SNAKES ALIVE! MANGUM, OKLAHOMA HOLDS RATTLESNAKE DERBY (APR. 23)

SNAKES ALIVE! MANGUM, OKLAHOMA HOLDS RATTLESNAKE DERBY (APR. 23)

MANGUM, Okla. (Wireless Flash) -- The rattlesnakes in Mangum, Oklahoma, have a good reason to get rattled this weekend. That's when snake catchers of all ages will converge on the town to see who can collect the most snakes for the 34th Annual Rattlesnake Derby. Organizer Jack Cossey says diehard snake gatherers started catching snakes earlier this year -- such as last year's winner who caught more than 500 rattlesnakes. It may sound like cheating, but judges don't mind since the point of the contest is to rid the town of rattlesnakes. Cossey says the most popular snake catching tool is a golf club with a hook on the end, but some folks prefer "pistol- gripped" tongs. Although the top snake catcher won't win a trophy, he or she will be paid at least $3 per pound for every snake.

CONTACT: Jack Cossey, ****; Mangum, OK; (580) 782-2434