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16 hours of active learning from experienced experts
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Hands-on safety training with live venomous reptiles
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100% non-profit: Every registration supports threatened wildlife
Our internationally recognized Venomous Handling trainings provide comprehensive science-based safety training required by wildlife professionals, zookeepers, veterinarians, educators, researchers, first responders, and responsible reptile keepers. Whether you're seeking a professional safety certification or simply want to improve your knowledge, our trainings instill the skills, judgment, and best practices needed to work safely and responsibly around venomous reptiles.
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Training is led by PhD-level wildlife biologists and college science educators who combine years of field experience with proven teaching methods. Our active-learning curriculum emphasizes safe handling techniques, venom biology, animal behavior, legal and ethical considerations, emergency preparedness, and risk management.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Venomous Handling Essentials
The Venomous Handling Essentials course is the definitive gold standard in venomous training. It's an all-in-one comprehensive safety course covering everything anyone working with venomous reptiles might need to know - from classroom topics in snake behavior, responsible husbandry, toxinology, and first aid, to hands-on training in basic tool use, moving animals in and out of enclosures and transport containers, safe restraints, and biological sample collection. This course is designed to maximize experience and time spent working with live venomous ambassadors, including eastern diamondbacks, timbers, massasaugas, cottonmouths, and copperheads; while consolidating all needed skills into a single weekend training. Most folks will never need more than what we cover here.
Venomous Field Research
​Our Venomous Field Research Training is a weekend-long course that turns the wilderness into a classroom. Designed for those who want more experience with venomous species and hands-on training in active research and conservation projects, it's a perfect opportunity to earn documented experience hours for federal T/E permitting. The Essentials training is required to participate, and all field work is conducted under appropriate state and federal permits.
Training that supports conservation
As a 501(c)(3) conservation charity, our aim isn't to generate profit for ourselves. We'd rather fill seats, make new connections, and open doors for folks to be more involved in conservation. Therefore, our certifications never expire, there are no unnecessary training tiers, and 100% of every registration directly supports our conservation and education work as part of our nonprofit mission, which you can read about in our Blog. Like all of our professional workshops, we offer a Pay-What-You-Can Discount for anyone in financial need. We believe high-quality safety training should be affordable, accessible, and support our wild communities.​
Train with confidence. Learn from experts. Grow your community, and help conserve the wildlife we love.
Casey Butler, MI
“HIGHLY recommend taking any of their workshops, classes, or any event! The MW FOWL team takes great care in making sure both people AND animals are safe, and are just great people to spend time with!"
Jennifer Brown, NY
"I can't thank you all enough! Taking this course was one of the best experiences of my life. I learned so much, and I can't wait to volunteer with any surveys I can next year!"
Jackie Sandberg, WI
"Honestly, this is one of the better CE/professional trainings I've been to in 12 years as a wildlife rehabilitator."