Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Texas proposal would ban gassing of rattlers, aims to protect endangered species

Using gasoline fumes to force rattlesnakes from their dens will be banned if a state wildlife proposal is implemented. Officials with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said the pumping of fumes to force out rattlers also threatens 20 species of endangered animals that live underground. The department will hold six public hearings on the proposal in January in cities across the state, including Sweetwater, where rattlers are rounded up annually in a charity event attended by tens of thousands, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Sweetwater Jaycee member David Sager told the newspaper that a ban would kill the "World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup," which brings millions in economic benefits to the town each March. But Tim Cole, the owner of a business called Austin Reptile Service, called the practice "animal cruelty." John Davis, the department's wildlife program diversity director, said the gassing of snake dens isn't common. A survey sent to 868 Texans who have permits to collect "nongame" species in the state yielded 97 responses and of those only six said they used gas fumes. Gassing, when done properly, sends a fine mist of gasoline into snake dens, which makes it hard for the reptiles to breathe and prompts them to slither outside...more

1 comment:

Tick said...

The "more" link here takes me to wolf hunting.