A Bitingly Dangerous Job

You’ve probably heard of milking cows, but did you know some people milk snakes? Snakes don’t produce the nutrient-rich, white milk that we pour over morning cereal, but they can be milked for their venom. Hold a snake firmly at the base of its head, provoke it to bite down on a venom-collecting vial, and squeeze while a yellowish liquid fills the tube. To be clear, do not try this at home! Snake milking is a job for highly-trained professionals known as venom (or snake) milkers.

WHY MILK SNAKES

Venom milkers extract venom from the deadliest snakes in the world. But why? Hospitals worldwide need snake venom to create antivenom used in saving the lives of humans suffering from poisonous snake bites. According to the World Health Organization, every year, over 2.7 million people are bitten by venomous snakes, and 100,000 die as a result. Antivenom helps the body produce antibodies to fight the snake’s poison. 

Medical research also relies on snake venom. Researchers have already found that snake venom can treat blood clots, lower blood pressure, and prevent heart attacks. Scientists are now experimenting with venom treatments for tumors, Alzheimer's, and strokes. Viprinex, a medicine containing pit viper venom, is used to increase the window of treatment for stroke victims. Extra hours between having a stroke and getting treatment could mean the difference between life and death. But all of this would be impossible without venom milkers.

NOT JUST A PAYCHECK, BUT A PASSION

Venom milking is tedious work. Milkers follow strict procedures when extracting venom so that the poison stays uncontaminated and so that the milker stays safe. Venom milkers tend to be curious, methodical, and adventurous. And these professionals must love scaly, slithering reptiles.

You'd have to be adventurous and love snakes to put your fingers inches from the fangs of vipers, cobras, mambas, and rattlesnakes. One mistake, and now the venom milker needs antivenom. Jim Harrison, the owner of the Kentucky Reptile Zoo, has milked venomous snakes for decades. He has been bitten countless times. Most have been dry bites, where the snake did not inject venom, but he has survived nine venomous bites. Four bites sent Harrison to the hospital. Still, Harrison keeps milking. He loves snakes and believes that milking is essential. “Most people think of snake venom and associate it with death,” Harrison said in an interview with Business Insider. “I think of it with life because it truly can help save people.”

In 2015, Harrison collaborated with Animal Venom Research International (AVRI) to develop antivenom that would help snake-bite victims living in the South Asian country of Sri Lanka. This country has the world's highest snakebite death rate, with many victims being children. Harrison's milking is motivated by his belief in the curative power of snake venom and a deep desire to help others.

A VENOM MILKER’S DAY

Venom milkers often work in serpentariums, labs with hundreds of glass tanks full of snakes. Most serpentariums operate inside zoos and universities, although some venom milkers are entrepreneurs and own independent snake milking businesses. Each day, venom milkers extract the toxin from snakes using specialized laboratory equipment. Harrison estimates that he completes between 600 and 1,000 venom extractions each week. 

After extracting the potent venom, milkers freeze-dry the substance to store and transport the venom to researchers, labs, and hospitals. Snake venom is valuable. One gram of snake venom can sell for up to $2,000. Between extractions, milkers maintain the lab equipment used during milking and care for the snakes living in the serpentarium. They feed snakes, clean tanks, and ensure that all snakes stay healthy. Venom milkers also breed snakes because more snakes mean more venom.

BECOMING A VENOM MILKER

To become a professional snake milker, students need to attend college and study biology, chemistry, or herpetology, the study of reptiles. Many venom milkers also hold master's degrees and PhDs in biology, chemistry, or zoology. Generally, snake milkers make around $2,500 per month.

However, venom milking is a niche career, and very few positions open up each year. An article in Applied Herpetology estimated that only 34 labs in the world have venom milkers. Such a small group of specialized scientists helps milk all the venom to develop antivenom and advance medical research.