Largest Remaining Roundup in Sweetwater, Texas, Should Follow Suit, Conservationists Say.
Following advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity and
conservation allies, the Whigham Rattlesnake Roundup will hold its
first ever wildlife-friendly event this Saturday, March 5. The
revamped roundup in Whigham, Georgia, will celebrate snakes instead
of collecting and butchering them for their meat and skins.
“We’re delighted that Whigham’s event now celebrates these
awe-inspiring snakes and recognizes the importance of respecting and
protecting them,” said Elise Bennett, an attorney at the Center.
“Whigham’s new vision emphasizes how cruel and antiquated the few
remaining roundups are, including the largest one left, in
Sweetwater, Texas. It also shows that it's possible to have a change
of heart and make compassionate changes for these really
misunderstood animals.”
The Whigham Community Club announced on its website the “exciting
and creative” decision to no longer catch snakes. Instead the
roundup will feature displays and educational programming about the
imperiled eastern diamondback rattlesnake and other wildlife, in
partnership with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Quail
Forever and Southeastern Reptile Rescue.
A few rattlesnake roundups still persist. The largest — which takes
place in Sweetwater, Texas — is notorious for openly killing and
skinning western diamondback rattlesnakes by the hundreds in front
of crowds. Ecologists and animal rights advocates have criticized
the events as inhumane and environmentally harmful.
Rattlesnake roundups deplete populations of eastern diamondback
rattlesnakes and harm natural ecosystems. Analysis of data from four
roundups in the southeastern United States shows a steady decline in
the weights of prize-winning eastern diamondbacks and the number
collected.
“I hope Whigham has a record turnout this year,” said Bennett. “It
warms my heart to think of so many people coming together to connect
with the natural world and maybe gain a new appreciation for
rattlers.”
The Whigham Rattlesnake Roundup will be held on March 5, 2022, at
the Rattlesnake Roundup Grounds in Whigham. The event is a
fundraiser for local youth programs.
Background
The eastern diamondback is the largest rattlesnake in the world.
Adults are typically 4 to 5 feet long and weigh 4 to 5 pounds, but a
big snake can reach 6 feet in length and weigh 12 pounds or more.
Scientific studies have documented range-wide population declines
and significant range contractions for the eastern diamondback.
This once-common species is being pushed toward extinction not only
by hunting pressure but also by habitat loss and road mortality. In
response to a Center petition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is
currently considering whether to protect the snake under the
Endangered Species Act.
Despite pervasive public fears, eastern diamondback rattlesnakes
pose a very small public-safety risk. More people are killed every
year by lightning strikes and bee stings. Those most likely to be
bitten are snake handlers who either keep the snakes in captivity or
work with them professionally. Still, malicious killings by those
who perceive the snakes as a threat are contributing to its decline.
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