Matt Ellerbeck: Fighting for the Rights of Snakes

Dec 12, 2011
Darla Sue Dollman

Photograph of seven foot Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) taken in Kingsland, Texas. The snake did not attempt to bite, lunge, or chase, but slowly returned back to the forest. - Image by Darla Sue Dollman

Matt Ellerbeck, The Snake Man, is an award-winning animal rights activist and wildlife conservationist who has dedicated his life to helping snakes.

There are moments in life that define the future, though they may appear to be inconsequential at the time. Matt Ellerbeck experienced such a moment when he was five years old, standing on a bridge with his grandmother. As he stared down at the river, Ellerbeck noticed a large Northern Water Snake moving gracefully across the water. The snake slid onto the river bank to bask in the sunlight.

Ellerbeck was fascinated, thrilled, and more than anything, he wanted to run down to the river bank so he could see that snake! From that moment on, Ellerbeck realized he was inexplicably connected to these animals.

Five years later, at summer camp, he had yet another life-changing encounter with snakes, one that more clearly defined his future. Ellerbeck saw garter snakes, milk snakes, and many other snakes at camp, but as he studied the snakes, he realized for the first time that other children and adults at the camp had negative feelings about these animals.

"There was no one in my life demonizing snakes," Ellerbeck explained. "I was free to come to my own conclusions about these animals. And yet, I was surrounded by people who had such strong reactions to snakes that it surprised me. I realized then that snakes were stigmatized, and I felt bad for them."

Young Explorer Becomes Animal Activist

"I love all animals," Ellerbeck explained. "I’m a vegetarian, and I try to conduct my life in a responsible manner. I try to be a good steward to the earth and to the environment. I gravitated toward snakes because they were stigmatized and villainized."

"Other animals are cute, or cuddly, with big eyes," Ellerbeck continued. "The visually appealing animals attract a lot of attention. I felt bad for the snakes. Why be kind to this one and mean to that one, I wondered? I think all animals are beautiful in their own way. I decided that I was going to be kind to snakes, and I realized that snakes need an advocate, too."

Ellerbeck founded a snake conservation and advocacy project in 2004. He is now known as The Snake Man of Ontario, a popular educator, author, and public figure. He is also a well-known animal rights activist and wildlife conservationist.

Rattlesnake Roundups in the United States

Ellerbeck does not limit his work to Canada. He is currently fighting to end rattlesnake roundups in the United States, which he states are a cruel form of animal abuse and torture disguised as entertainment and community service.

Rattlesnake roundups take place from January through July in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Alabama, and Georgia. As Ellerbeck explains, what began as misguided attempts toward community service have now evolved into blatant acts of animal cruelty and behavior that is damaging to the environment.

According to Ellerbeck, organizers of rattlesnake roundups often make claims that are refuted by professionals, such as veterinarians, doctors, and wildlife biologists. These claims exaggerate the dangers of rattlesnakes and frequency of bites to humans and animals.

"I first started reading about these events in 2005," Ellerbeck explained. "Promotional materials for these events make it seem as if they are rounding up these vicious kills, protecting lives of humans and livestock."

In fact, Ellerbeck explained, studies conducted at North Carolina State University have shown that rattlesnake roundups actually increase the probability of snakebites as most snakebites occur when snakes are handled.

Ellerbeck also explained that rattlesnakes pose little threat to livestock. This is a logical conclusion considering the behavior and anatomy of snakes. Snakes are shy animals. They also have no external ear openings and respond to vibrations in the ground. They can sense a larger animal approaching, and they will leave before the animal arrives.

Rattlsnake roundups are also a direct cause of damage to the environment. Poachers pour gasoline into snake burrows to drive out the snakes. The gasoline, like other chemicals and pesticides, contaminates the groundwater, the water source used by all wildlife in the area as well as any cattle and humans who live in the area. The land surrounding the rattlesnake's burrow is also contaminated. The gasoline remains in the soil to poison all other wildlife that steps in it or tries to use the now empty burrow.

"Once the snakes are captured, they are kicked, whipped, burned, skinned alive, and decapitated. Every rattlesnake roundup event is an event based on deliberate cruelty to animals," Ellerbeck said.

Ellerbeck has started a petition demanding that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department end rattlesnake roundups in the state of Texas. The petition explains the abusive tactics used in rattlesnake roundups, and the shocking number of animals that are tortured and killed.

"According to the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH), roundups account for the annual take of over 100,000 rattlesnakes," Ellerbeck said.

Traveling Reptile Shows

Ellerbeck is also fighting to end traveling reptile shows. Although these shows often offer information to customers regarding the biology and lifestyle of the snakes, Ellerbeck points out that this information is provided in a sensationalist manner and contributes to the growing fear of snakes, including misinformation regarding snakebite statistics and the toxicity of snakebites.

"Snakes are not aggressive or evil animals," Ellerbeck said. "If you provoke and capture a wild animal, what can you expect but to be bitten since the animal is going to try to defend itself?”

He is critical of the increasing lack of information regarding snake preservation and conservation efforts and the way reptile shows and snake birthday party events leave people with the impression that they are a low-maintenance pet.

"Snakes are living, breathing animals. They are not props, accessories, or novelties, and should not be degraded and treated as such," Ellerbeck states on his website.

The Pet Trade

The pet trade is viewed by Ellerbeck as an extreme form of animal cruetly where millions of animals are abused, suffer and die each year. There are few regulations regarding snakes and endangered snake species are often captured in the wild using hooked sticks then shipped out to pet owners who advertise their interest on the internet.

As the animals are en-route to their new owners, they often acquire diseases or parasites, particularly if they end up in a pet shop first. In pet stores, they are displayed openly without any form of shelter, which is cruel and abusive to an animal that lives its entire life hiding under rocks.

"If you truly love snakes, then you should not hand your money over to pet shop owners or anyone involved with the pet trade because you are supporting this abuse," Ellerbeck said. "Buying a snake from a pet store is not an animal rescue, it simply provides the pet shop owner with money to purchase more snakes."

Although Ontario is considering regulations to restrict ownership of exotic wildlife, there are no regulations in the United States regarding who can buy snakes, and when pet owners tire of the snakes, they often release them back into the wild in places where they are not equipped to survive. They are often captured and destroyed by animal control officers who are not trained or equipped to work with snakes.

"Snakes are sold in pet shops all over America," Ellerbeck explained. "This has created a platform for anyone to walk in off the street and purchase these animals, even if they are ill-equipped to care for these animals. Many snakes end up in homes that cannot meet their needs."

"Current statistics show that 90% of all snakes sold in the pet trade die due to improper treatment and it is a painful death with extreme suffering," Ellerbeck continued. "The frustrating thing is, most reptile conservation groups also promote them as pets, are often involved with breeding and selling, which sends a mixed message,"

Fear of Snakes

Ellerbeck hears many mixed messages in his work as a snake conservationist, and most of these messages lead to an uneccesary fear of snakes that is dangerous to the snakes and directly impacts snake populations.

"There are two primary messages about snakes that tend to create fear in people and leads to the unecessary death of snakes," Ellerbeck said. "Many conservation reports have identified snakes as pests. This leads to the attitude that the only good snake is a dead snake."

"People in rural areas where snakes are prevelent often instruct their neighbors to just grab a shovel and destroy snakes on their properties," he continued. "It takes a long time for these snakes to mature and breed. This attittude has serious ramifications on snake populations."

"The other message is that snakes are dangerous and therefore deserve to die," Ellerbeck explained. "We often hear of road-ragers who see snakes on the roads and intentionally swerve their cars to run over snakes."

Ellerbeck, quoting from numerous sources, explained that, “All snake species tested have had the same initial response to human presence. If given the opportunity, they will escape--down a hole, under a ledge, or in the case of cottonmouth snakes, into the water. Escape is even the standard behavior of enormous diamondback rattlesnakes, which will immediately disappear if they have enough warning before they think a person can reach them. The snakes just want us to leave them alone.”

Nature's Most Misunderstood Creature

Ellerbeck is spreading his message through public appearances, radio shows and lectures in Ontario, Canada, but his popularity is growing in the United States, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom through his use of social media. "I am trying to spread the message worldwide," he said.

During these public appearances, Ellerbeck shares advice regarding snake encounters. He does not recommend throwing rocks at snakes or making loud noises to scare them away.

“My advice for individuals who encounter rattlesnakes or any other snake species in the wild is simply to leave them alone. If they are encountered on trails or paths, walk around them, putting a good few feet between yourself and the animals.”

“Snakebites that happen when someone steps on or near an unseen snake are rare," he said. “Just don’t mess with them. If you see a snake, back away and don’t bother it."

Ellerbeck's greatest challenge as a snake advocate and conservationist is fighting against stereotypes and fears. His motto is "Helping to Save Nature's most Misunderstood Creature."

"We’re not food for snakes," Ellerbeck explaind. "We are not prey for them. They do not pursue us. They are one of the easiest forms of wildlife to live with."

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