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Plastic Free July
July 9, 2024
The Climate Solution Beneath Our Feet
July 30, 2024

Blog & News


July 16th, 2024

Venomous Snake Training

Author: Brittany Dell 
As a reptile enthusiast and biologist, one of my favorite pastimes is to travel around learning how to handle venomous species of snakes. One thing I quickly learned from doing so is that most snake handlers start learning without formal training or rigorous safety protocols. That was certainly the case when I was rescuing and translocating snakes like kraits and cobras from people’s homes in Indonesia. Depending on where in the world you are, lack of proper training can lead to making either a very expensive or lethal mistake. Luckily, the U.S. has substantial funding for antivenom production and therefore better access. However, developing countries often lack access to antivenom for various reasons and that is certainly something to keep in mind if this is a hobby that interests you.
After returning to the U.S., I decided to explore what formal trainings exist and discovered Save the Snakes in Sacramento, California. This non-profit has a mission to protect snake populations around the world through education and community outreach to create a harmonious relationship between snakes and humans. They offer a Venomous Handling and Certification Program, which was developed by the Rattlesnake Conservancy. I took the Level 1 course in July and can say that although it is a beginner level course, I received valuable insight from attending.
The first day was spent in the classroom, where we went over biology, regulations, myths, toxinology, and emergency management of snakebites. It was an excellent review and also brought new information to my attention, especially in regards to emergency snakebite management specifically in the United States.  The second day was solely dedicated to snake handling and safety.
It is clear that the instructors hold themselves to the highest standards of safety.  I especially appreciate how they gradually built up to handling a venomous Northern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus oreganus), starting with a non-venomous Pacific gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer). Many participants had never handled a rattlesnake before and since being face to face with an unfamiliar and potentially dangerous species can cause an influx of intense emotions, slowly and tactfully introducing handlers with the snake is important for building confidence, reducing anxiety, and ultimately decreasing risk of injury.
I personally recall many years ago when I handled my first venomous snake, a timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus). The intensity of the “fight or flight” response just from being in the same room with it took me by surprise.  I can also say that the level of preparation for that moment was minimal compared to what was provided in this course. Furthermore, I was thrown headfirst into handling challenging species in Indonesia with even less guidance and a language barrier to further complicate things. I will certainly be taking the more advanced venomous handling courses to see what information I might be missing and if there are any bad habits I should unlearn. For those also interested in the advanced courses, they are not yet available in Sacramento, but can be found on the Rattlesnake Conservancy website.