Rattlesnake Love Letters

Are you curious about why you got a letter from a child about the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup? Kids represent our future, and they are concerned. They want us all to celebrate wildlife instead of killing them.

Please read on!

Rattlesnakes are essential parts of their ecosystems

Watch these 1-minute videos to learn why:

Rattlesnakes help people by playing important roles in the ecosystem.
Rattlesnakes have social lives, where moms care for babies.

Human intervention is not needed to regulate rattlesnake populations

  • There is no reason to believe that the numbers of rattlesnakes need to be reduced, nor is there any evidence that rattlesnake roundups benefit fish, other wildlife, or the ecosystem.
  • Rattlesnake populations are maintained by native predators, prey abundance, and disease.

Stop the slaughter, not the roundup

  • We understand that the Sweetwater Jaycees Rattlesnake Roundup is an important part of your community, both economically and culturally, and we under no circumstances advocate for the event to be abolished. Instead, we merely hope that the killing of rattlesnakes at the event stops. 
  • Many other rattlesnake roundups have switched to no-kill festivals that still bring in lots of people. For example, the Whigham, Georgia festival and the Claxton, Georgia festival have switched to successful no-kill festivals that draw bigger crowds and more money for their communities.
  • We look forward to the day where the Sweetwater Jaycees Rattlesnake Roundup is an event that celebrates nature and people across the country love, appreciate, and support.

Do you agree that wildlife shouldn’t be treated this way?

Here are 3 easy actions you can take:

Want to learn more?

  • Click here to read about how Okefenokee Joe taught kids about rattlesnakes.
  • Click here to get the facts about rattlesnake roundups.
  • Click here to read statements from experts about rattlesnake roundups.
  • Click here to learn more about the controversy surrounding rattlesnake roundups.
  • Download our printable factsheet on rattlesnake roundups.

You can help us stop the slaughter of rattlesnakes.

We would love to hear from you!

Feel free to contact us with any questions or comments using this form:

The Secret Lives of Snakes

Rattlesnakes have friends.
Even fights are non-violent and rarely result in injury.
Male rattlesnakes may court females for days or weeks.
Rattlesnakes give birth to live babies and take care of their kids.

See more on our YouTube channel.