billy the exterminator

[sorraia]

I watch the show purely for "entertainment" value, but I pretty much agree he's pretty stupid. I think it was the same episode, or another one that aired the same night, where he had a bat call. Makes a big point about how bats are major carriers of rabies. Maybe 5 or so minutes later into the show he's holding one of the bats with his bare hands and gets bit. Dumb.
(On a side note: One of my biologist coworkers is really into bats and has done quite a bit of research on them, including to experts from all over the country. Apparently they are not the big rabies carriers people make them out to be, with less than a third of the bat population actually carrying rabies. I find that interesting.)

That's all beside the fact his handling methods and procedures REALLY stress out those animals.

[Don]

I don't and won't watch it. Watching those shows only gives them what they want, a bigger audience. Then they pump out more of them.

[decensored]

I hope he gets bit by a venomous animal and suffers life long debilitating injuries. Then one day as he is taking his meds to help cope with the pain he is suffering he chokes on a pill. But that doesn't kill him either just gives him a near death experience and he realizes what a screw up him and his show has been.

what?

[Clementine_3]

I watch the show purely for "entertainment" value, but I pretty much agree he's pretty stupid. I think it was the same episode, or another one that aired the same night, where he had a bat call. Makes a big point about how bats are major carriers of rabies. Maybe 5 or so minutes later into the show he's holding one of the bats with his bare hands and gets bit. Dumb.
(On a side note: One of my biologist coworkers is really into bats and has done quite a bit of research on them, including to experts from all over the country. Apparently they are not the big rabies carriers people make them out to be, with less than a third of the bat population actually carrying rabies. I find that interesting.)

That's all beside the fact his handling methods and procedures REALLY stress out those animals.

One third of millions and millions and millions of bats is still a lot of rabid bats.
As much as I dislike Billy and his antics, it is entirely probable that he is up to date on his rabies shots. My son is a wildlife biologist and worked with bats, he had to get vaccinated before he could start. He's working with endangered reticulated salamanders right now but is up to date on his rabies vaccine...and will probably stay that way. It's just a smart thing to do.

[sflanick]

not all of his shows are bad watch the "beaver" episode i was in tears when i watched it when he starts talking about how thats the biggest beaver hes ever seen i fell out my chair laughing lol

[sorraia]

One third of millions and millions and millions of bats is still a lot of rabid bats.
As much as I dislike Billy and his antics, it is entirely probable that he is up to date on his rabies shots. My son is a wildlife biologist and worked with bats, he had to get vaccinated before he could start. He's working with endangered reticulated salamanders right now but is up to date on his rabies vaccine...and will probably stay that way. It's just a smart thing to do.

I would hope he is up to date on his rabies vaccine, simply because the nature of his job puts him at higher risk than the general population to be exposed to rabies. That wasn't really my point though. My point was here he is emphasizing how the bats are a "major" carrier of rabies and then, in front of who knows who watching the program, he handles a bat and gets bit. Great example for the people watching.

I had to do a quick search to see what a better estimate of how many bats carry rabies. I'm reading 10% or less. Yes, that's still a lot of bats, but it is also far from the majority of bats, as is the common misconception. Most people will never even see a live wild bat in their lifetime, so regardless how many bats may exist (and that depends on where you live too, some bat populations are disappearing at an alarming rate in some areas of their historic range), the risk of exposure is probably pretty low for most people. Compare that to more likely rabies carriers, such as raccoon, skunk, fox, and even domestic cats and dogs, which people are much more likely to be exposed to, yet seem to be much less concerned about. After all... raccoons are just big fuzzy puppy dogs! (please note the sarcasm in that last statement. It is an annoyance of mine, as a wildlife biologist, the misconceptions people have about animals. Much like the misconceptions people have about the snakes we keep as pets, i.e. they are dangerous, slimy, aggressive, out to get people, bite for no reason, will chase us down to bite us, etc)

[Clementine_3]

I would hope he is up to date on his rabies vaccine, simply because the nature of his job puts him at higher risk than the general population to be exposed to rabies. That wasn't really my point though. My point was here he is emphasizing how the bats are a "major" carrier of rabies and then, in front of who knows who watching the program, he handles a bat and gets bit. Great example for the people watching.

I had to do a quick search to see what a better estimate of how many bats carry rabies. I'm reading 10% or less. Yes, that's still a lot of bats, but it is also far from the majority of bats, as is the common misconception. Most people will never even see a live wild bat in their lifetime, so regardless how many bats may exist (and that depends on where you live too, some bat populations are disappearing at an alarming rate in some areas of their historic range), the risk of exposure is probably pretty low for most people. Compare that to more likely rabies carriers, such as raccoon, skunk, fox, and even domestic cats and dogs, which people are much more likely to be exposed to, yet seem to be much less concerned about. After all... raccoons are just big fuzzy puppy dogs! (please note the sarcasm in that last statement. It is an annoyance of mine, as a wildlife biologist, the misconceptions people have about animals. Much like the misconceptions people have about the snakes we keep as pets, i.e. they are dangerous, slimy, aggressive, out to get people, bite for no reason, will chase us down to bite us, etc)

Oh, I knew what you meant Billy is, IMO, an idiot when it comes to handling and ID'ng things. I don't usually watch and just get annoyed when I do. He really does need to be less jerk-like and use a bit of caution, people are watching and will imitate what he does with possible dire results. I would still not wish him to be harmed though, although it probably will happen sooner or later.
The bats are dying off by the bazillions here, white nose syndrome. What a shame, they are really cool little critters.

[Roadtrash]

The man is an idiot just like the turtle man. Yes it is a show and is done for the entertainment factor alone. But the way these nuts catch these animals is the part that amazes me. Most of these creatures are easy to catch they just don't know how.

And lets face it, if a person showed up at my house to remove an animal or whatever looking like they do he wouldn't get past the door. If you're dealing with the public you need to have a more professional look about you.

But some people like the show because they are funny, or at least they try to be, and as I said it is only for the entertainment value.

It would be nice though if they would be honest about the different animals they deal with rather than spin all those tales that they do.

Oh well, they didn't make the show for me.

[arialmt]

I wish I could relate but I tell my PVR that I "dislike" any reality tv. This dude sounds like a manipulatable moron with a personality.