Ep 14. Camel Rancher

Mike Rowe is back with another episode of Dirty Jobs Season 5, and this time he's headed to the Arizona desert to meet up with a camel rancher. In episode 14, titled "Camel Rancher," Mike gets hands-on experience with a quirky and often-overlooked profession that is essential for the tourism industry: caring for and training camels.

As Mike arrives in the dusty desert town, he's met by Steve, the owner of the camel ranch. Steve is a jovial and friendly man who leads Mike through the grounds and introduces him to his herd of over 50 camels. These incredible animals have been a part of Steve's life for over a decade, and he's dedicated to caring for them in the best way possible.

The first task on Mike's agenda is helping Steve train a young, stubborn camel named Carl. Despite his cute looks, Carl is a handful and doesn't take too kindly to strangers. Mike quickly learns that camels are much more challenging to train than dogs, and it takes patience and consistency to get them to obey commands.

Mike's next job involves feeding the herd. He learns that camels are extremely efficient at digesting their food, and their stomachs can store up to 80 pounds of it at a time. Mike is tasked with preparing their meals, which consists of hay and pellets, and loading it onto a trailer to be brought out to the herd. He quickly realizes that feeding 50 hungry camels is no easy feat!

After feeding the herd, Steve has Mike help him with a medical check-up on one of the pregnant camels, with hopes for a birth in the coming weeks. Mike is somewhat apprehensive as camels can be unpredictable and somewhat wild, but he puts this to one side and gets stuck in. Steve walks him through the process of checking the camel's temperature, heart rate and ensure she doesn't have any signs of disease. After concluding the check-up, Steve reveals to Mike that pregnant camels are a particular source of income for the ranch and that people love to see new baby camels.

Next, Mike helps out with cleaning the stalls and enclosures. Camels may be relatively clean animals, but their enclosures can end up caked in dirt and debris from their natural inclinations to roll around. Mike learns that proper sanitation is essential for the health and well-being of the herd, and he gets his hands dirty cleaning up.

The last task of the day is perhaps the most exciting of all - taking a ride on one of the camels. Mike gets to experience the sensation of being atop an animal so immense and commanding. As the sun sets across the horizon, Steve and Mike ride off into the night, the camel's incredible gait moving the pair across the rocky landscape at surprisingly high speeds.

In conclusion, Dirty Jobs Season 5 Episode 14 - "Camel Rancher" takes a closer look at a surprising profession that is sometimes forgotten by many. Caring for and training camels is a rewarding job that is essential for the tourism industry and provides a unique look into history and tradition. Mike Rowe gets hands-on with the camels and learns first-hand what it takes to manage the majestic yet stubborn creatures. This episode is a fascinating insight into a characteristically dirty job that provides the opportunity to learn something new.