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THE ERA (Bradford, Pennsylvania) 26 January 06 Area rattlesnake hunts a "go" in 2006 (Paul Heimel)
The popular rattlesnake hunts in three small northern Pennsylvania communities will go on as planned this year, but their future beyond that is no sure thing.
That's because the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is poised to approve a wide-ranging series of regulations to protect many species of snakes, lizards, frogs and turtles that are disappearing from the state. New rules would strictly limit snake hunts, which have been huge tourist attractions for more than three decades in Sinnemahoning, Cross Fork and Morris.
The changes, which would go into effect in 2007, are designed to preserve almost two dozen dwindling species, including Pennsylvania's three varieties of poisonous snakes. The eastern massassaugua rattlesnake is endangered and therefore off-limits to hunters. At this point, the other two - the timber rattler and the copperhead - are "candidate species" for endangered status, according to Fish and Boat Commission spokesman Dan Tredinnick.
Habitat destruction, taking of snakes by collectors, organized snake hunts and the killing of snakes in casual encounters have all diminished the reptiles' numbers and range, according to Tredinnick. Some local populations have been completely wiped out.
"The timber rattlesnake is not on the endangered and threatened list, but because of its declining population, it could become endangered," he said.
The agency already limits the harvest of timber rattlers to one a year. Now, the commission wants to put a 42-inch size minimum on snakes that are removed from the wild. Snake-hunting fees would go from $5 to $50 for Pennsylvanians and $100 for out-of-state hunters.
Hunters would be limited to participating in only one organized hunt per year. Also, organizations sponsoring snake hunts would have to pay a $100 permit fee.
Organizers of the Cross Fork and Sinnemahoning snake hunts oppose all of those regulations, but the one they fear could sound the death knell is a ban on "snake-sacking contests." In those events, teams of two enter a fenced-in stage and race the clock to place five live rattlesnakes in a pillowcase-sized cloth bag. The fastest teams earn cash prizes.
"The sacking contests are the real crowd-pleasers," said Barry Gipe, a spokesman for Kettle Creek Hose Co., which depends on the Cross Fork Snake Hunt for much of its operating revenue. "Probably at least half of the people come to the snake hunt to watch the sacking contest."
Gipe pointed out the state already prohibits the use of native rattlesnakes for sacking competition, so Kettle Creek Hose Co., has been importing western diamondback rattlers. Under the new regulations, that species would also be off-limits.
Ray Savel, public relations chairman of the Sinnemahoning Sportsmen's Association, believes the new rules could harm, and potentially eliminate, the Sinnemahoning Snake Hunt.
"The Snake Hunt is one of the main fund-raisers for the club," Savel noted. "Our club would be forced to develop some other fund-raisers to take its place."
Gipe and Savel both agree that the $50 to $100 fee and the limiting of snake hunters to one organized event per year would drive away many participants. The snake length restrictions are also a major concern, Gipe said.
"Most of the snakes brought in to our hunts are between 38 and 39 inches," he pointed out.
Tredinnick said the 42-inch minimum is designed to protect female snakes, which typically are smaller than the males. Female timber rattlesnakes need at least eight years to reach reproductive maturity, he added. With the minimum size requirement, hunters would be taking a larger proportion of mature adult male snakes.
Some politicians have allied themselves with the Sinnemahoning Sportsmen and Kettle Creek Hose Co. state Rep. Mike Hanna of Lock Haven, who sits on the House Game and Fisheries Committee, strongly opposes the new restrictions. The Clinton County Board of Commissioners has also taken a stand. The commissioners say the Cross Fork Snake Hunt's demise would drastically reduce tourism income and compromise fire protection.
The Fish and Boat Commission will continue to accept public comment before acting on the proposals this summer. The measures are posted on the commission's Web site at www.fish.state.ps.us. Comments can be made through a link on the site, or submitted in writing to: Executive Director, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg PA 17106-7000.
"We've had several hundred comments," Tredinnick said. "We're not really surprised. There's not much interest statewide, but those folks who are interested are a very active group. We fully anticipated that."
The proposals were recommended by a work group formed last year, including hobbyists, snake hunters, snake hunt sponsors, conservationists and academics. The commission appointed the panel after scientific studies showed that, despite harvest limits imposed in 1993 and 1996, the rattlesnake population is declining.
Other reptiles and amphibians that would receive greater protection under the proposals include: bullfrog, common snapping turtle, wood turtle, Blanding's turtle, Northern coal skink, mudpuppy, hellbender, marbled salamander, mountain chorus frog, Eastern hognose snake and others.
The agency has drawn praise from some organizations. "I'm glad to see the commission looking out for the whole range of organisms under its jurisdiction, beyond just those important to recreational fishing," said Sue Thompson, director of the Pennsylvania Biodiversity Partnership, a public/private conservation organization.
Sinnemahoning Sportsmen's Association will hold its 2006 Snake Hunt on June 11-12. Those are also the dates for the Rattlesnake Roundup in Morris (Tioga County), which observed its 50th anniversary last summer. Kettle Creek Hose Co.'s event, now in its 34th year at Cross Fork, is June 24-25.
Area rattlesnake hunts a "go" in 2006

I think if this festival does continue they need to keep the bagging competition...but they need to import a few Naja and Bothrops to keep competitors on their feet.

It is a shame they might not be able to get tourist dollars in the future by killing a few thousand threatened species. I thought this was america?

And throw in a mamba just for giggles in the bagging contest
Maybe a bake sale would raise the money instead of a rattler roundup!
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

How about a large freshly imported(angry) Gaboon too? Maybe they'll even mistake it for a rattlesnake-"Look Ma,never seen one this big berore!"

Maybe an Australian Brown would do the trick.

'Look guys this brown snake looks harmless!'
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We are the best GALATASARAY

Just for fun add a Taipan.

.

n/m
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Tim Cole
www.Designeratrox.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<
Conservation through Education

nm

Slight hole in the bags would work just fine.
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

A roundup for cash is truely in the spirt of what America was founded on, stolen (or cheaply bought) land

***Note: not a comment on any current political situations, just a side note from a decendent of both the Chief that sold Manhatten and the con man bought it... they always leave the other part of the deal out of the story... it was the land and his daughter for the beads!!!
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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Rescued Ball Python - Apep
0-1-0 Rescued Mountain Horned Dragon - Ki
0-0-1 Rescued Aggressive Bearded Dragon - Zeus
0-0-1 Rescued Non-Alpha Green Iguana - Bud
1-1-0 Rescued Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet
0-0-1 Rescued Dieting Panda Hamster - Mr. Fluffy
0-1-0 Rescued Little Angelic Kitten - Isis
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids