A Day in the Life of… Dan the Snakeman

“A Day in the Life of…” is our recurring column wherein we ask local, everyday people with unique jobs what it’s like to be them.

This week, we asked Dan the Snakeman how he got into his unusual line of work and what he likes most about introducing the public to alligators, turtles, and of course, snakes. 

How did you come up with the concept of Dan the Snakeman?
The concept of Dan the snakeman evolved from a hobby business I started called, Snakes n Stuff. I did a few schools, a couple of birthday parties, and soon everywhere I went people, especially kids would just say, “Hey, there’s Dan the snakeman!” The rest is history. 

How would you describe your average day on the job? 

There is no average day on the job. Every show is different, every audience is different, venues are different. One day I’m doing a show for kindergartners, the next I’m in a correctional facility, then I’m showing reptiles to Boy Scouts, and the next day I’m at a bachelorette party. No two days are the same. 

What is it you like about interacting with kids? 

I love interacting with kids because I see myself in them. If I could have had the opportunity to hold a snake, alligator, tarantula, when I was their age, it would have been such a cool experience. So I make sure that they don’t miss out. Kids have so much video and artificial experiences thrown at them. I like to give them something real that they can hold onto for a lifetime. 

What were you like as a kid, and did you always like snakes and other exotic animals? 

I grew up on a dairy farm in my hometown of Marathon. When I wasn’t milking cows or doing field work, I was fishing and snake hunting. I’ve always had a passion for animals, ever since I was old enough to know what they were. I love animals because there’s nothing complicated. No right, no wrong, no black, no white, no Democrats or Republicans, just basic daily survival. Simple. 

What is the hardest part of your job?

The hardest part of my job is what I’m up against right now. I always thought that an educational program geared to helping people appreciate reptiles and other misunderstood members of the animal kingdom would be safe from political pressure and legal restrictions, but I find myself confronting a system that is making what I do and what I’ve done for over 30 years more and more difficult with each passing year. 

What do you enjoy most about being Dan the Snakeman? 

The best part of being Dan the Snakeman is knowing that I’ve made an impact on people with my reptiles. Giving kids and adults alike the unique experience of being able to get up close and personal with creatures they might never have had the opportunity to see. To learn about them, to appreciate them, to experience them. After all, it’s the experiences in life that make it worth living. That’s why my catch phrase is, “feel the experience.”