THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, April 4, 1996                TAG: 9604040006
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   29 lines

DOESN'T PETA CARE ABOUT SNAKES?

I found the article about the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup revolting. I cannot see what purpose the roundup serves except for torturing animals for the sheer fun of it.

I could understand collecting the snakes from around the populated areas in the interest of public safety, but some of the snakes these people are collecting are 100 miles from humans. What purpose does this serve except to provide an ego boost for the ``great hunter''? How much of a sport does it provide when the hunters catch hibernating snakes?

If dolphins or spotted owls were being rounded up, would people be so eager to turn them into keychains, purses and boots? Your report said the roundup began right after deer season and ran until April 1. Are the snakes that are captured first fed, or do these saviors of humanity starve them? Where is PETA when it isn't a fox or mink or eagle? Guess something as vile as a snake deserves to be starved, tortured, tormented and slaughtered for sport.

BRIAN MONROE

Virginia Beach, April 1, 1996 by CNB