Wrong Impression

“A professional snake handler was bitten by one of his own rattlesnakes while performing a stunt Tuesday night at a downtown Fort Worth hotel,” reported the Dallas-Fort Worth NBC station on February 28, 2012.

According to the news report, Jackie Bibby (who is known as the “Texas Snake Man” and who stars on Animal Planet’s “Rattlesnake Republic”) was performing at a safety conference, bundling together rattlesnakes to stuff their tails into his mouth, when one of the snakes bit him on the hand. Evidently Bibby holds the world’s record for this astounding, idiotic feat.

Safety?

But what does this showmanship have to do with safety?

When presenting snake programs to school children, we emphasize not picking up snakes, not trying to injure or kill them, and basically leaving them alone. They have an important job to do, and few if any snakes are out to attack anyone who allows them space to go about their business.

On the other hand, “Animal Planet” seems to glorify in stunts to prove manhood rather than careful management of an important species. “Jackie Bibby, the ‘Texas Snake Man,’” according to American Profile, September 6, 2008, “broke his own record last November by spending about 45 minutes in a bathtub with 87 rattlesnakes in Dublin (pop. 3,754). Bibby, of Fort Worth, has other world snake records, including holding 11 rattlesnakes by their tails in his mouth, and sacking 10 rattlesnakes in 17 seconds at the National Rattlesnake Sacking Championship in Taylor (pop. 13,575).”

Wrong Impression

Stunts like this and shows such as “Rattlesnake Republic” give the wrong impression of our relationship with this misunderstood species that has no interest in biting us if we leave it alone. So when the school children head home after experiencing our presentation, flip on the TV, and watch an “educational” program, they are likely impressed by the “brave” snake wrestlers promoted in such a show. And the next time they encounter a rattlesnake or other snake, the visuals from this program are probably going to influence their actions more than our calm handling of a captive bullsnake in their classroom or our suggestion to stand at a safe distance and merely observe the animal when encountered in the wild.

[box type=”alert” border=”full”]Most people who are bitten by snakes are either trying to harm or to kill the snake.[/box]

An ad for Animal Planet’s program states, “In the heart of Texas is a little-known world where men hunt and capture the continent’s most dangerous predator.”

Most Dangerous Predator

This most dangerous predator, however, is not the rattlesnake as they suggest (unless you’re a rodent), but the self-proclaimed “wranglers” who drag a snake from its hunting ground and sell it for trinkets that might amuse some, thus removing a valuable piece of a delicate ecosystem that preys on mice that can carry a highly fatal disease.

The results from this exhibition can have a tremendous influence on children. Instead of teaching them to watch where they put their hands and feet, to avoid approaching too close to the snake, and to keep from trying to harm the animal, they are enticed to mimic the actions of someone claiming to be a “rare breed of cowboy who would never think to back down from a good old-fashioned rattlesnake fight.”

As a child, Chuck became interested in reptiles. “If I’d seen a program like that when I was a kid,” he says, “I likely would have imitated them and probably wouldn’t be here today because I more than likely would have been fatally bitten!”

Bitten Again

Recently, Jack Bibby, while performing a private show for a corporate event, was again bitten by one of his rattlesnakes. This time, according to Hood Country News, September 19, 2012, his lower leg was amputated below the knee in response to the bite.

How many will lose limb or life when replicating these stunts they’ve read about or seen in this mindless show with its macho morons?

2 thoughts on “Wrong Impression”

  1. Great response. I just wish your comments had a bigger audience. But if just one wrong headed person learns from it, it is surely worthwhile.

    Reply

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