Claxton, GA Rattlesnake Roundup - progress?

[BWSmith]

I just got back from Claxton, GA yesterday. Someone called me that they had a couple EDBs that they were going to save for the Roundup, but I could come get them if I wanted them. Naturally i did. Better me try to keep WC Diamondbacks alive, than doom them to certain death. It turns out that the guys are actually the coordinators for the Roundup. I held my tongue and talked to them in a civil manner. They told me that they are trying to work the "roundup" part of the Roundup out of it. If you get my drift. I spoke with them about alternatives and options for stopping the slaughter. They are in aggreement. So far, so good. But htey are not willing to get rid of the main attraction, rattlers. And they have noone to do presentations if the roundup part stops. Additionally, the guy that buys all of the snakes will be losing money. Now i am a realist, not an idealist. Idealy, we could just shut it down. Realisticly, it is not that easy. We are going to get together with all of the coordinators and the buyer to work out an arrangement to end the slaughter. I feel privilaged that they are willing to involve in this. Perhaps from the inside I can produce some real results. We have spoken about me and perhaps other hot keepers presenting educational programs next year. I have mixed feelings about this. It would give me the opportunity to rescue some snakes (as i would be doing it under that exact guidline), but many will still be killed. I do feel that it is a good first step and I will wait to see what those involved has to say. Perhaps we can solve the problem by the next roundup. Although that might not be feasible. The gentlemen that I talked to were very nice and seemed to be upstanding men very open to alternatives and eager to start the process. By the same token, I feel as though I am straddling both sides of a barbed wire fence! I will have more information soon when we are able to set a meeting. Sometimes you have to shake hands with the devil to make him drop his pitchfork. As I said, I have very mixed emotions about it. But if nothing else, i should be able to get deeper into the Roundup community and learn alot than probably any of has been able to do. One way or another, I hope that this will start some much overdue changes.

[addsig]

	Wild caught wild caught

	Eastern Diamondback Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

UGH.. I can see where your coming from on the whole thing here. First off I have a question though... [ keeping in mind that I am like clueless just about when it comes to vens lmao] I do know that it is illegal to keep, and I would imagine harm indigenous snakes to your local of Ga withing that state. IS the EDB an indigenous snake to your state of GA ? IF it is.. How are they allowed to get around such laws then..or do they not apply to round-ups ?

As for getting your foot in the door. I say go for it... Sometimes we gotta do something that will "pull at your mind a bit " and may seem like we are going against our own grain.... BUT in the long run doing such could make the difference in whether we achieve our ultimate goal we are working on in relation to such.
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[eddie]

I see it as a chance to teach the organizers about farming for the biggest part of their product.
I also have said for a long time, thjat in order to save some species, put them on a menu and some one will farm raise them just for that.
Looks like ya need to teach them about how to raise and breed so they can get their farms (hopefully) producing so the wild caught demand from round-ups will drop off in a few years.

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[BWSmith]

Actually in GA, it is only native nonvenomous species that are protected. Native GA venomous are not protected. This is why the roundup can do it, and on the other side of the coin, why I can keep them without a permit.
[addsig]

OH YEAH ! That's right ! I had forgotten that you guys can't keep a cornsnake that's indigenous BUt ya can keep a hot that is... GO FIGURE ???
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[JuliusSqueezer]

Georgia law makers have screwy agendas. Most of em don't even go in to vote on anything...they are just there to enjoy the slush funds and free trips.
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