Roundup History

The Rattlesnake Roundup actually began with a snakebite in 1967.  That summer, a local youth, David Wiggins, was bitten by an Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake while picking vegetables on a farm in Evans County.  Although there was no anti-venom available, David received competent medical attention and  survived the bite; but the road to recovery took a full twelve months and he dealt with the long-term side effects.    At this same time, it was fast becoming evident that Evans County had a huge rattlesnake population.  Rattlers, always common throughout the woods and farms were  seen sunning themselves on the greens and sandtraps of the local golf course and slithering across yards in town. 

In February 1968, in an effort to reduce the rattlesnake population and prevent  snakebite fatalities,  the first Roundup  was staged.  Forty-eight snakes were turned in, two short of the modest 50 snake goal.

In 1969, the Club decided to add “beauty with the beasts”.  Miss Debbie Green was crowned as the first Rattlesnake Roundup Queen.  Two hundred-twenty-one snakes were turned in for this Roundup. 

Early Roundups were held in Claxton in a local tobacco warehouse.  Arts and crafts, food vendors, a parade, snake milking and handling demonstrations,  and entertainment were added with the rattlesnakes to make this event a nationwide attraction. 

In 2001 Roundup Headquarters was moved to the newly constructed Evans County Wildlife Club facility, located just west of Claxton, Georgia, off Highway 280. 

The Rattlesnake Roundup is the greatest accomplishment of the Evans County Wildlife Club.  The Southeast Tourism Society voted the Roundup one of the “top Twenty Events in the Southeast”.  The annual events brings over 15,000 tourists and an economic boost to the community. 

40 Successful Years

 

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