I have friend that still attends the rattlesnake round up of Waurika Oklahoma but not as a participant of collecting the snakes. He says that there is a person that puts on some shing-dig at this event that tells him ( and others ) that he is a major extractor of venoms of various species. I told my friend that the business of extracting venoms to resale or process is done under a laboratory type inviorment these days. Right ? I can't think of the name of this person but I would think that a major venom milker wouldn't be putting on a show at these round ups. Any thoughts ?
Reptile & Amphibian Forums
Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.
venom extractors in Oklahoma ?
mchambers
May 14, 2004 10:17 AM
Replies (3)
SeanP
May 14, 2004 11:07 AM
You are correct. The man is lying. Rattlesnake round ups represent cruelty to animals in the purest form. No legitimate venom extractor/AV manufacturer would attend such events. The entire extracting process is conducted in a labs which offer a controlled sanitary environment.
A venom milking station is an added attraction at these butchering festivals. The extractors egos flair as they attempt to give a pseudo-scientific, crusading cause to the thrill factor as they pull the venom from the evil beast. The cruel display turns heads. The venom is discarded when its all over.
Sean P.
SPZOOL at aol dot com
michaelb
May 14, 2004 12:21 PM
The above post is correct. They often say at roundups that the venom they extract is subsequently used in the production of antivenom, but in truth the venom must be extracted under strictly controlled conditions that include a sanitary lab with hygienically-pure instruments, and immediate freezing of the extracted venom. I believe the active elements in the venom begin to break down within 15 minutes or so at room temperature. If not quick frozen immediately (liquid nitrogen or dry ice?), the venom is medically useless. The extractions at roundups are entirely for show and have no medical or scientific value.
-----
MichaelB
psilocybe
May 14, 2004 05:05 PM
that any venom extraction going on at a rattlesnake roundup is purely for show. If the guy said he was a venom extractor and helped make AV, he was straight up lying...no legitamate venom extractor or researcher (or herp lover for that matter) would ever participate in these barbaric festivals. Furthermore, as everyone else stated, venom extraction for manufacture of AV is done under very strict protocols in sterile laboratory enviornments, not at messy, bloody rattlesnake roundups.
AP
