Petition with Signatures from Over 55,000 Concerned Citizens, Who Call Upon You to Change Your Event to a Wildlife Festival Where No Snakes Are Killed
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Via E-mail and U.S. Mail March 21, 2013 Mayor John E. Bartholomew City of Opp P.O. Box 610 Opp, AL 36467 [email protected] Re: Hosting a Wildlife-friendly Festival Instead of the Rattlesnake Rodeo Dear Sir: I am writing on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity to urge the City of Opp, the sponsor of the annual rattlesnake rodeo in Opp, Alabama, to stop incentivizing the capture and killing of rare rattlesnakes at your annual event. I have enclosed a petition with signatures from over 55,000 concerned citizens, who call upon you to change your event to a wildlife festival where no snakes are killed. Last year, the Evans County Wildlife Club in Clayton, Georgia replaced its rattlesnake roundup with a wildlife festival that does not involve the killing of snakes. Rattlesnakes are still a focus of the festival, but their display is now for educational, safety, and conservation purposes only. The wildlife festival has been a huge success and generated revenue for the local community without harming snakes. We encourage you to follow the example set by the Evans County Wildlife Club. Please know that rattlesnake roundups are depleting populations of eastern diamondback rattlesnakes: Analysis of data from four roundups in the southeastern United States shows a steady decline in the weights of prize-winning eastern diamondbacks and the number collected. This once-common species is being pushed toward extinction not only by hunting pressure but also by habitat loss and road mortality. Scientific studies over the past decade have documented range-wide population declines and significant range contractions, which is why we filed a 2011 petition to protect the eastern diamondback rattlesnake under the Endangered Species Act. In response, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that this snake may deserve a place on the nation’s list of endangered and threatened species and has launched a full status review of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake. We hope that this year’s rattlesnake rodeo in Opp will be the last ever that kills snakes. Sincerely, Collette L. Adkins Giese Amphibian and Reptile Staff Attorney Center for Biological Diversity Change Rattlesnake Roundups to Humane Festivals March 21, 2013 We, the undersigned, are writing to urge you to change the rattlesnake roundup held in your community to a humane festival where snakes are not hunted or killed. Towns such as San Antonio, Florida and Fitzgerald, Georgia have already changed their roundups to successful wildlife festivals that generate income for their communities. We urge you to follow their example and change your roundup to an event where snakes are not collected or slaughtered. Ben Cody, WA Gene Herskovics, NY Fabienne Oubrayrie, OT Tldd Autry, OK Andrea Mantz, NV Bonnie Epstein, PA Tierra Curry, OR Stephen Weitz, CA Dave Cohrs, TX Yvonne Stinson, GA Jessica File, MO Tressa Glassman, IL Collette Giese, MN Gerrit Crouse, NY William Farr, TX Lisa Onofrio, NY Jennifer Lynch, CO Natasha Brenner, NY Sandra Sallee, GA Melanie Mahoney Stopyra, NY Jim Ries, GA Sherrill Atherton, OR Richard Search, FL Joan Jacobs, AZ Caly Murphy, FL Deborah Spencer, MA Paul Watkins, TX Rebecca Gibson, CO Borden Beck, OR Andrea Maki, WA Sandy Beck, FL Diane Cornwall, CA Jean Merritt, PA Penelope Cooper-Kelley, CA Sandy Beck, FL Kristopher Deapen, AZ Skip Lazelle, MS Paola Medina, PR Linda Mceachron-Taylor, AZ Dh Higgins, CA Meredith Hartwell, AZ Christina Velasquez, CA Patricia Nickles, CA Patricia Pridmore, AL Roberto Penaherrera, NJ Kimberly Rowlett, TN Elena Ennouri, CA Devon Watson, CO Raelyn Michaelson, WA Bev Jacobs, VA Peter Mueller, CA Scott Hart, CA George Haddad, MA Thomas Bejgrowicz, PA Kelsey Lechner, IN Sharon Gillespie, TX Brett Tucker, AZ Raymond Nuesch, DC Amy Elston, IL Michael Lawrence, PA Irene Tremper, MD Therese Singleton, CA Shannon Knight, SC Elizabeth Hasbun, OT Joan Davanzo, VA Joan Giles, NJ Paula Shevick, IN Mil Hak, IL Annemarie Prairie, CO Robert Drop, OT Todd Bartolomeo, IL Marsak Sharon, CO Brenda Haig, CA Claudia Todd, FL Tim Young, CA Rhenda Price, IL Gianfranco Frelli, OT Shelly Jones, NJ Theodore Johns, CT Lisa Jacobson, FL Kathy Mclean, CT Molinda Parker, OK Peggy Fugate, OH Amanda Cook, UT Charley Wittman, PA Annie Belt, CA Matthew Combs, IN Sharon Lebon, PA Theresa Digiannantoni, OH Robert Fritsch, ME Linda Mazzone, NJ Carmel Severson, FL Catherine O'Reilly, FL Chicago Picchetti, IL Lila Renteria, CO Emily Brown, NE Robin Schwarz, MA Kenneth Robertson, MO Beth Dierks, NJ Philip and Barbara Burghardt, NJ Shawn Wright, WV Cheryl Lechtanski, NJ Steven Barrett, CA Pamela Green, MI Susanne Ekberg, AL Reita Newkirk, NM Florence Jozon, OT Mike Anuszewski, NJ Nickolas Gutierrez, FL Harriet Hutchinson, MA Lee Arnold, PA Lisa Gray, PA Pam Waugh-Wagoner, TX James Sidell, IN Jenny Boulton, OR Dostana Ljusic, NY Irena Franchi, FL Deborah Sullivan, CT Robin Dolbear, NY Areil Larsen, CA Tiffany Mills, VA Dale Patterson, MI Lloyd Haig, FL William Gray, CO Alison Merkel, CA Sarah Keyishian, NJ Natividad P., OT Jamie Conrad, CA Sharley De Freitas, ON Sarah Johnson, NY Rob Milburn, IL Sarah Johnson, NY Colleen Burke, IL Sharon Mulgrew, CA Loralee Clark, VA Raymond Nash, MD Francois De La Giroday, CA Cindy Mclaughlin, FL Charles Arnold, NH Nancy Schuhrke, AZ Nicolette Ludolphi, AE Gertruida Wessels, OT Jennifer Eisnaugle, CO Dave Chase, CA Susan Curtis, CA Jodi Wick, MD Elaine Saldivar, CA Daniel Belachew, MA Cathi Basler, CO Kathie Mudge, AZ Richard Blain, CA William Lee Kohler, OR Jamie Hoerter, OR Nancy Moore, NC Nanette Oggiono, MA Cheryl Jennings, IL Roberta Vandehey, OR Ewa Kuczenska, OT Natalie Kovacs, CA Tolga Suslu, OT Janna Piper, OR Chiara Testi, OT Ana Aranguren, OT Paula Grande, NY Evan Roman, CA Elisabeth Bechmann, ME John and Martha Stoltenberg, WI Aryeh Frankfurter, CA Melanie Fox, TX James Allen, CA Jovita Prinz, AL Jill Shell, NJ Colin Cook, OT Rick Knowles, MO Pietro Fornara, OT K Seddon, NY Ricardo Carrera, OT Victoria De Goff and Family, CA Philippe Raway, OT Kirsten Strobridge, CO Branca Plantier, OT Richard Sherman and Family, CA Karina R., GA Marie Boschen, OT Lesley Jorgensen, NM Edith Ogella, CA Lisa Hamilton, TX Catherine Nelson, NY Frank X. Kleshinski, PA Luise Boschen, OT Michael Haskell, ME Bodhi Kohler, OT Anne Marie Chandezon, OT Erin S Allen, CO Iwona Janeczko, OT Agnã¨s Jean, OT Elvira Malina, OT S.S. Shaw, TX Bjoern Mannsfeld, CO Abigail Bates, CA C Huber, FL Iris Chynoweth, CA Scott Burger, VA Luiz Eduardo Piã¡ De Andrade, OT Judith Vincent, OR Tracy Thessing, CO Brandon Greaves, NE Sara Taylor, NH Ruth Serra, FL Debbie Neimark, IL Heidi Blechar, CT Nathan Schaefer, NH Georgina Reyes, FL Patricia Stunkel, IN Nicole Atteberry, FL Thomas Bragg, MD Dan Sandman, OH Joshua Sloan, MD Gloria Trinka, FL Nancy Tucker, FL Heather Ehrlich, PA Sybille Castro, AK Wilma.Com Sheridan, OH Michael Kunkel, CO Coral Lochridge, CA Carlo Zucchi, OT Rocio Luparello, MD Ann Walklet, OT Tenaya Egbert, MN Jennifer Willett, WI The Ungers, PA Diego Rossi, OT Lynn Thayer, CA Gerrilynne Blattner, OH Sibylle Amala Kohler, OT Donna Zappacosta, ON Charlotte Fremaux, MD Judith Lamb, OH Cath Campbell, PA Lisa Niebur, MO Katherine Leahy, CA Florentina Burlacu, OT Nita Smith, OT Diana Higgins, OT Vincenza Euripides, NJ Silvana Borrelli, PA Angelica Thrasher, AZ Amy Devido, AB Sandi Johnson, TX Dianne Robertson, MN David Futch, CA Barb Collier, AB Stephanie Brake, NY Michael Whitesell, OH Elizabeth Dealmeida, MA Patricia Coffey, WA Keith Kleber, AZ Savannah Trantham, NC Sheila Watts, DC Kai Bernstein, CO Jutta Philipps, OT Ashley Swanson, GA Christy Strand, CA Kelley Scanlon, NY Judith Bryja, TX Melissa Harris, TN Barbara West, MA Mindy Eckhardt, CO Donna Zeidel, AZ A Delgado Fenoy, ME Jim Chyle, ND William Strathmann, ME Celeste Mcspadden, CA Stephanie Swift, HI Ingrid James, BC Dennis Ferraro, NE Moran Bluestein, PA Tiffany Thomas, AZ Karren Jasmund, MI Kirsten Wert, PA Laura Krause, FL Michael Janssen, IL Herbert Harris, MD Matthew Nasser, CA Jenny Bramlette, FL Bev Smith, CA Billi Hanlon, CA David Bohn, HI Adam Sperry, CA Sandy Levine, CA Joan Milford, TX Julia Tawyea, PA J Chu, WA Vicki L. (Nitowski) Craig, PA Susanna Sorin, CA Julie Spry, GA Michele Mercer, AZ Jeff Hopkins, IL Richard T. Bryant, NM Stephen Myers, CA Judith Sartor, CA Victoria Green, WA Charlotte Vardan, CA Judy Acas, IL Michael Lawler, CA Marsha Lawton, CT Lidia Baltazar, OT Joan Coble, IL Ellen Foose, NJ John Green, CA Laura Schwind, MI James Gannon, CA Sabine Bradley, CA Donna Kimminau, CO June Macarthur, WA Lisa Dutton, CA Ryan Jensen, IL Clair Baker, NM Martha Hancock, NC Jane Demayo, NY Kris Fraas, FL Anna Jacus, NJ Paula Purvis, FL Avis Ingram, CT Miriam Dailey, SD Azucena Diaz, CA Harvey M. Fischer, CA Linda Dennis, WA Cathy Rupert'S, MA Jean Potter, OT Claire Mckay, TX Jean Potter, OT Barbara Zatrine, WA Dolores Bradshaw, AL Junita T, NY Stephen Cardwell, OT Don Cianelli, PA Katherine Burns, OH Cecilia Gergely, OT Brian Cox, PA Brenda K. Davies, MA John Pickett, AZ B.Katharina Lehmann, CA Dorsie Presgraves, WV Patricia Coffey, WA Donna Mikalic, PA Fonda Hurst, IN Barbara Ferreira, OT Kristi Seifert, WI Nancy Wilson, SC Rafael Angel, OT Deborah J Volk, OH Tamara Lischka, OR Janet Hackney, OT Tamara Lischka, OR Ed Sahagian-Allsopp, WI Karen Gravereaux, CA N Kaluza, CA Sharon Reynolds, LA Burton Page, MD William Barkley, MI Sequoia Cartwright, OR Jennifer Bass, CA Erin Enger, MN Terrance Hutchinson, CA Marc Myers, CA Susan Heupel, IA James Walsh, NY Alvan D Camacho Torres, PR Margie Hackett, MO Joan Devagno, NY Ruth Clampitt, OT Althea Gutteridge, DE Brett Warnock, OR Alicia Baker, MI Robyn Wagoner, WA Jenna Ramsey, CA Suzan Woodruff, CA Steven Patterson, PA Teresa Rex, UT Barry Downer, OK Carlene Visperas, CA Eileen Anglin, NJ Hilary Malyon, NJ Therese Cingranelli, NY A.M.