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Schedule
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The Rattlesnake Round-Up focuses on the Western Diamondback, or Texas Diamondback Rattlesnake. Here are some facts about this venomous snake!- Scientific name: Crotalus Atrox
- Range: Central and Western Texas, through Southern New Mexico, Arizona, and into Southern California.
- Habitat: Dry, rocky, shrub covered terrain where they can conceal themselves.
- Status: Aggressive and easily excitable. Notorious for its
fatal bite!
- Diet in the wild: Rabbit, mice, rats, gophers, sparrows, and ground squirrels.
- Diet in the zoo: Rats, mice, and rabbits.
- Largest rattlesnake in North America.
- Triangular shaped head.
- The coloration can vary from gray, brown, pink, or yellow, with light brown to blackish diamond shaped blotches, which face towards the tail.
- The tail has black, white, or light gray with rings around it.
- There is a lightly colored stripe from the corner of the mouth to behind the eyes.
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Rattlesnake Recipes
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Community Calendar
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The 50th Annual Rattlesnake Round-UpRattlesnake Roundup Parade
Thursday, March 6, 2008 @7:00pm CST
Reported by: News Desk
The 50th Annual Rattlesnake Roundup Parade went on as scheduled through Sweetwater despite cold temperatures and some snow on the ground. KRBC's Kyna Grigsby and Darcy Deupree hosted the live event.
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Rattlesnakes are a group of approximately fifty species of venomous snakes, known as pit vipers. Their bite can be deadly, and these snakes are generally avoided. But in Sweetwater Texas, the 50th year of the Rattlesnake Round-Up is underway...
The world's largest Rattlesnake Round-Up runs through Saturday, March 8th. This year's event will kicked off with the Rattlesnake Review Parade through downtown Sweetwater. Then that evening, the Miss Snake Charmer Pageant will be held in the Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium at 7:00 p.m.
The doors will open at 8:00 a.m. Friday March 07, 2008 for the 50th annual World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up with snakes being weighed in at 7:00 a.m. that morning at the Nolan County Coliseum. Catch one of our snake handling demonstrations while you are here and don't forget to try some deep-fried Western Diamondback Rattlesnake meat.
As per tradition, the Rattlesnake Round-Up is held annually on the 2nd weekend in March at the Nolan County Coliseum. This project was originally conceived by a group of area farmers and ranchers as an attempt to rid the abundance of Rattlers that were plaguing them and their livestock. The event has grown over the past 50 years to the "WORLD'S LARGEST RATTLESNAKE ROUND-UP"
This unique event has drawn the attention of National Press, ESPN, National Geographic Explorer, and 30,000 visitors annually from all 50 states, North and South America, Europe and Asia.
Since 1974, proceeds from this event have benefited the Sunshine Inn for the mentally handicapped, The Boy and Girl Scouts, youth programs and activities, Special Olympics, Tri-County Children's Advocacy Center, The American Red Cross, MHMR client Christmas party, Labor Day Rest Stop, trash pick-up, Thanksgiving Day feast for the homeless, scholarships, rodeos and livestock shows and many more. In addition, the local non-profit club makes donations to other organizations throughout the year.
This event is also important to Sweetwater and the surrounding communities because of all the revenue brought in from out-of-town visitors.
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Rattlesnake Round-Up CoverageIs the Rattlesnake Round-Up Inhumane?Since the beginning of the Rattlesnake Round-Up, some say that it is inhumane and bad for the environment ...
Rattlesnake Round-Up Helps Boost Economy 
Is the Rattlesnake Round-Up Inhumane? History of the Rattlesnake Round Up -
Rattlesnake Round-Up PhotosRattesnake ParadeCelebrating 50 Years......
Rattlesnake Round-Up Parade Picture Rattesnake Parade -
Share Your Snakes!
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Event HighlightsSo what do you do at a Rattlesnake Round-Up? Here's a look at a few of the events that you'll see this year:
The Rattlesnake Review Parade
Each year the Round-up is officially kicked off on Thursday afternoon with the Rattlesnake Review Parade. The parade runs a 30-minute route through downtown Sweetwater as spectators from all over the world as well as our local community watch as it passes.
The parade features local middle school and high school marching bands, snakecharmer contestants, an assortment of floats ranging from local businesses, church groups, youth groups and other nonprofit organizations, antique cars, hot rods, classic cars, race cars, horses, law enforcement, fire and medical emergency vehicles, motorcycles and much more.Miss Snake Charmer Scholarship Pageant
The Miss Snake Charmer contest is held on Thursday evening in the Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium, former venue for such notable celebrities as Fred Astaire, Lawrence Welk, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley.Guided Snake Hunt
Registration for guided snake hunts will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Hunters Registration table located at the Round-Up. Registration fee is $60.
As a requirement, experienced snake hunters guide groups of registered hunters out daily and assist in the hunting and handing of the live rattlesnakes. Guided hunts usually leave the coliseum between 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and last from four hours to all day.Those wishing to participate in the guided hunts will need the following items:
- Container to hold live rattlesnakes - Sweetwater Jaycees normally use Rubbermaid™ trashcans, you may use the same or any other type of container you feel safe using.
- Hand Mirror
- High top boots - Jaycees usually wear snake boots which are knee high, other people wear regular boots and chaps.
- Snake bite kit
- Snake hooks or Tongs
Hunters have the option to give their snake(s) or sell them to the Sweetwater Jaycees.
Hunters must have a dealer’s non-game permit ( Resident-548 or Non Resident-550) to sell non-game wildlife to anyone and provide a current hunter's log
Hunters must have a valid Texas hunting license ( Resident or Non Resident 5 day special)
These permits may be purchased at any of the 2,000 locations statewide where licenses are sold.Licenses are available 24 hours a day by calling 1-800-895-4248, menu 2, with approved VISA or MasterCard.
All guided hunts are subject to Texas Hunting Laws.( Game Wardens will be present )
NO FIREARMS ALLOWEDGuided Bus Tours
Guided bus tours are available daily for individuals who wish to view, film or photograph live rattlesnakes in their natural habitat. Buses leave throughout the day.The Rattlesnake Round-Up Cook-off
This event is a sanctioned one day cook-off held Saturday of the Round-up weekend, the annual Sweetwater Jaycee COOK-OFF attracts hundreds of cooks and thousands of spectators anxious to taste and determine the best cookers in the categories of WTBA/IBCA Brisket, Ribs, Chicken, beans, and CASI Rules Chili. All are competing to be crowned as the Worlds Champion Rattlesnake Meat Cooker!
$1,000.00 cash prizes for the Overall category based on brisket, ribs, chicken, and rattlesnake!
The cook-off is held adjacent to the World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up displays in Newman Park, a 25 acre city park traversed with creeks, filled with trees, camping tables annd pavilions that provide an ideal setting for food, fun, and fellowship. Free admission to the public. Chili competition is sanctioned by CASI and BAR B Q sanctioned by WTBA.Souvenirs and Curios
The Coliseum floor, along with other areas at Newman Park, are filled with crafts, curios, rattlesnake products, and much more. The Sweetwater Rifle & Pistol Club also sponsor a Gun & Coin show in the Coliseum annex. There are several Flea Markets in the park area with over 850 booths available.Rattlesnake Dance
Rattlesnake dances are held on Friday and Saturday nights and are sponsored by the Sweetwater Jaycees. Tickets may be purchased on dance night at the venue ticket booth.
• Friday Night - Rock-N-Roll
• Saturday Night - Country
Dances are located at the Jaycees Barn (307 West 4th) at 8:00pm. General Admission is $15 per person, $25 per couple. There will be a cooler charge.
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Field Safety Tips
