Thousands of rattlesnakes were harvested, thrown in a pit and slaughtered, as last Sunday culminated the end of the "World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup" in Sweetwater City, Texas. This tradition spans 59 years and counting which is apparently similar to the Python Challenge in Florida where participants from out of state collected 106 loose snakes this year.
This is an attempt to control and reduce the largest reptile population in Texas, where Sweetwater's numbers are larger than Florida's. This hunt is organized by the Junior Chamber of Commerce or Jaycees, where out of state participants join this hunt. Last year, a total of 3,780 pounds of rattlesnake were culled. The final event ends by killing these snakes and then cooking the creatures, as it draws more than 25,000 visitors a year.
The Jaycees celebrate this annual hunt as some sort of payback when these snakes prey on cattle and bite many human victims every year. However, environmental and conservation groups such as the Advocates for Snake Preservation condemns this hunt.
According to co-founder of the Advocates for Snake Preservation, Melissa Amarello, most snakes inside the pit have become swollen and bloody after being handled and restrained, hinting at overt animal cruelty. She describes the snakes' conditions as being too weak and too stressed out to defend itself as they are already on the verge of dying, revealing conditions that are unsanitary and deeming this practice as cruel and dangerous to the public.
Every year, an estimate of 7,000 to 8,000 Americans are bitten by venomous snakes, where only six die from bites, according to the Centers for Disease Control. There are more people killed by lightning strikes, making it four times more likely to be hit by a lightning than bitten by a rattlesnake.
According to wildlife biologist David Steen from Auburn University, most bite victims are either drunk people, exterminators or those who play with snakes. He adds that the chances of getting bitten by a rattlesnake are extremely low, if you refrain from doing those things.
During the final ceremony of the Jaycees, they behead the rattlesnake first where it is then stripped off its skin as their guts are taken out. The heads will be placed in a "gory pile" where as the skin is sold, the meat is fried and eaten by spectators, and the venom is sold for scientific research.
Amarello says that this practice is extremely against animal rights, promoting cruelty, describing that rattlesnakes produce a rattling sound when they are terrified, which is contrary to the common belief that they do that when provoked or preparing to attack. She says that the sound of this rattling during these roundups are actually a thousand snakes screaming for their lives.