Rattlesnake Roundups Should Be Banned: Change My Mind

In my opinion, rattlesnake roundups should be changed severely, or else banned entirely. The reasons I am not totally for banning them is because they do have positive economic effects. Also, when the roundup is just catch-and-release, it makes sense and seems fine. However, when talking about the traditional event of rounding up rattlesnakes in the hundreds or thousands, and killing them in a public display as a "family-friendly" event, things need to change. First, let's talk about rattlesnakes. These are a widely famous and feared pit-viper. Now, the whole point of the round-up is to extirpate(wipe out a species in a local area) rattlesnakes of the area because they are dangerous. Yes, it is true that rattlesnake venom is dangerous, and around 7-8,000 people are bitten by them a year. However, very few die thanks to living in a century of great technology and anti-venom being produced. Next, rattlesnakes are not aggressive animals. They are not out to get you! The reason they have a rattle is to warn predators that they will bite if approached. They see you as a predator. They would rather save their venom for food they need to eat than waste it on you. In fact, rattlesnakes may even get what are called dry-bites, which is where a rattlesnake has given a bite without venom to serve as a warning. When someone gets bitten and injected with venom by a rattlesnake, it's a mutual loss. The reason people get bit is either if they accidentally step on it, or attempt to catch or kill it. Rattlesnakes, along with other snake species, are also beneficial, as they keep down rodent populations. Rodents like rats and mice breed in the masses, and although not directly dangerous, can spread dangerous illnesses, and rodents like rabbits, moles, and voles can destroy crops and gardens. Despite being seemingly threatening, rattlesnakes are actually helpful. Now, some people defend the roundups as keeping the populations down. However, most rattlesnake populations are stable, with none overpopulating, and some are actually endangered. The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is currently close to becoming an endangered species, but guess what, is targeted in many rattlesnake roundups. Next is the roundup itself. Competitions are set for whoever can catch the most snakes. The process of rounding them up is unnecessarily harmful to the environment, with gasoline being poured down holes to drive them out of their dens. After hundreds or thousands are gathered, the event occurs. Snakes' mouths are stitched up to prevent them from biting. Children are brought in as well as adults to partake in this festival of fun. The snakes are then killed, skinned and gutted. Now, you may argue that the snakes are used for food. That is true. It is good that they are not wasted. However, these roundups occur in southern states, and no offense to southerners, but they don't exactly look like they are running low on food. The skin is also not necessary to use, but at least the snakes are not just being dumped away. The most disturbing part, though, is that children use the snake's blood to make handprints! In short, the threat of rattlesnakes is completely exaggerated, and it is just wrong to round up and publicly kill thousands of animals just because they are capable of defending themselves, and sometimes people make the mistake of forcing these animals to do so.