JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Under the shade of Arlington’s trees, a distinctive sound breaks the afternoon silence.
A rattlesnake’s tail buzzes its well-known warning, but the dozen people gathered around don’t scatter. Instead, they lean in closer, cameras and safety equipment in hand.
This isn’t a chance encounter – it’s an orchestrated training session at The Rattlesnake Conservancy, tucked away inside Tree Hill Nature Center. Here, fear transforms into fascination as students learn to safely handle some of Florida’s most feared residents.
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“A lot of people think that snakes are really aggressive and out to get you, and even that they’ll chase you — that’s the biggest thing that we hear,” Sean McKnight, training specialist at the conservancy, said. “The fact of the matter is, they want to use their venom as the last line of defense. It’s really costly for them to produce.”
Founded in 2015, the Arlington-based nonprofit organization offers unique hands-on training programs that teach people how to safely coexist with rattlesnakes. The conservancy trains about 750 people annually, from coast to coast, ranging from biology students to first responders, zookeepers to outdoor workers.
“There really isn’t anything else like this for people to come and get this sort of training hands-on with these animals,” McKnight said. His passion for reptiles started early, leading him to study wildlife ecology at the University of Florida before joining the conservancy.
The organization’s two-day certification program begins with classroom instruction covering local venomous species, toxicology, and emergency management. Day two transitions to hands-on experience with proper tools, protective equipment, and safe handling techniques.
Tiffany Bright, executive director of the Rattlesnake Conservancy, said these reptiles play a vital role in the ecosystem.
“Rattlesnakes are actually a really amazing part of our cultural heritage here in the Americas,” Bright said. “They’re both a predator and a prey item. They are seed dispersers, they offer ecological benefits like removing disease factors and parasites like ticks, and their venom is incredibly important for medicine and research.”
But Bright said its seeing people’s perspective on these animals change that is the most rewarding part of their work.
“When you empower one person with the skills and knowledge they need to respond to these things safely, they kind of become the snake person in their area,” she said. “Their family and their neighbors and their community starts picking up on it.”
The Rattlesnake Conservancy maintains a permanent exhibit at Tree Hill Nature Center, where visitors can observe about a dozen snakes. The organization also conducts in-house research and provides grants to support rattlesnake conservation efforts.
“Being able to help change people’s minds is just one of the most gratifying things that I can do,” Bright said. “It’s just a really special experience to be able to connect with people in that way.”