Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup Held Each Year to Control Rattlesnake Population
Posted on March 13, 2011
If you are a rattlesnake the annual Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup is something to avoid at all costs. Many humans may want to avoid it as well. Each year rattlesnake wranglers in Sweetwater, Texas gather up as many western diamondback rattlesnakes as they can. The rattlesnake gathering is an attempt to try and control the population of the snakes, which can bite people and livestock.
The website for the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup admits the annual event is controversial. The site says rattlesnakes are skinned in front of the visitors, but they are "executed away from public eyes" before being skinned. Friend snake is served at the event and many rattlesnake products, such as rattlesnake balls, are sold.
2011's Miss Snake Charmer Laney Wallace told CNN, "Tomorrow I get to skin snakes and chop their heads off and I'm super excited about it." Take a look:
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