Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted a new video Wednesday showing him capturing a venomous Western Diamondback rattlesnake, responding directly to social media users who raised safety concerns about his previous encounter with non-venomous snakes. The Instagram clip, captioned “In response to the many comments about venomous snakes, this video shows how Cheryl and I handled a recent rattlesnake rescue,” demonstrates Kennedy Jr.’s technique for safely removing dangerous reptiles. The video begins with Kennedy Jr. working in his home office before someone alerts him to a snake in the driveway. He quickly grabs a bucket and small net before heading outside to confront the venomous reptile.
Secretary carefully captures dangerous rattlesnake as onlookers watch
The footage shows Kennedy Jr. methodically approaching the rattlesnake and carefully scooping it up with his equipment as onlookers react with amazement. After securing the snake in a bucket, the HHS secretary demonstrates his knowledge by pinning the reptile behind its head and lifting it toward the camera. Kennedy Jr. explains how to identify the species while maintaining control of the dangerous animal. “His fangs are in there. I don’t want to touch them,” he says in the video. “This is a beautiful snake. This is a Western Diamondback. You can tell by these rings at the end of his tail.” The secretary then asks his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, to bring him a pillowcase before transporting the snake for release back into its natural habitat.
New video responds to criticism from earlier snake encounter
The Wednesday Instagram post appeared designed to address criticism sparked by another snake video Kennedy Jr. shared Tuesday on social media. In that earlier clip, Kennedy Jr. grabbed two black North American racer snakes with his bare hands while visiting Dr. Mehmet Oz’s patio. The footage showed Hines watching in apparent horror as her husband cornered the reptiles. “Honey, honey… why?” Hines yelled as Kennedy Jr. approached the snakes. He then lunged at the animals and eventually lifted both by their tails as they repeatedly bit his hands. “Black snakes, they’re biting me,” Kennedy Jr. said with a smile as the snakes continued striking. Hines pleaded repeatedly, “Bobby, please! Bobby, Bobby, please,” before telling him, “You are nuts.”
Key differences between venomous and non-venomous snake handling
The contrast between the two videos highlights the different approaches required for handling venomous versus non-venomous snakes. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, black racer snakes are non-venomous and generally harmless to humans, though they will readily bite to defend themselves. The earlier video showed Kennedy Jr. handling these non-venomous snakes with his bare hands, while Wednesday’s Instagram clip focused on proper equipment use for the venomous Western Diamondback rattlesnake. Key safety measures demonstrated include:
- Using appropriate tools like buckets and nets for initial capture
- Pinning venomous snakes behind the head to control fang exposure
- Maintaining safe distance from fangs during handling
- Using pillowcases for secure transport to release locations
- Avoiding bare-hand contact with venomous species
Social media questions whether HHS secretary takes unnecessary risks
The videos prompted questions from social media users about whether Kennedy Jr. is taking unnecessary risks in his role as Health and Human Services Secretary. Some commenters expressed concern about the safety of handling dangerous wildlife, particularly venomous snakes that can deliver potentially fatal bites. Others praised Kennedy Jr.’s wildlife knowledge and willingness to safely relocate snakes rather than killing them. The Western Diamondback rattlesnake featured in the latest video is one of the most dangerous snake species in North America. Its venom contains hemotoxins that can cause severe tissue damage and potentially death if untreated.
Kennedy Jr. demonstrates expertise in reptile identification and handling
Despite the concerns, Kennedy Jr.’s videos showcase considerable knowledge of snake identification and proper handling techniques. His ability to distinguish species by physical characteristics like tail patterns and his understanding of safe capture methods suggest experience with wildlife rescue. The HHS secretary’s calm demeanor while handling both venomous and non-venomous snakes indicates familiarity with reptile behavior. By choosing to relocate rather than harm the snakes, Kennedy Jr. demonstrates a conservation-minded approach to wildlife encounters on residential properties. The videos have generated significant attention on social media, with millions of views across platforms. Kennedy Jr. originally posted the black racer video with the caption “Cheryl cheerleads the removal of a pair of Black Racers from Dr Oz’s patio,” showing a lighter take on his wife’s concerned reactions during the encounter.