Nestled in the backwoods of Wyoming County, Noxen doesn't see much traffic.

But for one weekend in June, the town is alive.

Saturday afternoon, lines of cars snaked around the small hamlet, crossing the one-lane, open-grate bridge into the Noxen Volunteer Fire Department's annual Rattlesnake Roundup.

People of all ages were there to see the guests of honor. About two dozen hunters were waiting, inside a caged and roped-off area, to see if their snakes had what it takes to gain the top prize.

At the end of check-ins, Bill Wheeler said there were 28 timber rattlesnakes, four copperheads and 15 nonvenomous snakes.

"It is a good number for Saturday night," said Wheeler, a Keystone Reptile Club educator and mainstay at the roundup. "There are still hunters out there, but we only accept them until a certain point each night. We have 68 registered hunters this year; that's a good number."

And the snakes, Wheeler said, "are in good shape and healthy."

When the hunters bring in their snakes, the reptiles are processed. Wheeler and a team of volunteers tube the snakes, measure them, scan them for previously implanted microchips and mark the rattles before weighing them.

Everyone strained to see the snakes — from a distance, of course.

Sara Strohl of Beaumont brought her 4-year-old daughter, Olivia, to the roundup. Though much of Olivia's family was inside the pen to help educate the crowd, her mom was doing a great job outside.

"We talked about what it means when they rattle their tails," Strohl said.

"Scared," replied Olivia. "I like that one. I like the noise they make."

Along with Olivia, cousins Logan and Morgan Strohl of Monroe enjoyed the day petting and learning about the snakes.

Jacob Davenport, a rising sophomore and a lineman on the Tunkhannock Area football team, was in the ring as a hunter Saturday.

"This is my second or third year being here. It is a lot of fun," he said. "I only have one snake in right now and am waiting for it to be measured. My family has been doing this for years, though."

After his turn, Jacob said that even though no official measurement had been given yet, his timber rattler unofficially measured 44 inches.

"But it isn't about winning. I don't care if I don't win. It is just about having fun out there," he said.

Betsy Manning, a photographer from Philadelphia, came north to see the snakes.

"This is fascinating," she said. "It is fascinating, and creepy, and wonderful all at the same time. I can't believe how close they are, and how close we can get. It amazes me how the people are inside there and don't get bit while the snakes are all slithering around.

"But I learned today that the rattlesnakes are not aggressive."

Education is one of the main components of the roundup.

"We are here to educate the public about the snakes, and make some money for the Noxen Volunteer Fire Department," Wheeler said.

In addition to the snakes, the fundraiser will conclude with a fireworks show.

"We will be here all day Sunday. We are measuring, educating and talking about the snakes all day. There are vendors, great food and fireworks," he said.

Ruthie Comiskey of Tunkhannock, a 92-year-old first-time roundup-goer, agreed the event was worth a visit.

"Free parking, free admission, and it was a very interesting day," she said. "I'd rather stay on this side of the fence to look at the snakes, but I can't get over how a little fair so out of the way does this good. There are so many people, and snakes, and everyone seems to be having a great time."

Contact the writer: cmcaleer@wcexaminer.com