Rattlesnake Round-Up
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Rattlesnake Round-Up is a rodeo-like event common to rural areas of the United States, including Texas,georgia and the Midwest, where, rather than bovines, rattlesnakes are the primary animal attraction. The largest of the several Rattlesnake Round-Up events is in Sweetwater, Texas. Held every year since 1958, the event currently attracts approximately 35,000 visitors per year and results in the capture of 1% of the state's rattlesnake population.[1] Some of the rattlesnakes are cooked and eaten at the event.
[edit] Criticism
These events have been criticized widely, primarily due to animal cruelty and ecological impact. These events sometimes falsely claim to generate valuable data, yet not a single scientific article has ever been published from it.
Rattlesnakes are relatively slow to mature, have only modest litters, and are already adversely affected by habitat destruction and persecution. These events remove thousands of animals, including large numbers of reproductively mature animals, with potentially devastating effects. Since rattlesnakes are an apex predator, the decline in their population may have numerous ecological consequences, particularly for the rodents they typically feed on.
During these events, the snakes are subjected to conditions which, in a mammal, would be considered torture, including being tossed, stamped on, gassed with noxious chemicals, and skinned alive. However, in many states, animal protection laws fail to cover reptiles, due to the erroneous idea that they cannot feel pain.
[edit] References
- ^ "Texas Town Welcomes Rattlesnakes, Handlers", Associated Press, March 11, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
