Ep 2. Deadly Snake Wrangler

In Dirty Jobs season 8 episode 2, titled "Deadly Snake Wrangler," host Mike Rowe travels to the southern United States to explore one of the most dangerous jobs in the world: wrangling venomous snakes.

Mike teams up with a seasoned snake wrangler, Tim, who has been wrangling snakes for over 30 years. Tim has been bitten by venomous snakes an astonishing 63 times, but continues to do the job because he has a deep respect for these creatures and understands their place in the ecosystem.

The pair first go out on a call to a homeowner's property where a venomous snake has taken up residence in their barn. Mike is taken aback by the care that Tim takes with the snake, as he carefully captures it and extracts its venom to be used in medical research, before releasing it back into the wild.

Mike then joins Tim for a rattlesnake roundup, a yearly event where locals gather to collect and relocate venomous snakes in their community. Mike is shocked by the number of snakes that are collected, with hundreds of rattlesnakes being relocated over the course of the day.

Next, Mike and Tim head to a snake sanctuary where they are introduced to a variety of species of venomous snakes, including the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, the Coral Snake, and the Cottonmouth. Tim explains the unique ways in which each species operates, such as the Cottonmouth's ability to swim underwater and the Coral Snake's venomous bite, which can cause respiratory problems if left untreated.

Throughout the episode, Mike is in awe of Tim's knowledge and skill in handling these dangerous creatures. He witnesses firsthand the danger of the job, as Tim is bitten by a snake while they are out in the field. Tim quickly recovers thanks to the anti-venom he carries with him at all times, but Mike realizes just how important it is for these snake wranglers to have the proper training and equipment to stay safe on the job.

In the end, Mike is left with a newfound respect for the snake wranglers who risk their lives every day to protect their communities from these deadly creatures. He leaves with a better understanding of the importance of these animals in our ecosystem, and the vital role that snake wranglers play in keeping people safe from their potentially deadly bites.