Rattlesnake Roundup | National Geographic

each spring the western diamondback

each spring the western diamondback rattlesnake ends its hibernation and

rattlesnake ends its hibernation and

rattlesnake ends its hibernation and begins the hunt for a mate and in

begins the hunt for a mate and in

begins the hunt for a mate and in Sweetwater Texas the hunt begins for the

Sweetwater Texas the hunt begins for the

Sweetwater Texas the hunt begins for the rattlesnakes it’s the town’s biggest

rattlesnakes it’s the town’s biggest

rattlesnakes it’s the town’s biggest event and probably the world’s largest

event and probably the world’s largest

event and probably the world’s largest rattlesnake roundup Laverne Stephens has

rattlesnake roundup Laverne Stephens has

rattlesnake roundup Laverne Stephens has been rounding up snakes for more than 30

been rounding up snakes for more than 30

been rounding up snakes for more than 30 years you got boots on yeah okay that’s

years you got boots on yeah okay that’s

years you got boots on yeah okay that’s good

good

good just walk easy if you say something

just walk easy if you say something

just walk easy if you say something stand still and don’t make no sudden

stand still and don’t make no sudden

stand still and don’t make no sudden moves all right all right let’s go for

moves all right all right let’s go for

moves all right all right let’s go for him snake hunting isn’t just a tradition

him snake hunting isn’t just a tradition

him snake hunting isn’t just a tradition at five dollars a pound it’s a lucrative

at five dollars a pound it’s a lucrative

at five dollars a pound it’s a lucrative though risky undertaking

in spite of the Diamondbacks reputation

in spite of the Diamondbacks reputation as a dangerous predator they only seem

as a dangerous predator they only seem

as a dangerous predator they only seem to strike when they’re provoked

to strike when they’re provoked

to strike when they’re provoked nevertheless most locals want them

nevertheless most locals want them

nevertheless most locals want them removed every spring nearly 20,000

removed every spring nearly 20,000

removed every spring nearly 20,000 snakes are brought to this local

snakes are brought to this local

snakes are brought to this local Coliseum after the snakes are milked for

Coliseum after the snakes are milked for

Coliseum after the snakes are milked for their venom fair skinned gutted and

their venom fair skinned gutted and

their venom fair skinned gutted and deep-fried for the annual cook-off the

deep-fried for the annual cook-off the

deep-fried for the annual cook-off the snake milkers claim they are collecting

snake milkers claim they are collecting

snake milkers claim they are collecting the venom for anti-venom serum and to

the venom for anti-venom serum and to

the venom for anti-venom serum and to aid scientists seeking a cure for cancer

aid scientists seeking a cure for cancer

aid scientists seeking a cure for cancer and heart disease but others like

and heart disease but others like

and heart disease but others like herpetologist Carl Franklin say the

herpetologist Carl Franklin say the

herpetologist Carl Franklin say the venom collected at the roundups is not

venom collected at the roundups is not

venom collected at the roundups is not collected in a sterile environment and

collected in a sterile environment and

collected in a sterile environment and therefore is worthless I think it’s just

therefore is worthless I think it’s just

therefore is worthless I think it’s just a useless pacifier to give to the masses

a useless pacifier to give to the masses

a useless pacifier to give to the masses to say okay this justifies our killing

to say okay this justifies our killing

to say okay this justifies our killing and treating this animal like it’s some

and treating this animal like it’s some

and treating this animal like it’s some type of of nasty creature but once again

type of of nasty creature but once again

type of of nasty creature but once again they just have to make a buck but most

they just have to make a buck but most

they just have to make a buck but most just want the thrill of coming

just want the thrill of coming

just want the thrill of coming face-to-face with America’s most

face-to-face with America’s most

face-to-face with America’s most impressive pit viper and they ask me if

impressive pit viper and they ask me if

impressive pit viper and they ask me if I’m scared oh yes ma’am I’m scared

I’m scared oh yes ma’am I’m scared

I’m scared oh yes ma’am I’m scared I’ve always been scared oh I respect you

I’ve always been scared oh I respect you

I’ve always been scared oh I respect you if you’re not scared of them

if you’re not scared of them

if you’re not scared of them then you’re gonna get hurt if the

then you’re gonna get hurt if the

then you’re gonna get hurt if the adrenaline pump for you it really gets

adrenaline pump for you it really gets

adrenaline pump for you it really gets that girl I get I’d go home at night and

that girl I get I’d go home at night and

that girl I get I’d go home at night and I’ll go straight over eating all green

I’ll go straight over eating all green

I’ll go straight over eating all green tonight

while their numbers are still abundant

while their numbers are still abundant many fear that if the round ups continue

many fear that if the round ups continue

many fear that if the round ups continue the western diamondback rattlesnake may

the western diamondback rattlesnake may

the western diamondback rattlesnake may end up on the endangered species list