For Immediate Release, January 23, 2014
Contact: Collette Adkins Giese, Center for Biological Diversity, (651) 955-3821
Jim Ries, One More Generation, (877) 664-8426
Bill Matturro, Protect All Living Species, (229) 872-3553
For Second Year in Row, Tens of Thousands Ask Last Remaining Georgia "Rattlesnake Roundup" to
Switch to Humane Wildlife Festival
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake photo
courtesy Wikimedia
Commons/Ted Arensmeier. Photos of
the 2012 Whigham rattlesnake roundup are
available for media use.
ATLANTA— As the town of Whigham, Ga., prepares to host its annual “rattlesnake roundup” this weekend, the Center for Biological Diversity and its allies presented a petition with more than 50,000 signatures to the Whigham Community Club today asking that the state’s last roundup transition to a wildlife-friendly festival where no snakes are killed. The petition marks the second year in a row that tens of thousands of people have asked organizers to end the cruel and lethal contest, in which hunters compete for prizes by capturing rareeastern diamondback rattlesnakes. The snakes are displayed and then sold for their meat and skins.
All the state’s other roundups have abandoned the outdated practice of removing rare rattlers from the wild. Two years ago Claxton, Ga., replaced its roundup with the Claxton Rattlesnake and Wildlife Festival, featuring displays of captive rattlesnakes, along with many other educational wildlife exhibits. The new wildlife festival in Claxton received a boost in attendance and high praise from environmental groups, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, biologists and others who have lobbied for years to end rattlesnake roundups.
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