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The Alamogordo Rattlesnake Roundup
Photo Gallery.
Photos taken from
2003 Rattlesnake Roundup Eyewitness Report
(click
on photos for full size image)
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The
Alamogordo Rattlesnake Roundup has taken place annually since 1986.
About 2000 people attend this event each year, which coincides with
a gun and craft show. The organizers of this event profit from the
exploitation of our wildlife.
Between 500-1000 snakes are gathered each year for the roundup.3
Although 11 species of rattlesnakes are found in New Mexico, most
of those collected are western diamondbacks. The hunting of this
species for any commercial purpose, including the roundup, is virtually
unregulated by state or federal wildlife agencies. Because of this,
the impact of hunting on snake populations is unknown. However,
many biologists are concerned that if unregulated hunting continues,
rattlesnake populations will suffer.
The treatment of snakes in Alamogordo is no different from most
roundups. Fitzgerald and Painter have observed snakes being harassed
into defensive coils, kicked across the floor, grabbed, made to
strike, and used for tricks.4 During the 2003 and
2004 roundups, APNM witnessed the continuous, intentional dropping
of snakes. At one point, a snake handler allowed a spectator to
hold a coiled rattlesnake. This was dangerous, considering snake
handlers have been bitten in Alamogordo in 1989, 1993, 2001 and
2003. Such acts also demonstrate a flagrant disregard for properly
educating the public about rattlesnakes.
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The main cause of injury to rattlesnakes
in Alamo-gordo is actually due to improper housing and transportation
prior to the event. According to the Humane Society of the United
States, it is not uncommon for snakes to be kept for long periods
of time in trashcans, boxes, and other inappropriate enclosures
without access to food and water.5
Some rattlesnakes are actually slaught-ered during the roundup so
their meat can be cooked and sold to the public. The butchering
facility is a converted maintenance garage. According to observations
made by Painter, some dead snakes are neglected for unknown periods
of time before being processed; it is also quite possible that rattlesnake
meat contaminated with gasoline (used sometimes to flush snakes
from their dens) is sold to the public at these events.6
In addition, snakes harbor various forms of salmonella and parasites,
some of which can be passed on to humans if meat is prepared improperly.
The organizers and supporters of the roundup say the event should
not be cancelled because, they claim, it is economically beneficial
to snake hunters and brings tourism money to Alamogordo. However,
only between 3 and 12 hunters sell snakes at the roundup, most of
whom barely break even after travel costs.7 In
addition, if the roundup is cancelled, the gun and craft shows could
still exist to bring tourists to Alamogordo.
-> Next page: What
you can do
Also see,
2003 Rattlesnake Roundup Eyewitness Report
Download Rattlesnake
Roundup Report in PDF (right click to download
to disk)
3)
APNM's estimate. Actual numbers vary slightly with year and information
source. 4) See supra note 1. 5)
The Humane Society of the United States. 1999. Rattlesnake roundups:
A modern case of unregulated exploitation of wildlife. Published
by HSUS. 59 pp. 6)See supra note 1. 7)Personal
communication, Charlie Painter
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