A rite—or, to critics, a wrong—of spring in Oklahoma
The hunt is part of the Mangum Rattlesnake Derby, held on the last weekend in April. Some 30,000 people visit the town, which is normally home to only 2,800. In a snake-pit tent wranglers perform among the rattlers. At a butchery show snakes are killed and skinned in a gory display. Their meat is fried and served up at a café. Hunters can sell their catch for $10 a pound, and win a prize for the longest snake, overseen by a newly crowned Miss Derby Princess.
The first organised roundup took place in Okeene, Oklahoma, in 1939. Ranch owners banded together to stop the reptiles from harming cattle and people. The events spread to other states. They have drawn the ire of herpetologists and others, who say they are cruel. Sweetwater in Texas is home to the largest roundup, held every March. It has been especially controversial because hunters use petrol to chase snakes out of their dens. Such “gassing” can be harmful to other wildlife, including some endangered species, and to groundwater. Efforts to ban it have failed.
Opponents have had more success in Georgia, where declining numbers of eastern diamondback rattlesnakes encouraged greater co-operation from organisers. In 2001 Fitzgerald’s roundup was transformed into a wild-chicken festival. Claxton’s became a wildlife festival in 2012. And last year Whigham’s became a no-kill and no-catch affair. But in Oklahoma, where the western diamondback is more abundant, locals see no reason to stop their roundups.
This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline"Snake, rattle and roil"
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A world away from Kentucky Derby glory, Secretariat's forgotten daughter found a bright futureFifty years ago on Friday, Secretariat set the Ketucky Derby record. Only two of his 663 direct progeny are still alive. One of them is happily munching on some hay at a charity for rescued horses, because she had nowhere else to go. ✍️ DanaONeilWriter
Read more »
'Practical Move' scratched from Kentucky Derby due to elevated temperatureKentucky Derby entrant Practical Move has scratched from the race, two days prior to the event, his trainer Tim Yakteen announced. The horse was removed from competition because of an elevated temperature.
Read more »
Derby van crash deaths driver has sentence increasedDarren Burton was speeding and under the influence of drink and drugs when he lost control.
Read more »
Four horses euthanized at Churchill Downs in last week, Kentucky Derby to be held SaturdayFour horses, including Kentucky Derby entrant Wild on Ice, have died in the last week. Churchill Downs released a statement about the deaths, calling them “completely unacceptable.”
Read more »
Kentucky Derby Contender Co-Owned by Connecticut BusinessmanOne of the biggest spectacles in all of sports is happening Saturday. It’s the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby and one West Hartford businessman hopes to be the winning owner, or at least one of them. Mike Gualtieri is a minority owner of the horse, Confidence Game. It is one of the 20 horses this weekend that will be running…
Read more »
Ian Morley: Police name man found dead in Derby flatIan Morley, 47, was found at his home address in Derby on Monday afternoon.
Read more »