Snake forecast grim for annual jubilee

  • Rattlesnakes are the stars of the Lometa Diamondback Jubilee festival held annually in the spring. Experts are concerned the numbers will be lower this year, as fewer hunters enter the field. file photol | dispatch record
    Rattlesnakes are the stars of the Lometa Diamondback Jubilee festival held annually in the spring. Experts are concerned the numbers will be lower this year, as fewer hunters enter the field. file photol | dispatch record
Lometa’s annual Diamondback Jubilee is a town tradition that has been threatened by a subpar number of rattlesnakes in the county. The snakes usually are showcased at the event. Rattlesnake numbers have decreased significantly over the past five years, and a major factor is a lack of new hunters in the area. Stephen Ruzicka, a Lometa Lions Club member and the snake coordinator for the festival,…

Premium Content is available to subscribers only. Please login here to access content or go here to purchase a subscription.