I grew up on a lg. ranch in the west, and we unfortunately had one of the biggest dens around on our property. We had a roundup in the fall (for the same reason; when it starts getting cold, a warm day will make snakes slither out to sun themselves on rock ledges). We didn’t have a party or festival, but the surrounding neighbors. (and our minister wouldn’t miss it – maybe something to do with slaying the serpent?) The rattlers were not picked up, milked, weighed, eaten, skinned, etc. Just shot. If they weren’t, they would quickly get out of control. If one is ranching for a living, you can’t afford to lose income to something that can be, at least partially, controlled. And for damn sure you don’t want them living around your house! I’ve been struck at twice in my life; once by the garage, once 3 ft. from front porch door. (never bitten, thank heaven) I did have a pony die from snake bite.

There is NO co-existing with rattlers. They can’t be reasoned with, given trade-offs, or moved elsewhere. They are plain downright mean — many snakes will just move on when a human/lg. mammal happens by. Rattlers would just as soon bite as leave.

There is an old Native American tale about the maiden who was going to see relatives in the next village, but to get there she had to ford a river. As she got to the river’s edge, Brother Snake got her attention by rattling and hissing. He desperately needed to get over the river as well, but couldn’t do it himself — wouldn’t she, with her good heart, please, PLEASE take him over with her? She didn’t want too, and said he’d bite her, but he promised not to and finally talked her into it. So she put him high in her dress and began crossing the river. When they hit the opposite bank, the rattler drew back, then bit her. As she dropped to the ground dying, she asked, “Why did you do that when you swore you wouldn’t?” The snake replied, “You knew what I was when you picked me up” … That says it all right there.

I totally agree with Sunny Carol. Shame on you!

If you do not want to get bitten by a snake then do not go where they are and stop destroying their habitat. The snakes were on that land long before people. If you do not want to risk getting bitten then go and live in the middle of a big city.

Roundups are totally barbaric and disgusting. Speaking as an outsider these roundups make the entire USA look backward and rather nasty, even savage, yet I know this is not a true image but this is how it appears.

Oh, and if you really want to see the most over populated species on the planet then go and look in the mirror so for us to say that another species is over populated is down right hypocritical.

Nor do I understand how anyone can be proud of something that must count as one the biggest exhibitions of animal cruelty on the face of the planet. It makes me ashamed to be human.

Think about that next time. Keep it in perspective. We, the scientists, would really appreciate it.

It’s an older view of the world and its abundance, and our place as human beings to intelligently have dominion over the earth. Perhaps “Crazy Turkey” needs to ship over to China and lecture their ancient culture about not eating animals we’d consider pets.

Great job, Ross and Andrew!

en verdad espero quetzalcoatl les corte los webos!

oh sory; I said: really hope Quetzalcoatl comes to cut your balls!

That we, as the American public, continue to allow these things to happen is very sad. The fact that there are those that feel it is perfectly OK to collect thousands of these animals and then decapitate them, all in the name of “fun” is worse.