Christian,



Honestly the best shot you have at getting into venom extraction, once you've gained the experience to actually handle venomous snakes, is to get on with an existing lab. This would likely be difficult, but not impossible. After all, the folks currently do extraction won't live forever (and in fact, may not live very long at all considering the risk they have to put themselves in), so they'll need 'replacements' eventually. You could contact Jim Harrison who runs the Kentucky Reptile Zoo. There are probably one or two other extraction facilities around this country if you look. That is assuming you are in the US.



Considering the amount of money required to start something like that, it would be far more feasible to work with an existing facility. Not that it'd be easy getting a job there, or even that it'd be possible within the next 10-20 years, but it's far more likely than making your own lab and company.



Disclaimer: All the above is written assuming you're over 18 or whatever the legal age is where you live, and have experience handling and caring for venomous reptiles of many different types and 'skill level.' If you aren't either, especially the latter, then disregard my comments until you are.
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Chance Duncan

Science Teacher, Herp Enthusiast, and Reptilian Conservation Proponent

www.rvexotics.com

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