CITIZENS VOICE (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) 20 June 04 Rattlesnakes beware (Heidi E. Ruckno)
Snake hunters battled it out for bragging rights in the Noxen area this weekend at the annual Rattlesnake Roundup.
The Noxen Volunteer Fire Co. is hosting the event, which began Thursday and ends today at the Noxen Fairgrounds in Wyoming County.
Hunters laced up their boots and went out in search of rattlesnakes Saturday, hoping to capture them and bring them to the fairgrounds for display.
Once snakes were captured, they were measured, their rattles were counted and their genders were determined.
In addition, Richard Koval of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission was on hand to tag the snakes for tracking purposes.
According to event participant Gen Pauley, who was working at one of the amusement stands, the animals must be captured live. They are re-released into the wild in the same spot they were found at the close of the event.
"We have to assess and evaluate every rattlesnake site in Pennsylvania," Koval said. "It's for the management of the snakes."
Koval has attended the last two Rattlesnake Roundups on behalf of the Fish and Boat Commission.
The first snake was brought to the fairgrounds at about 1:30 p.m. Saturday, captured by Shawn Henninger. Many more would follow.
"We'll probably end up with about 35," Henninger said.
Henninger, a second-year participant, found an older snake with rich dark coloring that looked to be about three-and-a-half feet long.
A carnival and an adult softball tournament are held at the fairgrounds in conjunction with the event, which began Thursday, but Henninger said the snakes are featured only on Saturday and Sunday.
In addition, vendors sell food and unique crafts and there is nightly entertainment.
Vendor Lynn Akers, of Mountain Arts in Sweet Valley, travels around the state selling hand-painted T-shirts, homemade soaps and bath salts, and other southwestern items.
Akers made tie-dyed rattle snake T-shirts specifically for the event and stitched them into the shape of a snake.
The purpose of the event is mainly for fire company fund-raising, said firefighter Jim Strohl, but there is also an aim to educate people about snakes. Strohl said the fire company hopes to bring in $10,000 from the roundup.
According to Strohl, the event was started in 1972 by a local sportsman's club, and was taken over by the fire company in 1986.
Strohl and other experienced snakehandlers stay inside a pit erected to contain the snakes to make sure they don't bite any spectators. He said no one had been bitten by a rattlesnake in the last 20 years at the event.
Strohl said rattlesnakes are poisonous, but not necessarily deadly.
"If you're in good health you probably don't have to worry about dying," Strohl said. "You just have to go to the hospital for anti-venom."
Strohl said trophies will be awarded tonight in several categories, including largest snake, most rattles, and the combined length of the snakes for both Saturday and Sunday. Hunters are only allowed to enter one snake each day.
Rattlesnakes beware