied racer 
• Wandering garter snake 
• Northwestern garter snake 
• Common garter snake 
• Sharptailed snake 
• Nightsnake 
• Northern Pacific rattlesnake 
• Painted turtle 
• Leatherback sea turtle - Pacific coastal waters 
• Green sea turtle - Pacific coastal waters 

Northern alligator lizard photo courtesy CARCNET

Creature Feature

Rubber Boa Charina bottae

Like many Canadian reptiles, these boas give birth to live young, sometimes only every two or three years. They reproduce in late summer, and may be unable to eat enough before hibernation to reproduce the following summer. 

These tiny snakes are olive, reddish brown to tan or dark brown. They can grow to 83 cm in length.

-sometimes called the two-headed snake as both ends look similar

-like all boa constrictors, they have traces of hind limbs

-smooth scales and wrinkled skin give them a rubbery appearance

-a burrowing species that requires habitat with loose soil

-found up to 2,800 metres in damp woodlands and grassy areas

-active at night, and retreat under rocks. logs or into burrows during the day

-good swimmers and cllimbers; their prehensile tail helps them grip shrubs and small trees

-very tame species; method of defence is to curl into a tight ball with the head hidden and tail exposed

-prey is killed by constriction; main prey is young mice still in the nest

-newborn rubber boas are around 17 cm long

-known lifespan up to 11 years