Venom - Rattlesnakes & Man

Thousands of snakes are tortured and slaughtered each year, not because they are cruel, not because they are a threat to mankind, but because of what they are; simply snakes. The truth about Rattlesnake Roundups, the importance of rattlesnakes, and how their probable demise will impact mankind. 

Years ago, there were individuals who would slay another man due to the color of his/her skin. Today, we define that enactment as ignorance. Though The Family of Man has made huge strides over the last century, what about man's relationship with animals?

So many species continue to become endangered - to the point of extinction, due to man's ignorance.  One of the most misrepresented, and misunderstood, is the snake.

Rattlesnake Roundups - What your local news stations won't tell you during their featured Rattlesnake Roundup coverage:

One method used for collecting rattlesnakes at roundups is to spray gasoline into a potential den of rattlesnakes, then patiently wait until the snakes emerge. This method forces the denned animal to either emerge or asphyxiate from the fumes. However, not only snakes inhabit these cozy wilderness dens; other important species that may be sheltered beneath include frogs, rabbits, possums, armadillos, lizards and harmless snakes.

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Other methods include ‘fishing’ snakes out of their homes, then keeping them in small cages for as long as two years before the roundup - without food and without water.

At ‘the show’ they are sometimes tortured by being skinned alive, burned or whipped in front of the audience. One of the many cruel contests at a roundup is termed as a ‘crushing contest’ where competition counts how many ‘stomps’ it takes to kill a snake.

 Youngsters are encouraged to participate in these rattlesnake roundups, the adults literally placing these young lives in danger! Can you imagine what the effect of seeing a snake skinned alive has on a child? Violent cartoon characters receive more deterrent direction.

So, why do the people that participate in the roundups feel the need to torture and slaughter these important members of our ecosystem? Are they afraid of the snakes?

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