Urge the Mangum Rattlesnake Derby to Prohibit Exhibitor Who Sews Live Snakes’ Mouths Shut

In May 2025, PETA asked officials in Greer County, Oklahoma, to investigate and pursue appropriate cruelty-to-animals charges against a photo booth exhibitor at the 2025 Mangum Rattlesnake Derby who sewed live rattlesnakes’ mouths shut so that people could pose with them. Inexplicably, the district attorney’s office declined to file charges. While we continue to condemn the mass abuse and slaughtering of snakes that take place each year at this event, torturing snakes by sewing their mouths shut is both exceptionally deplorable and seemingly criminal.

The torturous procedure—which appears to be done without using any painkillers—leaves the snakes mutilated and unable to properly hydrate. Rattlesnakes are naturally shy and reclusive reptiles who would prefer to avoid humans than be photographed with them. Exploiting snakes for photo ops and then killing them is a form of speciesism—a human-supremacist worldview—and has no place at a festival or anywhere.

Please speak out and urge organizers of the Mangum Rattlesnake Derby to prohibit any exhibitor who sews live snakes’ mouths shut from exhibiting at the event.

Send polite comments to:

Mangum Rattlesnake Derby
[email protected]

Then leave a comment on their Facebook page:

Please feel free to use our sample letter, but remember that using your own words is always more effective.