Recently a local outdoors expert spent a little time with biologists and conservation officers in Pennsylvania for a training session on timber rattlesnakes and he came back with a little different perspective on the animals. Spurred by memories of a childhood show on native rattlesnakes from "Pennsylvania Outdoor Life" on his local TV station that he watched with his father, he hooked up with the host after retirement to relive one of the episodes visiting a local forest to count, tag and also train conservation officers in handling and identification skills.

The truth about rattlesnakes, I learned, is that these are normally docile animals that just want to be left alone. But they get feisty when disturbed and manhandled.

It's a nice light read where you see someone understand why we love these animals. You feel fear turn to respect. There are some wonderful photos of the training sessions as well.

One of the hardest parts of saving our venomous snakes is overcoming the stimgas and fears that people have with them. Stories like this go far to helping that! Check the full article out here!