Rattlesnake Roundups

[stevesemerko]

A while back I saw this show on tv and they were showing the rattlesnake roundup somewhere in Texas. This was one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen! They were taking thousands of western diamondback rattlesnakes from the wild and bringing them to this thing. They were decapitating buckets of them, they hung live ones on hooks and skinned them, they were also cooking the rattlesnakes and kids and adults were eating them it made me sick! I would like to get different peoples views on this and I was wondering if anyone else has seen this show on tv (where I live it was on T@@ or Dis@@@@@ Channel I can't remember now).

Thanks

Steve

[Hamster of Borg]

I have the same reaction, they are disgusting and sad. If we had puppy roundups where we slaughtered puppies, animal rights groups would freak, but because it is snakes (venomous ones at that) no one cares. Even Parks & Wildlife doesn't regulate the roundups - people participating do not have to obey non-game hunting bag limits and other regulations that are -supposed- to apply to the collection of all snakes in Texas. (I'm not positive about other states, but something tells me the are no better.)

Ham

[Samba]

I agree... I live in New Mexico where Rattlesnake Roundups are common once a year, and no one seems to think it's a big deal. In fact, it's marketed as 'family entertainment.'

Fortunately, we also have a Rattlesnake Museum. This museum contains many live, healthy speciemens as well as the stuffed variety. The museum's goal is to promote the rattlesnake as an interesting and needed creature... not something to fear.

For the people who are in favor of this slaughtering of innocent creatures, I wish the same fate on them. It's rediculous that we are so 'civilized' yet we still think this is a worthwhile past time.
Skinning an animal alive and allowing it to suffer is one of the worst things we humans can do. Especially when it really isn't warrented or needed.

[doenoe]

I saw that program. It really bites that people still need to entertain themselves by showing that they are still the hunters they once where. Nothing wrong with hunting the snakes down, but i dont see why you have to bring them to a gathering and slaughter them. Just find them, look at them, if you really must, handle them, but dont kill them. It makes no sense at all.

[V.hb]

Just hope a few rednecks get bitten in the process

[Edwin]

Yeah, it always makes me sad watching it on Discovery, especially how they torture the snakes before decapitating them. Family entertainment my foot.

[Lizzy001]

saw it...its sick...they say their teaching people how to respect the animals but how can u when u eat and kill them>??

[Colonel SB]

Rattlesnake round ups are disgusting, I mean what kinda slack jawed yokel would enjoy seeing that, hyuck hyuck! I think a Redneck round up would be better for the enviroment, less inbreeding thats fo sure.

[ThEmAdHaTtEr]

Never heard of it, but im interested now. I second Hamsters post, if we had puppy round ups, the entire world would freak. Hasn't anyone stood up to these people running the show and 'expressed their views'? Samba - If you live in (Al-beh-kerk-ee) dunno how to spell it, I saw that rattlesnake museum last night on Insomniac. Looks like a pretty cool little exhibit.

[gonesnakee]

What most people don't realize about these roundups is how the snakes are gathered. They take jerrycans of gas & dump fuel down everyhole they find hoping that all the snakes etc. will come out because if they stay in the holes the gas will kill them. Unfortunately they dump gas into tortoise dens killing all the eggs. Eastern Indigos are killed regularly as a result of these roundups also as they use the burrows for their eggs as well. Not too mention all the other critters that live in the holes that are indiscriminately killed as a direct result of some rednecks "fun". They are so enviro"mentally" friendly afterall. They do turn the snakes into products such as boots, belts, hatbands, keychains, paperweights, hamburgers etc. It is all still rather disturbing to me though. Mind you a trip to any slaughter house is always disturbing, mind you I don't pack up the family & head to the processors either. Oh & Lizzy001 unless you are a full blown vegetarian that doesn't eat, wear or use anything from animals you are a hypocrit. Unfortunately we all are to certain extents. Heck I ate both ham & beef yesterday, both my slippers & my boots are made of leather & I think I used some glue as well. Just a few examples. We are all hyprocrits to some extent when it comes to these morality issues. I in no way shape or form support these roundups don't get me wrong, but there are 2 sides to the coin & it is very easy to be a full blown hypocrit while defending "our" side. How many species are they going to let them wipe out before they stop em is my question or is that their plan? Some disturbing things to think about anyway, sigh........ Mark I.

[Samba]

ThEmAdHaTtEr... it's Albuquerque, and yes, it's (The Rattlesnake Museum) a beautiful place to visit. I have gone to one rattlesnake roundup to complain, written letters to the govenor, Senate and the Humane Society, none of whom will do anything. I will never go to another one... it broke my heart, being a reptile and animal lover, to see those creatures totured and killed without reason. Knowing that no amount of money, advice or begging will get these freaks to stop and really think about what they are doing is frustrating.

It doesn't mean I don't do what can from my home... every spring I send out letters. e-mails and protests in an effort to at least ask that the people 'hunt', treat and dispatch the animals humanely.

[XxRachxX]

......what do these people get from it??
Yeah these people may well be eating snakes or wearing them, im mean.....cmon! these people dont go to a roundup to buy burgers, or hatbands do they?? they obviously go for the kill.
if we want to eat beef or pork, or wear leather, we dont all go to a big convention to rip the skin off live animals and "parade" around in it?, we dont go and make a party of it?
these people must hate these animals and do it out of disgust, fear or something else!!! we dont hate cows or pigs or chickens, do we?!
at the end of the day, it happens and i dont believe we can do much to stop it!! its just the things some people do! if something did happen.....it would still happen anyway!! like dog fights, **** fights (ok male bird fights!! ) , animal testing etc. cruelty to animals will never stop, nobody really understands them as well as the animal lovers do.....and these people are not the animal lovers.....

[gonesnakee]

Heres another tidbit for everyone (XxRachxX). You ever hear of a "Branding Party"? They too are held every spring all across Canada & the U.S. All the calves are rounded up given their shots etc., males are casterated (UMMM Prairie Oysters, yep they eat em!), ear tags are put in & yes they are branded. Lots of big parties took place long before your trip to Micky D's or the shoe store. I for one wouldn't feel too happy about being roped, hogtied & held down to be casterated/branded without any sedatives (or at all for that matter! lol) but it happens always every year. Not to mention how many Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Chickens etc. that are subjected to horrible cruelties as they are slaughtered daily for us all. Take a trip to a slaughter house & you'll think twice about BBQing tonight. Mark I.
P.S. I might as well mention all you folks that feed live prey as well, nothing like being eaten alive while ya suffer.

[XxRachxX]

well i was not aware of those "branding parties"......ooh i take back everything i wrote in that message then!
as this probably doesnt happen in the uk, or it hasnt been publicised then i wouldnt know about it...so i wouldnt exactly be able to discuss branding parties and other sick stuff that happens over there....
as long as people eat meat, slaughter house cruelty is going to happen! as long as people are here....cruelty is going to happen.
is it me or is a party made out of anything over there??

[gonesnakee]

Sad but true eh Rach! I hate posting for the "dark side" but all points must be made & acknowledged. A lot of people are in the dark & like I've stated before we are all hypocrits, DOH! Mark I.