Rattlesnake roundup draws a crowd

NOXEN — The final day of the Noxen Volunteer Fire Company’s Rattlesnake Roundup drew quite a crowd Sunday, as people ventured from all over the valley to enjoy food, music, amusement rides and, of course, rattlesnakes.

The four-day event, which has been a tradition for roughly 50 years, draws thousands of visitors every year and serves as the fire company’s largest fundraiser.

And indeed, the grassy lots surrounding the fire company filled up less than an hour after the gates opened and a seemingly endless line of cars wrapped around the block, leaving some to drive elsewhere in search of parking.

But a nice walk in the mid-day sun was a sacrifice most were willing make if it meant getting an up close look at the dozens of snakes that slithered around the fenced in enclosure on the company’s grounds.

According to Fire Chief Lew Hackling, 105 snake hunters participated in this year’s round up. Together, they caught 46 rattlesnakes, 7 copperheads and 25 non-venomous snakes.

Though anyone can register to be a snake hunter, those who do must have a hunting license, which can be obtained from the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Fire Chief Lew Hackling spent the better part of the day inside the snake pit, where he and other event staff weighed, measured and marked each snake.

Hunters competed against each other in several categories to see, for example, who caught the largest copperhead or the most species. After the festivities, the snakes were let back out into the wild.

Spectators crowded around the enclosure for hours to catch a glimpse of the rattling reptiles and snake hunters would periodically hold out the snakes and walk along the perimeter so guests could get a closer look. You could even touch them if you were brave enough.

Hunters wore tall, sturdy boots while inside the pit and handled the snakes with the utmost caution, grabbing them with a long hook and putting a clear plastic tub over the heads of the venous ones so there was no danger of being bitten.

It wasn’t all spectacle, though. The rattlesnake roundup was educational too. There were several posters set up around enclosure, informing onlookers how to spot a venomous snake or how to tell apart a male from a female. Bill Wheeler, of the Keystone Reptile Club, took questions from the crowd.

Don Webber, who took home the prize for most rattlesnakes — he caught 17 — has been coming to the roundup for 36 years. When you’re born and raised in Noxen, he said, it was just what you did.

It was Tom Johns’ fifth year as a registers hunter, and he shared some of his favorite parts of the event.

“I think just getting out in the woods, hiking.” said Johns. “Just meeting new people, the camaraderie.”

Both Webber and John agreed that a common misconception about snakes is how vicious they are. In reality, snakes usually won’t bother you if you don’t bother them.

“They’re not as — well, they’re dangerous,” said Webber. “But they’re not as aggressive as people think.”

“Their tendency is to go the other way as soon as you get too close,” John added.

The Noxen Rattlesnake Roundup also featured craft vendors, live music, amusement rides, food and face paint.

Winners of the 2023 Noxen Rattlesnake Roundup are as follows:

• Largest Copperhead: Donna Kime, 34 1/2 inches

• Largest Non-Venomous: Brian Hettesheimer, black rat, 75 inches

• Largest Light Phase: Tie between Robert Hopfer and Ryan Murphy, 52 1/2 inches

• Largest Dark Phase: Tom Johns 52 inches

• Most Species: Tie between Annli Michell and Brayden Karpinski, 8 species

• Lunker: Tie between Alaisha Sherwood and Renee Garinger, 3.14 oz

• Team: Matt Dorish and Glen Ellwswood, and Renee and Verlin Garinger

• Most Rattles: Don Webber, 17