Kennedy Handles Two Snakes at Oz Property and Says They Bit Him

Overview

• A video posted by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. showed him capturing two snakes on Mehmet Oz’s Florida patio and Kennedy said the animals bit him, with several outlets reporting multiple bites.
• Florida Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. National Park Service identified the snakes as black racers, a non‑venomous species, and urged people not to handle snakes because even non‑venomous bites can be painful.
• There are no public reports that Kennedy suffered serious injury from the bites and the footage has drawn only safety warnings from wildlife agencies so far.
• The episode renewed attention to earlier media allegations about Kennedy’s past interactions with animals and follows recent congressional questioning about his conduct, increasing political and reputational scrutiny.
• The clip may heighten oversight of Kennedy’s role at the Department of Health and Human Services, shift public messaging about wildlife safety in populated areas, and keep the issue in news and congressional focus.