Syracuse.com - Veteran alligator wrestler appearing at the Big East Sports Show at Turning Stone

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He said his shows will feature two, male alligators, "Al" and "K-Mart," which he said are 9 and 8 1/2 feet long, respectively.

Jimmy Riffle said he got his start messing with alligators when he was a young teen.

“My mother got me this volunteer job at the local zoo when I was 11...and things just escalated to what it is today,” said the veteran alligator wrestler.

Riffle, 27, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., appears with partner Paul Bedard, on “Gator Boys" a TV show that premiered Jan. 8 on Animal Planet.

Riffle will be at the Big East Camping/Outdoors Show at the Turning Stone Resort Casino Saturday and Sunday, doing three "alligator education and entertainment " programs each day with his brother, Andy, and friends, Tre and Richard.

Riffle and Bedard have become have become “Florida's go-to guys when locals find themselves crossing paths with deadly 1,000-pound reptiles in shocking locations - like master bedrooms, swimming pools or outdoor cafés,” according to the show’s website. “The goal is for the team to capture nuisance gators with their bare hands and move them to safety before trappers, who kill and sell the animals for their skin and meat, get to them.”

Riffle, who stands 5-10 and weighs 250 pounds, described his shows slated for this weekend as a “hands-on” demonstration and lecture. He said he'll use two male alligators, "Al" and "K-Mart," which he said are 9 and 8½ feet long, respectively. He answered questions about himself during a phone interview Monday.

What were you doing before this show began?

“I’ve been wrestling alligators for awhile. It’s been a big part of my life. I’m just taking it to the next level. I had this maintenance job with the local school board. The show came up, and now I’m doing this full-time... traveling, doing shows.

Why the catch-and-release approach?

I was taught by a guy who gave me a lot of hands-on instruction, and emphasized having respect for the animal. In Florida, you just can’t release them into the wild. We take them to a wildlife sanctuary or some other private facility.

What’s the biggest, gnarliest gator you’ve ever handled?

It was 13 feet, about 1,200 pounds. Did it by myself.

Why don't you use ropes or some other tools?

Ropes are good, but sometimes they can get in the way and you could trip. We do everything with our bare hands.

What’s your advice to someone who wants to get involved in alligator wrestling?

Stay away.

No, seriously, what would you recommend?

It’s not something you wake up one morning and decide it’s what you want to do. It has to be in your blood. You have to be quick on your toes and never let your guard down. You get complacent, you get hurt.

Have you ever been hurt?

I got bit seven times. The worst was a bite on my right hand. The alligator held on for about eight minutes. I was doing a show for a baby shower in front of about 90 people. I was working him, I misstepped and he bit my hand.

How’d you get it to let go?

Somebody pried it off with a crowbar.

IF YOU GO:

The Big East Camping/Outdoors Show runs from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday; 10 to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $8; children ages 6-12, $3 and free for children under 6. For more, call 794-0695 or visit the event's website.

Riffle's shows are scheduled for 11:30 a.m., 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog