Hunters round up rattlesnakes for Pa. carnival

[June 21, 2010]  NOXEN, Pa. (AP) -- Rattlesnake rustlers are busy in northeastern Pennsylvania this weekend.

Hunters are scouring the hills around Noxen for the annual Rattlesnake Roundup, which started Thursday and runs through Sunday. The main attraction is the annual rattlesnake hunt and display of live snakes at a carnival Saturday and Sunday.

Organizer Matt McCormack says the weekend's primary focus is to educate people about the reptiles. It's also the big fundraiser for the Noxen Volunteer Fire Company.

Hunters must have hunting licenses and are limited to one rattlesnake each, up to 42 inches long. The fire company's website says the captured snakes are later returned to the places where they were found.

Last year 20 rattlers were caught, along with 28 nonpoisonous snakes.

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Information from: The Times-Tribune, http://thetimes-tribune.com/

[Associated Press]

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