At the turn of the 20th century, showing off alligators and alligator wrestling as roadside attractions helped Native Floridians generate revenue.
However, long before the sunburnt tourists or even the first Europeans invaders wandered into the Florida Everglades, alligator wrestling existed. Southeastern Tribes have been hunting alligator for thousands of years. For tribes like the Seminole and Miccosukee, learning how to “handle” the reptiles was part of their existence.
In order to have fresh meat, the alligator hunter would capture the alligator, tether it to a post in the campsite, and kill it when it was time for the meat to be harvested.
Zack Battiest, alligator wrestler on the Hollywood reservation, explained why this was practiced. “It was mainly made for, back in the day, how we would get food. We would trade hides and stuff. A freshly caught alligator was better than a dead alligator, so it was even a food source, if need be.”
Eventually, tourists began to see the alligators tied up in the reservations and started giving the Natives money to see how masterfully they handled these prehistoric reptiles. However, the Seminole and Miccosukkee treat their alligators with utmost respect. Before becoming an alligator wrestler, or even touching one, permission must be granted by a member of the Snake Clan. In the past, a member of the Alligator Clan would be asked, but since the Alligator Clan is sadly now extinct, the related Snake Clan performs this honor.
The method of Seminole and Miccosukkee alligator wrestling is very straightforward. One, respect the alligator like you respect yourself. Two, keep your fingers out of the alligator’s mouth. And three, if you’re afraid of getting bitten, stay out of the pit!
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