Repticon Dallas, Part 6: R.A.R.R., N.E.W.T.S., and the Leander Rattlesnake Festival

In yesterday's post, I shared some pictures of the adoptable reptiles at DFW Reptile Rescue, a nonprofit reptile rescue run by Carrie and Melissa Caposello. On the other side of the building, two groups teamed up to raise money for a cause near and dear to their hearts through T-shirt sales and a silent auction (held on Saturday). If you missed my Herp Haul post last Thursday, check it out to read more about the silent auction and see what I won (another book to get my nose stuck in, of course).

Rise Against Rattlesnake Roundups (RARR) and Nature's Exotic Wildlife Tee Shirts (NEWTS) teamed up at Repticon Ennis to raise funds for the Leander Rattlesnake Festival--the first no-kill, educational rattlesnake event in Texas, planned for Spring 2014

The two groups represented at this mega-booth were Rise Against Rattlesnakes Roundups (RARR) and Nature's Exotic Wildlife Tee Shirts (NEWTS). RARR provided the personnel and message, while NEWTS provided the T-shirts for sale and showcased their own herps. (For more information about this two groups and pictures, read through to the next paragraph.) Proceeds from the silent auction and T-shirt sales this weekend went to the Leander Rattlesnake Festival Fund (click the link to donate towards this kick-start project). This fund was started by Leander local herp hobbyist Kenneth Reid to raise money for the first completely no-kill, education-based rattlesnake event in Texas. The Leander Rattlesnake Festival is planned for Spring 2014 in Leander, TX (a town ~30 minutes north of Austin, TX) and will include: educational displays of venomous snake species in Texas, guided snake hunts for wildlife enthusiasts, venom extraction demonstrations (by Kentucky Reptile Zoo), and some great Texas barbeque. The goal of this event is to show communities that there is an economical alternative to traditional rattlesnake roundups, as well as provide the area with a fun, family-friendly reptile event.

Rise Against Rattlesnakes Roundups (R.A.R.R.)

Rise Against Rattlesnake Roundups (RARR)'s motto.

Rise Against Rattlesnakes Roundups (RARR) is advocacy group representing several thousand conservationists and reptile hobbyists that are seeking changes in how rattlesnake roundups (large-scale rattlesnake hunting events) are currently conducted. Their efforts are primarily to engage in public awareness campaigns and discussions with communities. However, they also work with wildlife agencies and legislators to examine current practices at rattlesnake roundups and changes that might lead to more ecologically sustainable practices. To share a quote from their mission statement,

"We, as conservationists, understand that a realistic balance between biologists and the public needs to be met so that the communities dependent upon these events will not be left economically unstable. We also promote the ecological significance and humane treatment of all herpetofauna." ~RARR's Mission Statement (Facebook page)

Ray Autry and Orry Martin gave several talks throughout the weekend on RARR's mission, current practices at rattlesnake roundups, and their hope for more ecologically-sustainable (and humane) practices at future rattlesnake events. To learn more about about RARR and Rattlesnake Roundups, check out RARR's Facebook page and Orry Martin's, the Texas Snake Hunter, YouTube channel.

"Rise Against Rattlesnake Roundups" by Orry Martin

 

Nature's Exotic Wildlife Tee Shirts (N.E.W.T.S.)  Nature's Exotic Wildlife Tee Shirts (NEWTS) is a family-owned business that designs and produces wildlife-inspired T-shirts, as well as reptile enclosures. NEWTS also breeds and sells a variety of tarantula species and some gorgeous ball python morphs (see pictures below). To purchase a RARR T-shirt and support the Leander Rattlesnake Festival, visit their online store.

RARR T-shirts for sale to raise funds for the Leander Rattlesnake Festival.
They are available in a variety of colors, so pick up yours at NEWTS.

A Guerrero orange legs tarantula (Brachypelma boehmei) from NEWTS.

The Venezuelan suntiger tarantula (Psalmopoeus irminia) in this container has made itself right at home.

A Mysore ornamental tarantula (Poecilotheria striata) from NEWTS.

A Brazilian fire red tarantula (Lasiodora difficilis) from NEWTS.

So many beautiful morphs to choose from...
(Unfortunately, I did not catch the name of the owner of NEWTS to credit him in this picture.)

Piebalds, Cinnies, and Tigers...oh, my!

A closeup of several beautiful ball python morphs.
I almost want to call this picture "Ebony & Ivory" because those two look so great next to each other.

A closeup of a nice calico ball python.

[Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Repticon, Exo Terra, Zoo Med, or any of the other sponsors of Repticon. I was not asked to write these blog posts and was not compensated for them. Everything in these articles are my own observations and opinions.]