Photo and caption by Lauren Pond

Pastor Randy Wolford handles a rattlesnake during a religious service in Panther Park, West Virginia, on May 28, 2011. Based on literal interpretation of a passage in the King James Bible's Book of Mark, the Pentecostal practice of serpent-handling has long been a tradition in Appalachia. However, with the religious, environmental, and economic identity of the region rapidly changing, serpent-handling seems to face an uncertain future. In the coal towns of West Virginia, older generations of practitioners have passed away, and younger generations have simply lost interest.

Location: Panther, West Virginia, USA