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Episode Show Notes
David Orin, known as @adventorin, is a 25-year-old snake specialist and YouTube influencer with 1.5 million Instagram followers who specializes in catching and relocating venomous snakes. On December 18th, while catching snakes in Florida, Orin was bitten by an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake—one of the most dangerous snakes in North America. In this raw and revealing conversation, Orin shares what happened during the bite, the excruciating pain and medical decisions that followed, and how he's navigating his recovery while reconsidering his relationship with the sport that nearly killed him. From the moment the fangs went through his hand to the questions about whether he'll ever catch snakes again, this episode captures a pivotal moment in a young man's life.
What happened when David Orin got bitten by an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake?
On December 18th, David Orin was bitten on his left hand by a six-foot Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake in Florida. The snake's fangs penetrated deep into his hand, causing immediate severe pain. He was rushed to the hospital where he received CroFab antivenom and underwent intensive treatment, experiencing complications that extended his recovery beyond typical snakebite cases.
Who is David Orin?
David Orin, also known as @adventorin, is a 25-year-old professional snake catcher and social media influencer with 1.5 million followers on Instagram. He specializes in capturing and relocating venomous snakes, creating educational content about reptiles, and has built a career around his passion for herpetology and wildlife conservation.
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The Bite That Changed Everything
December 18th started as another day of snake catching in Florida for David Orin. But when a six-foot Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake's fangs went through his left hand, everything changed in an instant. What makes this story particularly gripping isn't just the bite itself—it's what Orin reveals about the immediate aftermath, the split-second decisions he had to make, and the intense pain that followed. He describes the sensation in vivid detail and walks through the critical choices about whether to apply a tourniquet, how to get to the hospital, and what was running through his mind as he faced one of the most serious envenomations a snake handler can experience. The vulnerability and honesty in how he recounts those first moments make this more than just a snake bite story. Orin describes exactly what happened during the bite at the opening of the episode.
Inside the Hospital: Antivenom and Agonizing Decisions
Once at the hospital, Orin faced a new set of challenges that most people never consider when they think about snakebite treatment. He received CroFab antivenom—but the process wasn't as simple as a single injection and recovery. Orin opens up about the excruciating pain levels, the medical team's decisions about how much antivenom to administer, and the complications that arose during his treatment. He reveals specific details about his vital signs, the swelling progression, and the mental game of managing pain while trying to stay coherent enough to advocate for his own care. There's a particularly revealing moment when he discusses whether he should have made different choices about his treatment, and the long-term implications those decisions might have on his recovery. The full hospital experience and treatment details unfold throughout the conversation.
Hear David Orin describe the moment the Eastern Diamondback struck
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Building a Career Around Dangerous Animals
Before the bite, David Orin had built an impressive following doing something most people would never consider as a career: catching venomous snakes and creating content around it. He explains how he got started in the reptile world, the progression from hobbyist to professional, and how social media changed the game for snake handlers. What's fascinating is how he describes the business side of what he does—the sponsorships, the content creation process, and the balance between education and entertainment. He also reveals the challenges of being a young influencer in a niche that's both dangerous and controversial, including dealing with critics and managing the expectations of a massive online audience. There's real insight here about building a brand around a passion that most people find terrifying. Orin's journey from reptile enthusiast to social media star emerges throughout the conversation.
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Will He Catch Snakes Again?
Perhaps the most compelling part of this conversation is Orin's raw honesty about whether he'll continue doing what he's known for. A month after the bite, he's still in recovery and wrestling with questions that go beyond physical healing. He discusses the mental aftermath of a serious envenomation, the pressure from his audience to continue creating content, and the very real consideration of whether the risk is worth it. What he reveals about his thought process is surprisingly nuanced—it's not a simple yes or no answer. He talks about the financial realities of his career, his passion for reptiles, and the psychological impact of facing mortality at 25 years old. The way he articulates his uncertainty and the factors weighing on his decision makes this conversation feel deeply human rather than sensationalized. Orin's reflections on his future with snake catching develop throughout the entire episode.
This conversation goes deeper than you'd expect
A candid look at risk, recovery, and reconsidering your path
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Key Takeaways
- David Orin was bitten by a six-foot Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake on December 18th, resulting in a serious envenomation that required intensive medical treatment
- The immediate decisions after a venomous snake bite—from tourniquet application to transportation choices—can significantly impact outcomes
- CroFab antivenom treatment involves complex medical decisions, and the recovery process can extend far beyond what most people anticipate
- Building a social media career around dangerous wildlife requires balancing education, entertainment, and the very real risks that come with the work
- A serious injury forces a complete reconsideration of risk tolerance, career choices, and what you're willing to sacrifice for your passion
- The mental recovery from a life-threatening incident can be more complex than the physical healing
- Orin's 1.5 million Instagram followers and his vulnerability in sharing this experience offer rare insight into the human side of wildlife content creation
Final Thoughts from Tom
I've talked to a lot of people on this podcast who work in dangerous environments—commercial fishermen, military operators, big game guides—but there was something uniquely raw about this conversation with David. He's 25 years old, built a massive following doing something most people can't comprehend, and then had to face the reality that the thing he loves almost killed him. What struck me most wasn't the details of the snake bite itself, though those are intense, but rather David's willingness to be completely honest about where he is mentally a month later.
He doesn't have all the answers yet about whether he'll continue catching snakes, and I respect that he's not pretending otherwise. The pressure to have a neat narrative, especially when you have 1.5 million followers watching, must be enormous. But David sat down and had a real conversation about pain, fear, medical decisions, and what it means to reconsider your entire career path. Whether you're into reptiles or not, this conversation touches on something universal—what happens when you have to reevaluate the risks you're taking and the life you've built around them.
This one's worth listening to all the way through. David's story is still unfolding, and getting to hear him process it in real-time makes for a compelling and surprisingly thoughtful episode.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to David Orin @adventorin?
David Orin was bitten by an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake on December 18th while catching snakes in Florida. The bite resulted in serious envenomation requiring hospital treatment with CroFab antivenom. He is currently in recovery and reconsidering whether he will continue catching venomous snakes professionally.
How dangerous is an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake bite?
The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is one of the most dangerous venomous snakes in North America. A bite can cause severe pain, tissue damage, and requires immediate medical attention with antivenom treatment. David Orin's bite resulted in complications that extended his recovery beyond typical snakebite cases.
Who is @adventorin on social media?
@adventorin is the social media name for David Orin, a 25-year-old snake specialist and YouTube influencer with 1.5 million Instagram followers. He creates content focused on catching and relocating venomous snakes while educating audiences about reptiles and wildlife conservation.
What is CroFab antivenom used for?
CroFab is an antivenom medication used to treat venomous snake bites in North America, including rattlesnake, copperhead, and cottonmouth bites. It works by neutralizing the venom in the bloodstream. David Orin received CroFab treatment following his Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake bite on December 18th.
Will David Orin continue catching snakes after his bite?
As of one month after his December 18th bite, David Orin has not made a final decision about whether he will continue catching venomous snakes professionally. He openly discusses weighing the risks, his passion for reptiles, the financial realities of his career, and the mental impact of the serious envenomation.
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People Mentioned
David Orin (@adventorin) — Snake specialist and YouTube influencer
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About This Guest
David Orin
David Orin, known online as @adventorin, is a 25-year-old professional snake catcher and social media influencer with 1.5 million Instagram followers. He specializes in capturing and relocating venomous snakes, creating educational wildlife content, and building a career around herpetology. On December 18th, Orin was bitten by an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake in Florida, resulting in a serious envenomation that has led him to reconsider his relationship with the dangerous work he's known for. His willingness to share his recovery journey and the complexities of his decision-making process offers a rare, honest look at the human side of wildlife content creation.
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