Rattlesnakes are a contradictory species. Feared and revered throughout history, today their venon is known to be both life-threatening and life-saving, and their place in the natural world is earning a deeper look even from those who fear them.

The "Biology of Rattlesnake" symposium is being held this summer in Tuscon, Ariz., from July 20-23, and kingsnake.com will be there.

From the Biology of Rattlesnake website:

With a tail full of music and a mouth that spews venom, the rattlesnake has been maligned and misunderstood by many. Others, however, show more appreciation for this mysterious, cold-blooded creature. In fact, there are many who seek out rattlesnakes to admire their beauty, to indulge an adrenaline rush, or to savor the experience of a unique encounter. The more adventurous prefer finding rattlesnakes in their natural environment, a few are willing only to visit a zoo, and others choose to keep and study them in captivity (which only professionals should do). Some collect photographs, many swap hair-raising stories, and others pay expensive medical bills for tragic mishaps or lapses in judgment. Regardless, these people all want to learn more about rattlesnakes. And then there are those who devote much of their professional careers to studying rattlesnakes. Whether in the lab, in the field, or in the hospital caring for snakebite victims, these are the experts who, more than anyone else, can dispel the myths and mysteries that surround this creature. These are the experts you will hear from at this symposium.

Need more reasons? Check this quick interview I did with Bob Ashley this morning about it!