What are your thoughts on this??

[Bartholomew]

On my MSN homepage, I always read the "Whats new?" or the "viral videos this week" and something like that. So I looked at the viral videos and found something that caught my eye. This video about rattlesnake 'round up'. Check out the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkiA4Hhrjuo

I'm kind of a noob, still. And I personally think this will lead so something bad. As says the herpetologist, in the video, that the venom they collect to use for antivenom is not good due to the un-steril enviornment, and they only use that as an excuse to execute the snake and use the snake for the pleasure of other people. I have a feeling that this snake is going to be endangerd if the 'tradition' keeps going on. My thought is that the people who run the show are going to see the snake populations decrease. And to get the same amount of people to go to that snake 'round up', they are going to have to get more and more snakes, therefore endangering the animal. But does this also have a positive side to the farmers and the people that live near these creatures?
I want to know your thoughts about this. I personally dont like it. Unless one of you can convince me otherwise. No harsh comments please

 

[ShenziSixaxis]

As if just HATING them was bad enough!

 

[pridecity]

I really disagree with the entire event. One, I don't think the venom is usable. What do they do with it? Does someone actually have evidence of them bringing it a lab to make anti-venom?

Also, why kill the snakes afterward? Just to BBQ them? If so, I really do not agree. These are wild animals that have not been tested for parasites or health. Remember toxoplasma can survive being cooked, which is why you need to cook pork properly. What's to say rattlesnakes don't have something that can survive being cooked?

 

[Bartholomew]

Even if they were taking the venom to a place like that, I still think they shouldent be doing this event. I was reading more about it, and after they 'milk' the snake, they weigh it, sex it, and measure it. Then they suposedly give the info to the wildlife foundation for reasearch. But again I think its just an excuse to do the event.

 

[The_Thunderer]

I too don't agree with the event (although I have been to ONE small roundup and ate rattlesnake chili - which was rather good). I can understand as a person who loves snakes on a forum with other "snake-lovers", how this would be anathema to us.

However, if they are actually eating the meat as it says, then I don't necessarily think it is a "waste". There are events all over the world where people "harvest" food in a festival type atmosphere. Does it make it wrong? I don't think so... as long as the local population of whatever is being harvested has a chance to recover. Perhaps a study should be done to determine what would be a "reasonable" amount of snakes to harvest each year. 20,000 rattlers sounds a little high to be sustainable for a long period of time to me.

There will always be those things that we don't like. There may be things I do that many of you don't like and I'm sure there are things that many of you do that I don't particularly care for. We need to overlook those differences and try to allow for "culture". There are people who like to eat dog... there are people who like to eat tarantulas... there are people who like to eat beef... there are people who like to eat octopus... there are people who like to eat shrimp... there are people who only eat vegetables... these are people that like to eat snake... there are people who... whatever. If I made laws against everything I didn't believe in... well... Get the point?

Now, IF it is determined that rattlers are heading toward being an endangered species, of course it needs to stop. Otherwise, if you don't like it, don't attend... if attendance drops, then perhaps they won't have any incentive to do it.

Ohhhh... and I also think that someone needs to find out if the venom milked is actually used... If it isn't, then it should be set up where qualified personnel are doing the milking in a sanitary environment so that the venom isn't wasted. OR, just get rid of that "aspect" of the whole thing so that there is no "pretense" as to why they're doing it.

Too often we sit in judgment of others... when we ourselves might live in glass houses.

 

[The_Thunderer]

Note: I apologize for any spelling errors, etc. I'm trying to get used to not having the edit option that comes with a "shiney". LOL.

 

[Irish Eyes (Mrs.Z)]

Hey, them "shineys" are only about the cost of one normal, no hets, cornsnake hatchling. Get yerself a shiny! Support the site, AND get editing privileges!

BTW, I don't go in at ALL for rattlesnake roundups. I believe they've been going on for decades, and I've never liked the thought of mass kills of anything (except mosquitos or somesuch .

 

[Drizzt80]

I hope the OP didn't type this while eating a cheese burger/hotdog/chicken nugget, et.al.

Meat = Food = Good.

D80

 

[The_Thunderer]

Hey, them "shineys" are only about the cost of one normal, no hets, cornsnake hatchling. Get yerself a shiny! Support the site, AND get editing privileges!

BTW, I don't go in at ALL for rattlesnake roundups. I believe they've been going on for decades, and I've never liked the thought of mass kills of anything (except mosquitos or somesuch .

LOL. I HAD a "shiney" until the 21st. Still trying to figure out where to get an extra $25.00 to renew. LOL.

AND, I get it. As I mentioned, I TOO am not into the roundup scene... I haven't been to one in 20 years... BUT, if there were one close by, I MIGHT go to see what's going on myself before I pass judgement.

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

I would agree with Fred if only I could overlook the ecological damages this sort of thing would cause... that's 20,000 rattlesnakes that can no longer be food for birds, no longer keep the rodent population down, and no longer breed any more rattlesnakes... That's hardly a smart thing to do. Just because an animal is a nuisance or unlikeable doesn't mean it should be killed en masse. Mosquitos are the bane of my existence, but they're also food for the birds and bats that live around here. You don't see anyone starting a mosquito roundup.

 

[Snakewhisperer]

I think a big problem that noone who participates in the roundup thinks about is "hmm, why don't they rattle anymore?". Catching all the ones who warn before a bite and removing them from the gene pool seems like a very poor decision that will come back to bite them in the posterior (pun intended).

 

[The_Thunderer]

I would agree with Fred if only I could overlook the ecological damages this sort of thing would cause... that's 20,000 rattlesnakes that can no longer be food for birds, no longer keep the rodent population down, and no longer breed any more rattlesnakes... That's hardly a smart thing to do. Just because an animal is a nuisance or unlikeable doesn't mean it should be killed en masse. Mosquitos are the bane of my existence, but they're also food for the birds and bats that live around here. You don't see anyone starting a mosquito roundup.

I hear ya, Lexie... You will note that I said that a study should be done to see what a "reasonable" amount could be harvested and that 20,000/year sounded high (esp considering it is ONE LONE EVENT - not considering how many are killed the rest of the year to harvesting / ignorance / accidents / etc).

Should there be any negative impact on the habitat and ecology of the area, then I do agree the harvesting in this manner should be stopped.

 

[snakewispera snr]

In the UK the rattle snake round up is viewed the same as Spanish bull fighting, Turkish dancing bears and Chavs dog fighting...
Pretty barbaric to kill and maim animals for fun...

 

[Bartholomew]

In the UK the rattle snake round up is viewed the same as Spanish bull fighting, Turkish dancing bears and Chavs dog fighting...
Pretty barbaric to kill and maim animals for fun...

But the amount of snakes they gather for that event is a little too much, in my opinion.

 

[snakewispera snr]

But the amount of snakes they gather for that event is a little too much, in my opinion.

Exactly.... And it's allowed..
And you ain't even third world country... So what's the excuse....
Sorry for being blunt, but, it is strange IMO...

 

[starsevol]

Exactly.... And it's allowed..
And you ain't even third world country... So what's the excuse....
Sorry for being blunt, but, it is strange IMO...

It seems you guys have come a long way from bullbaiting, unfortunately it also seems we have not quite outgrown that type of foolishness as of yet.

 

[Drizzt80]

I take quite a bit of pride, joy and have a great amount of fun killing the animals I intend to eat. How is that barbaric? I think it's more barbaric, sadistic and lazy to let someone else kill animals for you to eat. :shrugs:

D80

PS. And please don't pervert the use of the word "fun" to mean anything other than enjoying harvesting natures bounty for food. Fun can be had while also respecting the sanctity of life and providing for your family and friends.

 

[starsevol]

I take quite a bit of pride, joy and have a great amount of fun killing the animals I intend to eat. How is that barbaric? I think it's more barbaric, sadistic and lazy to let someone else kill animals for you to eat. :shrugs:

D80

PS. And please don't pervert the use of the word "fun" to mean anything other than enjoying harvesting natures bounty for food. Fun can be had while also respecting the sanctity of life and providing for your family and friends.

I don't know Brent, personally I see a lone man or small group of men hunting and killing what they intend to eat and use, and the comradery along the way MUCH different than a rattlesnake round up, or a bullfight, where the atmosphere is carnival like and the killing of the animals is trivialized. The spectacle is barbaric...

One or 5 deer killed with the intent of being eaten and used is much different to me than 2000000 snakes slaughtered in front of a crowd that may or may not be used.

 

[Drizzt80]

But the amount of snakes they gather for that event is a little too much, in my opinion.

Can you show me the study whereby they have indicated what the perfect population density for the rattlesnake is? I ask because right now, there's a different type of round-up that HAS to take place. The goose population in this country is ridiculously high and even though hunters are filling the backs of their pickups with geese (which would be even more perverted looking to some of you then a rattlesnake roundup) they can't kill enough of them to fix the habitat damage that is being done to their breeding grounds.

So, yeah, do you have any data for what amount is too much based on more than your opinion? These roundups may just be a positive thing that you're completely unaware of. I don't know. But the fact that they are apparently legal would lead me to believe that the DNR in Texas may know a little more about the affect of roundups than most of us. :shrugs:

D80

 

[snakewispera snr]

I take quite a bit of pride, joy and have a great amount of fun killing the animals I intend to eat. How is that barbaric? I think it's more barbaric, sadistic and lazy to let someone else kill animals for you to eat. :shrugs:

D80

PS. And please don't pervert the use of the word "fun" to mean anything other than enjoying harvesting natures bounty for food. Fun can be had while also respecting the sanctity of life and providing for your family and friends.

As a townie I argued your case on another forum, Brent.... And I directly mentioned your stance and I had a lot of thanks for posting and unbiased 'other side of the coin' post....
I can see you hunt to eat and I hunt in wallmart... A cop out on my part as a hunter gatherer so to speak.... But you don't kill because you hate...
That's my point.... You cull and they hate....