"We Have Rattlesnakes"

Comments

• Elizabeth Barrington wrote on June 14, 2008, 04:40PM : Flag this comment as inappropriate

  Rattlesnakes have always terrified me. I live in Redlands, California (about 40 minutes east of Palm Springs). In the 27 years I have lived here, I have seen many wonderful creatures (a fox, raccoons, bobcats, coyotes, skunks, and a beautiful king snake), but never a rattlesnake. My neighbors and coworkers have had them show up on their property and always shared pictures of their brave conquests. This has always suited me fine; the fewer the better. Getting a painful bite, by a vicious snake, was at the top of my list of things to avoid (others include sharks, bears, and mountain lions).
  Something happened to me as I read this article. My unjustified fear of these creatures reluctantly subsided and I began to feel compassion for these poor creatures; I enabled my intelligence to control my thoughts
  Thank you for reminding me that ignorance is not bliss; knowledge is the only freedom from fear and slavery.
  Elizabeth Barrington

• Jason wrote on July 29, 2008, 03:31PM : Flag this comment as inappropriate

  As I read this article, a few thoughts crossed my mind. First of all, I can't believe the NRDC, of all organizations, would even give this event any publicity. I was horrified as I read the article. I understand that many people fear snakes, but they are an important part of our ecosystem. I do not live in Texas, but I hope anyone from Texas that reads this will start to take the necessary action to get this "festival" stopped. When will we learn to share the land with animals instead of using them for our entertainment.

• StopIt wrote on August 14, 2008, 12:21PM : Flag this comment as inappropriate

  The NRDC gave this event publicity in the hopes that the more people know about this terrible event, the more demand there will be to have it ended.

  The reason things like this continue is because people don't know it is occuring.

  Rattlesnakes are an important part of the ecosytem. Maybe all these people will be happier when they start noticing that their town has become overcome by rats and mice, which, by the way, spread disease.

  The venom of rattlesnakes isn't even that toxic compared to that of other snakes. Rattlesnakes also only inject venom in about 50% of self defense bites. I'd sure like to see a black mamba round up. All the organizers would be dead before the event happened.

  For a matter of fact I think the entire ecosystem would be better off if everyone who takes part in this "rattlesnake round up" was put up against a wall and shot by a firing squad, with Greg Wortham the first to go. The population of people outnumbers that of rattlesnakes anyway. If the global ecosystem is to stay stable we certainly need less people like the ignorant and violent people who operate and attend this event.

• G wrote on September 17, 2008, 01:20AM : Flag this comment as inappropriate

  What an ugly, unnecessary thing to do. I was recently in Sweetwater and tried to talk a little sense into the locals, but they weren't having it. It's as if they are stuck in some mental dark age, subscribing to these ridiculous rattlesnake myths. I've studied rattlesnakes for over 15 years and haven't been bitten. Maybe it's because I'm not trying to kill the poor things?

• Fred wrote on February 21, 2009, 09:01AM : Flag this comment as inappropriate

  Any of you city-slickers that are making these uneducated comments what you are suggesting? Without the roundup, the snake population would be so prominate that snakes would be everywhere. That means in your yards, in your homes, etc! If any of you want to protect these defenseless critters, just post your mailing address on here and I will gladly ship you a box of 10 or 20 rattlers you can have for pets!! Down here we call it harvesting. Of the thousands of snakes brought in, it only represents about 10% of the whole rattlesnake population in the Sweetwater area(one% of the total area of Texas)

• sarah wrote on May 18, 2009, 06:29PM : Flag this comment as inappropriate

  Can we say stupid people? I would LOVE to read about dog, cat, rabbit, squirrel, bear, shark roundups!! Oh, ya! I guess they are more important? If only you stupid people knew they are using their venom to CURE diseases. So, the people killing them would be the first to complain when they are dying of heart disease or cancer why don't they have a cure? I hope the Dr. says " well, we almost did with venomous snakes , but their all dead, sorry" Oh, ya by the way don't believe them when they say their freezing venom for research, because as soon as its extracted it has to be immediately put in a freezer at 400 degrees below celsius. I don't think coolers get that cold?

• dave wrote on October 16, 2009, 04:16PM : Flag this comment as inappropriate

  Your article claims folks used dynamite in 1810, however dynamite was invented in 1867.

• OnEarth editors wrote on October 20, 2009, 11:27AM : Flag this comment as inappropriate

  Dave, thank you for bringing up that point. It appears that the substance used by the Pennsylvanian hunters in 1810 was some form of gunpowder, not dynamite.