Roundup Wrap-up (Dialup Warning)

BWSmith · 03-19-04, 12:25 AM

Sorry if some of this repetative, but I c/p-ed it from another post.

The final total of snakes brought in this year was 348. We were able to save 28! Given the box full of dead ones, I figure that about 10% were saved! That is not bad. We got 12 baby Eastern Diamondbacks, 12 Easterns between 2'-4', one LARGE adult female, 1 yearling Canebrake Rattlesnake, and 2 adult Canebrake Rattlesnakes. We got just about every single one he would let go. It took some work to even ONE of the adults.

THis event was larger than I could have possibly imagined! One of the coordinators gave me an estimate of 20,000 people!!!!!! At $5 a head, that adds up quickly. Not to mention over 100 vendor booths.

When I took this, we were not even withing sight of the roundup!

It was a sea of cars! The pictures do not do it justice. I had to take 3 or 4 pictures just to get them all in! Here is one of them.

And a sea of people. This was toward the end of the day and only showing a small portion of the grounds! i could not have imagined what we were up against.

The Rattlesnake Pavilion from the backside

And plenty of Roundup gear. This guy was nice enough to hold up the Children's shirt

Of course, the Rattlesnakes are not the ONLY draw :lol: :lol: :lol:

A couple of the snake pens

After glad handing for a while, we talked out way into the holding area for better pics.

And of course, they were milking snakes for the croud (they said the venom was for research :lol: :lol: ) This shot was taken right before this guy turned around and almost stabbed me in the head with a 5' Diamondback!!!!!!!! :shock: :shock: :evil: :evil:

And of course, they had all the Roundup Queens. Gee, how about you get them WAY too close and NOT look at the sankes freaking head!!!!

And of course, there were several booths selling snake items.

And of the saddest things. This kid's mom let me take his picture. A new generation is well on its way :cry:

But the transaction went very smoothly. The snakes ran from $20-$50 depending on size. But I truly think that we got ALL that he would allow us. 10% is not bad for a weekend. Now comes the hard part, getting them healthy and feeding. Pics of the individuals will come soon, but for now, here is one of the little guys.

tHeGiNo · 03-19-04, 12:33 AM

I don't get it, 348 snakes ripped from the wild? Why? This must do a big toll on the environment, that is a lot of snakes!

BWSmith · 03-19-04, 12:57 AM

Roundups in general began when areas were first settled (usually out West) where the rattlesnake populations were very high. They felt that they were needed to lessen human fatalities. But this was only the 37th Roundup for Claxton, GA. I find it hard to believe that population control was an issue in 1967.

Yes, they were taken from the wild. And yes, it takes a terrible toll. So bad in fact, that the populations in Georgia are so thin that over half of them came from Alabama. You also have to look at the sex ratio. we rescued 28. 20 were female. Any Southern field herper knows that 90% of the snakes you catch are males. That says 2 things. 1. A large percentage of potential breeder females are gone. 2. They are still gassing Gopher Tortoise holes to drive them out (even though it is illegal).

If you think 348 is bad, look up how many THOUSANDS are killed at the Sweetwater, Texas Roundup each year.

tHeGiNo · 03-19-04, 12:58 AM

And, these things are legal? Whats up with that?

tHeGiNo · 03-19-04, 01:00 AM

Also, if these things are legal, why don't we start a "moron roundup" and round up all the people catching all these innocent snakes, and do as we please with them. Maybe being isolated from that kind of thing, I cannot come to terms with it, or understand the mentality whatsoever.

BWSmith · 03-19-04, 01:07 AM

By the way. I tried to feed 6 tonight and 2 ate for me

tHeGiNo · 03-19-04, 01:08 AM

I forgot to mention BW, I would like to congratulate and commend you for your effots. People such as yourself are slowly making this place a little better, for the animals.

BWSmith · 03-19-04, 01:17 AM

Thanks. But we just made the trip. We had alot of donations for the rescue that made it possible to save that many.

noncents · 03-19-04, 01:54 AM

GREAT JOB with the pics, the story and the snakes! From what I understand, you had to buy them from these people in order to save their lives, right? I think you did a GREAT job, but how sad is it that we're reduced to essentially paying a RANSOM to these idiots in order to buy back something that they stole from the wild in the first place?! Is there a website set up for donations?

BWSmith · 03-19-04, 01:59 AM

"ransom" What a GREAT description.

THe site I set up is at www.reptileeducation.com/Roundup.htm
I included pics from the Sweetwater Roundup (they still actually have a "killing Floor"!)

kevyn · 03-19-04, 02:22 AM

God those things make me sick. The senseless killing of anything sickens me. What a waste. To me roundups are further expressions of mans arrogance, and disrespect for the world around us. So many of us think that human life is all that matters. What a load...

Great work on the rescues. I'm curious how you guys acomplished this? What was the general attitude towards you guys from the participants?

Wish there were more like you guys.

Matt_K · 03-19-04, 02:24 AM

Good on you Brian, your efforts have obviously not gone un-noticed, you're truely an asset to this community as well as the hobby in a whole!!

Sunrunner · 03-19-04, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Matt_K
Good on you Brian, your efforts have obviously not gone un-noticed, you're truely an asset to this community as well as the hobby in a whole!!

After looking at those pic's the best I can put together in words is I whole heartly agree!
Thanks,
Kim

C.m.pyrrhus · 03-19-04, 03:23 AM

I have to add my quick 2 cents in as well.

Great job! An effert like this is not simple by any means, even as you put it you were "up against a lot." To say the least it was something not many folks can deal with.

I deal with minor dealings 'kinda' like this in Arizona when it comes to venomous species and trying to teach a bit of "snake truth" while trying to save something that is solely looked upon as evil. Not an easy task to undergo. Facing the "enemy" like you did is something that takes a lot of hard work and a lot of holding back of personal feelings...

.

Your task was much more of an undertaking and is great to see that you did a such a good job as you did...hats off to your work!!! Some good news came shining through what I feel is a horrible part of our society and its negative feelings on such an understood creature.

MsTT · 03-19-04, 04:06 AM

OK, I'm going to go vomit now. Those pictures are sickening.

BW, if you need any medication for these guys let me know. I might recommend a prophylactic course of antibiotics (probably Ceftaz) as well as the usual antiparasiticals. There will be a line to walk between not stressing them and medicating/assist feeding them, and it's not always an easy one to judge.

You probably won't be able to save the ones that have been gassed out of gopher tortoise holes, not if they got too much exposure to the fumes. They may look fine, but they will drop dead in a few weeks with no apparent symptoms. Postmortem will show lung damage and may look visually a lot like paramyxo, so don't panic too quickly if gas fumes are a suspect.