HOLLYWOOD—Who ever knew that watching a reality show about a group of exterminators could be so informative and entertaining? For those of you still out of the loop about the show that I’m referring to, that show is A&E’s “Billy the Exterminator.” The series revolves around a family business of exterminators who are the saviors to the citizens of the state of Louisiana. The oddest thing is that I stumbled upon this show while doing channel surfing. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from watching this show, it’s thatLouisiana has its fair share of pests: from raccoons to foxes, and from snakes to beavers.

The star of the show is Billy himself; he’s cool and extremely passionate about what he does. He has a vast amount of knowledge and informs the audience of things many of us may have never known. Viewers can sense the love he has for animals and protecting the citizens of the state of Louisiana. Upon first impression, many people believe Billy and his brother Ricky are rockers, because they don’t dress like typical exterminators.  There is no full body suit or face mask worn by them. They’re everyday people, and it just shows to never judge a book by the cover. Whether he’s catching a raccoon, squirrel, skunk, beaver or snake, Billy makes it his duty to relocate all animals to an area where they’ll have the opportunity to be in nature without threatening humans.

Ricky and Billy aren’t the only members of this terrific show. We have Donnie, Billy’s mother, who is a receptionist of the phones at the office. She’s the first one who contacts Billy to let him know about a job. She’s the protector of the family; making sure to look out for the well being of her husband, Big Bill. Big Bill thinks he can still do everything that his sons do, but in reality he can’t. Donnie’s always telling her sons to be extra cautious on every job, because one wrong mishap can be deadly. There’s also Billy’s wife, Mary, who sometimes joins her husband on a few jobs, which allows the couple to spend some quality time together.

I have learned so much about snakes, like being able to differentiate a poisonous snake from a non-poisonous snake based on the eyes. I’ve also discovered the various species of wasps; some of which can be deadly with one sting, if you’re allergic. Ricky has to be extra cautious on any jobs that involve wasps or bees, because he’s had his fair share of run-ins that have been too close to call. Raccoons may be cute-looking animals, but some carry rabies and other diseases, and they can attack at any moment if cornered.

There have been a few episodes of the series that I have thoroughly enjoyed. Like the episode where Ricky and Billy went on a dangerous job at a duck bill that involved several water moccasins (extremely poisonous snakes) and a wasp nest. I was seriously worried for the guys in the episode. Snakes were escaping from their clutches, and Ricky got stung near the eye. This was indeed the riskiest job the guys took on, and they were forced to leave to get Ricky medical assistance. There was another episode that shook me to the core as Billy tackled a massive roach infestation at a client’s home. It was so bad that the tenants were actually forced outside of their home. These pests were virtually everywhere in the house, even in the refrigerator, but Billy got the job done.

From the show, I realized how dangerous raccoons or squirrels can be if they get into your house, particularly the attic. They love to chew on electrical wires, and these vermin are the causes of many household fires. If you suspect something is in your attic, contact an exterminator immediately to take care of the problem. Billy and Ricky recently took a trip to the gulf coast to learn more about the massive oil spill and its effect on wildlife, where they located a raccoon in the midst of the spill. Billy, against protocol, rescued the animal and made sure it got the assistance it needed.

This show is such a hoot to watch. I never actually feel as if I’m watching for the pure enjoyment. I’m learning, and that’s something I appreciate. I have even gotten a few family members to start watching the show. You can’t just watch one episode; you want to see more and more. I have a greater appreciation for animals and the duties that exterminators around the globe perform. “Billy the Exterminator” airs Wednesdays on A&E at 10:00 p.m.