Syracuse.com - 'Gator Boy' wrestles, sticks hand in alligator's mouth at Turning Stone outdoors show (video)

[HuntingNY-News]

Riffle wowed the crowd by wrestling with a 10-foot gator named "Al."

Verona, N.Y. -- Jimmy Riffle, one of the stars of the "Gator Boys" TV show on the Animal Planet channel, is the big attraction at this weekend's The Big East Camping & Outdoors Sports Show at the Turning Stone Casino Event Center.

I checked out Riffle's opening show this morning. He wrestled with a male 10-foot, 250-pound alligator named "Al" and wowed the crowd by sticking his hand in its mouth.

As a warm up to the alligator wrestling, Riffle and three of his spotters (guys who were ready to pull the gator off him if needed) showed the crowd several turtles native to Florida, including a huge alligator snapping turtle, the largest freshwater turtle in the world based on weight. These bad boys can get up to more than 300 pounds.

Riffle said he has two adult gators for the show. He wrestled with one in the first show, while the other was inside a 20-foot trailer which contains a small, heated swimming pool.

Riffle said he feeds the gators chicken meat and fish. He said this time of year they only have to eat about twice or three times a month.

The Big East Show runs until 7 p.m. tonight and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Cost is $9 at the door; kids 6-13, $3 and children 5 and under free. Get $1 off with a Turning Stone Diamond Card or Price Chopper Advantage Card.

Riffle is scheduled to appear today at 2 and 5 p.m., and at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday.

For more, see bigeastshows.com/.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog