Rattlesnake round-up draws crowds

BBC News ^ | 3/11/06 | BBC News

[wagglebee]

Some farmers collect large quantities of rattlesnakes

Rattlesnake hunters are gathering in the Texas town of Sweetwater for what the town styles the "World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-up".

The annual event began as a way to control the local snake population, but has grown into a four-day attraction luring thousands of visitors.

Local farmers collect the deadly snakes, which are milked by handlers for their venom.

Other attractions include skinning and eating the snakes.

James Wells was first in the queue for the round-up on Friday, bringing in 1,200 pounds (540 kg) of rattlesnakes.

The roundup pays $5 per pound for the first 2,000 pounds of snakes collected.

"It gets in your blood," he said. "If you're doing it for the money, you're going to go into the hole. We do it more for the sport."

The record was set in 1982, when 17,986 pounds (8,094 kg) of snakes were collected.

The snakes are milked for the venom

Other events during the weekend include a parade, snake-handling demonstrations and the opportunity to try deep-fried Western Diamondback rattlesnake meat.

There is also a cook-off, at which the "World's Champion Rattlesnake Meat Cooker" will be crowned, and a snake meat-eating contest is scheduled for Sunday.

Researchers at Texas A&M University say the event controls about 1% of the state's Western Diamondback population.

But the Humane Society of the United States criticized the roundup, saying the methods collectors use to catch the snakes are cruel.

"One per cent is still too much," spokeswoman Andrea Cimino said.

[wagglebee]

I can't say I'm sorry to miss this event.

[wagglebee]

Are you going to this?

[trubluolyguy]

mmmmmm, rattlesnake....(drools)



I miss Texas.

[Menehune56]

Tastes like chicken I've heard.

[B.O. Plenty]

tastes like chicken...(grin)

[PoorMuttly]

Technically, chicken tastes like rattlesnake.

[Andy from Beaverton]

I hope no one runs into any Mexican staring frogs.

[jazusamo]

"It gets in your blood," he said."

Hah, so does the venom if you're bit. I'll pass. :-)

[RatRipper]

They have a rattlesnake round-up way down in Opp, Alabama every year, too.

But I have eating rules.
1- I don't eat reptiles
2- I don't eat rodents
3- If I eat meat for breakfast, it has to be pig.

[Andy from Beaverton]

The consequences can be horrible!

[wagglebee]

I've always been partial to steak and eggs for breakfast.

[308MBR]

Squirrel and a thousand other things taste like chicken, since chickens are the nastiest animal on the face of the earth.

[Lexington Green]

DEEP-FRIED RATTLESNAKE

1 medium-sized rattlesnake (3-4 lbs.), cut into steaks
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup cracker crumbs
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (not garlic salt)
1 teaspoon salt

dash pepper

Mix dry ingredients. Whisk milk into beaten egg and use to dip snake steaks.
Then coat them with dry ingredients. Fry, uncovered, in 400 degree oil until brown.

[secret garden]

Sweetwater ping!

[Jeff Chandler]

Rattlesnakes like the taste of chicken.

[skeptoid]

I've never tried it, but The Big Texan's lunch menu says: GENUINE DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE, SAMPLE, by the piece, we'll warn you now: very little meat, lots of bones, complaints will get you a live one $6.49

[silver charm]

I can't say I have ever tried rattlesnake meat, but I have paid quite alot for tanned rattlesnake skin for the little crafty things I do.

Try atleast $25 amd up on ebay!

[NewJerseyJoe]

> a way to control the local snake population

But wouldn't this also cause a concomitant rise in the population of mice, rats, and other rodents?

[wagglebee]

But wouldn't this also cause a concomitant rise in the population of mice, rats, and other rodents?

And who knows, there could be some animals in the food chain that rely on rattlesnakes for the sustinence, but for the life of me I can't think of what they might be.