Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was watching the news tonight and a reporter with a big smile on her face was saying how one man brought in eleven hundred pounds of rattle snakes to the round up. Let me now say how bad that pisses me off. To get this many snakes he had to gas the burrows. It makes me mad as hell that my state allows inbred rednecks to destroy such an awesome animal and its habitat along with other animals that may inhabit it's dens. Apparently these fools don't under stand the reproductive rate of some rodents that do compete for food with us either by eating it or by spoiling along with the other problems they cause. 1100 pounds of rattle snakes at an average of 3pounds each equals over 300 snakes. Thats a lot of rodent control being needlesly destroyed. SO in short i'd just like to say that I would like to slice this guy's tires that brought in the mother load of rattle snakes to the sweetwater texas rattle snake round-up!!!!!!!!!

Rattlesnake round ups suck.

This is something that we all need to get together and organize and fight. The gassing of the burrows not only harms the snakes but the environment. It also harms the other burrowing critters.

You know what kills me tho, I have never heard of groups like PETA going after an event like this.

This is an event that teachs folks that it is ok to harm animals. It also basically says that the animals we hold dear do not matter one bit in the grand scale of life. I have spoken to people about some of the abuse cases that come through my rescue state "Well at least reptiles dont feel pain" Im sorry, any animal with burns on the majority of their body feel pain.

Somehow the reptile folks need to organize. I have seen the dog and cat folks do it. We need to as well.
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Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

PETA wouldn't bother. They only protest on behalf of warm-fuzzies because it's in their economic interest to do so. The PETA-freaks occasionally break with the norm and stage an event outside of a 5 star restaurant to free the lobsters but that's only to get their name in the papers. By the numbers, the majority of people they view as potential donors have had a dog or cat at some point in their lives, but only a rarified and noble percentage of the populace knows the value and wonder of keeping reptiles. We're simply not worth their time, and that's exactly how I prefer it. Our hobby doesn't need their attention, and they would IMHO actually harm the case against the Rattlesnake Roundups.
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Who is like Set...

1.1 Vietnamese Blue Beauties
2.0 Taiwan Beauties
2.3 Cave Beauties
0.1 Bull Snake
1.0.0 Argentine Blk & Wht Tegu
2.5 Box Turtles

PETA is more likly to get involved in a class action law suit over me feeding fuzzy mice to my pet gopher snake.

They only do what they want to do, and when they want to do it. I'd be inclined to call them a group of hippie terrorists who argue over anything that strikes thier fancy.

There is a petition going around about the government funding of PETA. It states, in un-deniable fact, that PETA donates money to organizations deamed by the feds as terrorists. In short, our government is giving tax dollars to a group that is supporting terrorism.

If you would be interested in signing this petition then go to the gophersnake forum here and ask some questions about it. People in that forum will jump on that like a fat kid on a cupcake.

My 2 cents.

PS: The round-up angers me too. It needs policing.
- Evan

I coudn't agree more. Living in the south I have definatly feel the need for protection of our reptiles. I also agree that us herpers need to do something like a petition or something but i'm only 13 so nobody would listen and. I started speaking out about this event at my school and i was immediatly shot down by ignorant dog and cat lovers. I than propsed that i start a cat roundup where we chop there heads off and sell their body parts, but of course nobody went for that idea. If i were older..... If i were older....

I think we should be like PETA and go burn down those inbreeds houses

I'm glad to see that you feel passionate about the rattlers but remember that we want people to see that all animals (even cats-the other, other white meat) deserve good treatment. You'll convince more people to listen to you if ditch the "kill Fluffy" comments.
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Who is like Set...

1.1 Vietnamese Blue Beauties
2.0 Taiwan Beauties
2.3 Cave Beauties
0.1 Bull Snake
1.0.0 Argentine Blk & Wht Tegu
2.5 Box Turtles

I think that this grewsome act is something that needs to be taken care of, but unfortunatly rattlesnakes have such a bad rap that people would not support the ban of rattlesnake roundup because they do not understand the important role they play in our environment. I don't see how in this day and age with all of these shows on Animal Planet like SPCA and these animal rights activists, how they could allow something like this to happen. I wonder who we would have to contact to put a hault on something like this? Maybe the Texas Government poss? I'll check into it and let everyone know what I find.

Hey everyone I found an email address that you can write to ac@tceg.state.tx.us. Its a start.It goes to there environmental department.

What we should do is have a redneck round up, dump gas all over them and then hack them to pieces, stuff em' and sell them at little rinky dink redneck shops. I really hate the stupid ass motherfu$$ers that allow this to go on. People go to prison for neglecting a dog, these people should be sentenced to a public stoning for slautering thousands of awsome and benificial creatures. Man this really pisses me off!!!!!!!!!!

Jeremy

Here it is every body I got a response on the rattlesnake round up from the Texas environmental agency. She gave me some good websites on what we can do and who we can direct our complaints to. If everyone wants to make a stance then this is the chance and the opportunity to be heard on this travesty. Here is the email and the links:

Mr. Kinsey,

I monitor the external email boxes for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and forward questions and comments to the appropriate program area. We do not regulate these roundups, but after doing some research, I found that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission does. Their website address is http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ Another good location for information is a page posted by the Humane Society at http://www.hsus.org/ace/12057 They have several links on that page including a list of Roundups in different states and the regulatory agencies for each plus a sample letter to send to state officials and roundup sponsors. Please let me know if there is anything else we can do for you and best of luck in your endeavor.

Sincerely,

Ken Sherry/TCEQ
Agency Communications

Mr. Kinsey,
thanks for the foot work. I'll definitely write down these contacts. It's amazing in this day in time that things such as this are still allowed. You would think we would have progressed further than this by now. I'll see what i can find out--we'll talk about this again.
Ward E.Standish

Mr. Standish,
I appreciate the follow up and the fact that you to will help me in this venture. I think that this kind of activity is just disgusting and cruel. I wrote to the department of wildlife and ask them some questions, but still no response. I'll keep you posted if I hear anything. My gut tells me I won't but it is definitly worth a try. Thanks again and keep me posted if you hear anything.
Thanks, Josh

Well after I just posted a reply I got a response from the Texas Parks and Wildlife director and here is the response:

Mr. Kinney; (Spelled my last name wrong)

I was asked to respond to your recent email concerning rattlesnake round-ups
in Texas. Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention.Texas Parks and Wildlife is committed to protecting all species of wildlife in Texas. Five years ago we implemented regulations concerning rattlesnake harvest in Texas, so we would have better data on the extent of the take and sale of nongame species.

Based on 4 years of data, it appears that about 20,000 rattlesnakes are captured and sold each year in Texas. While we realize the information we receive from annual reports isn't perfect, we feel that this level of harvest is unlikely to have significant impacts on rattlesnake populations statewide.

It is our Department's position that the hunting of common wildlife species is acceptable as long as there is no adverse impact on statewide populations and the survival of the species. Rattlesnakes are common in Texas and we see no reason to treat them differently than any other hunted species.

We hear from a number of constituents each year who are concerned about other aspects of rattlesnakes round-ups, such as the treatment of the animals, the potential for misinformation, and the 'entertainment' that occurs at these events. (We hear from a number of people that support round-ups as well.) While these are important social and ethical concerns, they do not fall within the regulatory authority of our agency.

In Texas, only local municipalities have the authority to regulate and enforce animal welfare issues. And it is also up to these local communities to determine the image they want to portray to the public. The best approach is for concerned citizens to express their concerns regarding humane treatment to the local communities involved in round-ups.

Thank you for your interest in Texas wildlife.

John Herron
Program Director, Wildlife Diversity
Texas Parks and Wildlife

This was my orginal post to him:
Hello,

I am writing to you because of the travesty that takes place annually in Texas. It's called the rattlesnake roundup. I think that this tasteless disrespect for wildlife should be stopped at once. I don't how an act such as this is still going on after so many years. This does nothing to benefit nature or humans. It would be one thing if these rattlesnakes were bred for this purpose but to let barbarians pillage the earth for just pure satisfaction is ridiculous and cruel. So I write to the defenders of wildlife to help put a top to this carnage and maybe educate the barbarians that commit this act, and help them understand how vital a role rattlesnakes play in the ecosystem.

Sounds to me that he just does not care. I will have to write him again and again until I get a better response. That is bunch of crap he just told me. Feel free to write in as well.
Thanks, Josh

Josh,
First off, excellent letter. The next thing I must say is that it sounds like the back woods inbred rednecks have now been employed by the the texas parks and wildlife dept. They will not see a problem til it's too late. I,ll be writing them this evening and thank you very much for your time spent,we'll talk later.
Ward E. Standish

The next thing I must say is that it sounds like the back woods inbred rednecks have now been employed by the the texas parks and wildlife dept. They will not see a problem til it's too late. I,ll be writing them this evening and thank you very much for your time spent,we'll talk later.

Actually, the regs here in TX were re-written after the TPWD study period and RAISED the bag limit on rattlers (at least atrox, anyway). It's not a bunch of "back woods inbred rednecks" at TPWD, but rather people who still support the idea of consumptive public utilization of a natural resource, provided it's sustainable (and it is--I do snake calls for my local herp society and we get plenty of atrox, even in "urban" areas). 20,000 snakes sounds like a lot, until you take into account take levels for other managed wildlife (e.g. deer), and the sheer land area TX encompasses.

The real problem with the roundups is the dubious utility of venom milking (hygienic concerns), the possibility of burrows being gassed to obtain the snakes (killing other wildlife in the process), and the importation of other nonlocal rattler species, including from other states. 20,000 rattlers are reported being taken--probably just as many are hit by cars in TX annually.

Just another side of the argument--I'm not coming out in support of the roundups, but there are other viewpoints to consider.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Another good location for information is a page posted by the Humane Society at http://www.hsus.org/ace/12057

This AIN'T the "Humane Society" as we think of it--it's the Humane Society of the United States, which is basically PeTA by another name. They run no shelters. I'm surprised (well, not really) that a state official would reference them.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

What most of Texas Herpers dont know is the Rattle snake roundups are not only a big money makerbut most of the land hunted on is private.There are laws on the books to keep anyone from pouring gas on the ground it is enfroced by the Texas Rail Road Com Peta has tried in the past to stop the Roundups with little or no sucess.When there are more RattleSnakes turned in ever year it hard to get anyone to belive they are endangred.
Most of the snakes are turned in at more than one round up
so its hard to get a good count on the numbers of snakes killed ever year

Does anyone know exactly how many states, and what states allow round-ups?
Is there any guidance as far as common vs. endangered species (not that any species should be allowed).
I tried that texas site but found nothing in regards to rattlesnake round-ups. Almost as if they were ignored for both the snake enthusiasts and the snake massacres (like the rednecks have the net anyways).

For those who are in favour of extreme PETA style, public outcries, than I have an idea that doesn't harm any cats.
Round up a bunch of rats and other vermin and release them in front of a media mob on appropriate governmental sites. If the picture weren't clear enough, be present to answer the questions on tv. (it isn't illegal or immoral to let wild rats free is it?)
?now lets see, how many snakes were brought in? multiply that by rats eaten in a season? that's a lot of rats.
Up in Alberta I don't have any rats so I"ll look up that humane site and see if I can send some letters. On another thought, letters havn't cut it in the past, so who's going to run for office?

As for rodent control,if my calculations were even close in my first post on this subject,than 300 rattle snakes eating one rodent per week each, for 52 weeks-one year would consume ???? (LETS PRETEND THAT THESE HAVE NEVER SLID DOWN A BURROW AND CONSUMED AN ENTIRE LITTER OF RODENTS)- Simple math 300 snakes x 52 rodents each a year equals = 15,600 rodents. Lets say tht 50% of these said rodents were females with an average litter size of 8 offspring.
thats 7,800 females having a possible 62,400 babies. Thats one awesome reason for people not to destroy predators such as the rattle snake. Because of the streamlined shape, snakes will always be the most effecient as far as natural rodent control, hand down. We should all take pride and satisfaction along with the determination of a pit bull in trying to protect what we love--our reptiles.

cant make the round up in sweet water, but i cant wait to go to the one in freer, texas. it will be so much fun. i can sell the snakes i have and eat will be able to eat like a king. fried rattlesnake is the best, but i dont know how to cook it right so i have to wait till the round up every year to get some. i just wish there were more roundups, like one a month, so that i could enjoy this fine meal all the time

you might want to keep it to yourself---------your not wanted here!!!!

Ever wonder why EVE got the terrible rep she ended up with?? It was all over a SNAKE, WASN'T IT?
You still just don't get it - it's just WRONG to wish
anyone harm who handles venomous snakes, whether you like them or not. You have crossed the line this time. No rational adult would wish any harm upon another person. At least now people can see you for what you really are, a very mean, bitter, angry person, who wishes harm to those who don't agree with you.
Who appointed you the High Priestess, judge, jury and executioner? Why don't YOU TRY to attend Church Services on Sunday and pray for your eternal soul.
Remember what goes around comes around, so if I were you I WOULD BE CAREFUL PULLING ON YOUR BOOTS while getting dressed in the mornings, or before you deceide on going home for the night besure to look all over the trailer and under the bunk bed.
I did not bring this whole thing up to discuss rattlesnake roundups. So you can stop right there.O nce again, you are trying to turn this whole thing around to benefit yourself.
You are dancing around the statement that it is WRONG to wish harm, injury or death to anyone who handles venomous snakes. That's what this whole thing is about. Why can't you get that, remember what happened to EVE when her ego got out of control?

Sorry to be so late in my reply you stinking bible toting jerk, but the song remains the same..............rattle snake round-ups are wrong no matter how you look at it and i,ll promise you damn near every one here at king snake.com will agree with me, rattle snakes are a very awesome creature that are worth much more than any uninformed ignorant inbred that has adopted practices such as gassing burrows and filling bags with rattlers so that his bounty can displayed for other uneducated FOOLS like himself. Remember rattlesnakes do not live on air and water only, and if they are alive, it's only because they are eating something---rats,mice,rabbits,gophers,etc. If you would lay down your bible and pick up a biology book and also have the brains available to understand what the food chain is you would find out the truth!!!!! p.s fix the holes in your floor and shut your f_ _ _ ing door and your rattler worries will be over.