What happened to the Gator boys? A look into their life

In the depths of Florida’s swamplands, where the line between man and beast obscures, two young boys thought to step where not many would dare—Paul Bedard and Jimmy Riffle, otherwise called the Gator Boys.

Spellbinding crowds with their outrageous hit on the dance floor with crocodiles, they turned into the basis of an unscripted television series that was as much about preservation as it was about adrenaline-siphoning activity.

In any case, what lies past the dinky waters and the camera’s glare for these gator whisperers? Let’s take a look at the Gator Boys’ lives—where they came from, what they did, and where they ended up today.

Who are the Gator Boys?

In the American reality television series Gator Boys, Paul Bedard and Jimmy Riffle take on the dangerous task of saving and removing alligators that have intruded into populated areas or are in danger of being trapped in Florida.

Produced by Mike Mathis Productions, the show ran on Animal Planet for six seasons, starting on January 1, 2012, and ending on August 17, 2015.

The show centers on the men and women of Gator Boys Alligator Rescue as they swim alongside the fang-infested reptiles in the Florida waters, risking life and limb to catch wild alligators with their bare hands.

Leading candidates Paul Bedard and Jimmy Riffle founded the rescue with the intention of removing invasive alligators from danger before they are taken and killed by other trappers who make money by capturing the animals.

They do this out of pure love for gators.

What happened to the Gator boys?

Prominent Gator Boy Jimmy Riffle took the tough decision to leave the team, citing burnout and exhaustion as motivating factors. Now, he owns his own rescue business, and Paul owns a restaurant and works as a trapper.

Ashley has changed her career to real estate. Jimmy recently celebrated his 38th birthday with Heather, and it seems like they are having a happy family life.

Though they were last seen together in October 2022, he is no longer dating Gator Boys actress Sara. Paul frequently provides updates on his work as an alligator show performer.

The famous trapper frequently captures the alligators under contract with Florida’s nuisance alligator program.

Riffle was emotionally and physically exhausted after years of hard work in the taxing field of alligator rescue and conservation. His health suffered as a result of the demanding nature of his work and the stress of being well-known.

The Gator Boys underwent a dramatic change with Riffle’s departure, underscoring the difficult obstacles these activists must overcome in order to defend and maintain the alligator species.

The untimely demise of John Martinez in 2013 following an encounter with an alligator brought attention to safety issues. 

This regrettable event made these animals’ possible threats more apparent and made coexistence tactics need to be reconsidered.

The event raised awareness of the necessity for safety measures when coexisting with alligators in ecosystems, especially in areas where interactions between people and wildlife are common.

Are the Gator Boys married?

Jimmy Riffle and Heather, his lifelong companion, are in a loving relationship. Not much is known about them. Jimmy’s ex from the show is someone who has been in the eyes of the fans.

Jimmy and Sara have been together since July 2011, when they first started dating. During their trip to Belize in March 2018, Jimmy proposed to his ex-fiancée Sara with a stunning diamond ring.

Both couples came to remember this vacation. Jimmy and Sara got along since they both worked in the same industry.

Fans could constantly see how much in love he was with his partner through social media, as he has been transparent about their relationship.

Paul Bedard has not made his relationship status or his children’s specifics publicly known. As of right now, it is unclear if he is a parent. Paul Bedard’s career earnings as of 2023 total a net worth of $500,000.