Bafflingly, Washington Post expresses bafflement at reptilian behavior

Photo of Mr. Wolford from Washington Post, where despite their locale,
writers and editors reveal surprise at reptilian behavior.

This is the actual blurb from the front page of the web version of the Washington Post today, describing the death of a Pentacostal preacher from snakebite: 

A day after his 44th birthday, Mack Wolford of West Virginia was bitten by a rattler he had known for years.

Known for years?  So I guess they had palled around, watched episodes of Man vs. Wild together?  So I suppose the takeway is how shocking it is that a rattle snake would bite the hand that fed it?  (Metaphorically speaking, the snake bit him in the thigh.)

And here's the lede: 

Mack Wolford, a flamboyant Pentecostal pastor from West Virginia whose serpent-handling talents were profiled last November in The Washington Post Magazine, hoped the outdoor service he had planned for Sunday at an isolated state park would be a “homecoming like the old days,” full of folks speaking in tongues, handling snakes and having a “great time.” But it was not the sort of homecoming he foresaw.

Instead, Wolford, who turned 44 the previous day, was bitten by a rattlesnake he owned for years. He died late Sunday.

Maybe the Washington Post has such a puckish sense of humor they are actually mocking the unfortunate Mr. Wolford.  Because you'd think in a town like Washington, they'd have some basic understanding of reptilian behavior....Here's the link to the rest of the article:  http://tinyurl.com/6n7tqm5