ALAMOGORDO DAILY NEWS (New Mexico) 13 April 05 Snake, rattle and roll at the annual rattlesnake roundup (Michael Shinabery)
Jack Bibby likes to rattle a few cages.
Or rather, get in the cages and shake up the rattlers.
He’s the snake handler who’s famous for sticking the most rattlesnakes in his mouth. That stunt earned him $10,000.
On Saturday, Bibby’s act gets close up and personal. He’s making his sixth consecutive appearance at Tom Moore’s Rattlesnake Roundup at the Otero County Fairgrounds.
Bibby holds four world records: stuffing 10 rattlers into a bag in 17.11 seconds; sitting in a bathtub with 81 rattlers; sharing a sleeping bag with 109 of the deadly reptiles; and suspending eight rattlers by tails in his mouth.
Bibby, the Texas Snake Man, has handled dangerous snakes since 1969. He’s appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and traveled throughout Europe.
He’s also suffered eight rattler bites, including one while appearing in Alamogordo.
“I got involved with rattlesnake handling for the first time just out of high school," Bibby wrote on his Web site www.texsnakeman.com. “I traveled from my home town of Rising Star 25 miles to Brownwood where the sport of (rattlesnake) sacking was dreamed up by the Jaycees.”
Bibby was, so to speak, bitten by the snake bug, and when he performs he emphasizes how to avoid rattlesnakes.
“People want to see daredevil stuff. But we also want to give them a learning experience: what not to do, what to stay away from, what to do if accidentally bit,” said Moore, who owns Moore’s Trading Post.
Rattlesnake Roundup at the Otero County Fairgrounds. Veteran snake handler Jack Bibby brought the cobra along as part of his show – he kisses the snake on the head. Ellis Neel/Daily News
Hunters are gathering the rattlesnakes this week.
Some will be served up as food fare. Others are used in demonstrations.
The event also features dealers selling guns, knives and collectibles.
Tickets are $4, $2 for those under 12.
For information call Moore at 437-7116
Snake, rattle and roll at the annual rattlesnake roundup