Rosy boas are found in southern California, Arizona and Mexico, where they live in habitats such as deserts and dry scrubland. Adult rosy boas grow no more than 44 inches long and have three dark stripes of scales that range in color from reddish-brown to rose. Rosy boas have several natural predators.
Predators of Rosy Boas
Animals like roadrunners, owls, foxes and coyotes are predators of rosy boas. Rosy boas are vulnerable to these predators when they are active at night, slithering across the ground or in small bushes in search of prey like rodents and small birds. During the day, rosy boas are safe from predators while they hide in rocks, crevices and vegetation.
Anti-Predator Behaviors
To protect themselves from falling prey to mammals, birds and larger snakes, rosy boas have several different anti-predator behaviors. Rosy boas curl up their bodies and tuck their heads in. They also release a musky odor to deter predators, and rosy boas will also bite predators. These snakes are generally known to be unaggressive toward handlers.
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Amanda Williams has been writing since 2009 on various writing websites and blogging since 2003. She enjoys writing about health, medicine, education and home and garden topics. Williams earned a Bachelor of Science in biology at East Stroudsburg University in May 2013. Williams is also a certified emergency medical technician.
