People should be informed also on the importance they play in the wild. The general public needs to be educated
When my Father was working with the Native Americans in Yuma, Arizona back in the '80's, there was alot of illness due to the rat population explosion. Rattlesnakes, that once kept the balance of nature, had been removed.
here are some exerps from http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/a_closer_look_at_wildlife/snakes/rattlesnakes.html
Helpful to Ecosystems and Humans
Rattlesnakes help control rodents such as mice, rats and prairie dogs, which can damage crops and spread disease if their numbers are not checked by natural predators. Rattlesnakes are, in turn, fed upon by a wide variety of predatory birds.
Conservation Status
Out of 16 species of rattlesnakes native to the United States, seven have been listed as threatened or endangered in one or more of 15 different states. Commercial exploitation, either for skins, gallbladders or for the live animal trade, is at least partially responsible for the endangerment of these species. In most parts of the country, the specialized habitats that rattlesnakes require for winter denning sites, and also for protection from excessive heat and fires, are becoming increasingly scarce.
Few states classify rattlesnakes as pests or vermin, but neither are they afforded game status in keeping with their commercial value and the hunting pressures placed upon them
Commonly Exploited Species
The species most commonly targeted by rattlesnake roundups and the skin-and-parts trade in the United States are the western diamondback rattlesnake, the prairie or western rattlesnake, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, the timber or canebreak rattlesnake, and, to a lesser extent, the black-tailed rattlesnake. Roundups in Pennsylvania also target the copperhead and use nonvenomous species in certain contests
Depleted Rattlesnake Populations
No other wild animal in the United States is as extensively exploited and traded without regulation or oversight as the rattlesnake. Several species could become extinct just as we are beginning to understand their ecological importance. Rattlesnakes are important to their ecosystems. They prey on rodents, keeping the populations naturally in check so that the rodents do not cause crop damage or spread disease. Rattlesnakes are also important prey for raptors and other animals. Four species commonly found in roundups are the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, the western diamondback rattlesnake, the timber rattlesnake, and the western or prairie rattlesnake.
The timber rattlesnake is listed as endangered or threatened in several states, but no federal or international laws currently protect this species. The western diamondback rattlesnake, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, and the western or prairie rattlesnake are not protected anywhere in their ranges, nor are they protected by any federal or international laws. We must act now to save remaining rattlesnake populations and gather the knowledge necessary for developing long-term conservation strategies.
Cruelty
Most rattlesnakes in roundups are driven out of their dens with gasoline, then stored without water or food in unhygienic conditions, and crammed tightly into containers for transport to and display at roundup events. Many snakes arrive at these events starved, dehydrated, or crushed to death. Those who survive may be used in public demonstrations and daredevil acts. The rattlesnakes are eventually decapitated, a cruel and inefficient method of slaughter for reptiles.
Environmental Damage
Rattlesnake collection methods are highly destructive to the habitats of rattlesnakes and other burrow dwellers such as gopher tortoises, indigo snakes, box turtles, coachwhip snakes, pine snakes, southern toads, and gopher frogs, along with burrowing owls, raccoons, opossums, and at least 32 species of invertebrates. The most popular collection method is to spray gasoline or other toxic chemicals into rattlesnake dens and resting places, which can render a burrow uninhabitable for years. Once introduced into the soil, gasoline could contaminate groundwater—the primary water source for many rural communities—thus poisoning wildlife, livestock, and humans.
Human Health Hazards
Roundups pose other threats to human health, too. Contrary to claims of organizers, roundups increase the number of snake-bite incidents in the host communities. This is due to collection activities and competitive events that bring humans with little or no experience into direct contact with rattlesnakes. The bites that result must be treated with antivenin, thereby depleting the local supply of antivenin available to treat bites that are genuinely accidental and unavoidable.
Another hazard is the snake meat sold at roundups for human consumption. Rattlesnakes at roundups are typically killed under unhygienic conditions, and their meat, often improperly prepared, may be contaminated with salmonella or other bacteria.
Antivenin
Organizers often attempt to legitimize roundups by claiming that they provide a supply of venom for antivenin, but their venom collection methods do not meet the strict guidelines required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. No U.S. producer of antivenin would knowingly purchase venom collected at rattlesnake roundups. Rather than add to the nation's supply of antivenin, roundups deplete it by encouraging behavior that leads to snake bites.
Misinforming the Public
Many rattlesnake handlers and roundup organizers attempt to influence public perceptions about snakes with negative misinformation such as false bite statistics. Rattlesnake handlers typically promote their acts as "safety talks" or other sorts of public education. What the public actually sees, however, are demonstrations of extremely unsafe practices, which audience members may try later on their own. Permanent disfigurement or even death could result.
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norcalsnakemaster@comcast.net
