FEATURED E-TEAM MEMBER:BRET CHISM, GATOR WRESTLER
Bret performing, “The Sleep” in the Gator Wrestling Show.
BRET CHISM
Joined the E-Team: Which time? 1988 was the first time.
Age: I’m the oldest…and most experienced, LOL!
Education: Life!
INTERVIEW
When you decide to audition for Gatorland Entertainment did you know you would have to become a gator wrestler?
Actually, I didn’t. I was in Entertainment before the Gator Wrestling show got started in 1991. I guess you could say that I was drafted into gator wrestling. A fellow workmate and I got a call on the radio asking if we could come up to Frank Godwin’s office (the former President of Gatorland). We thought we were in trouble. We entered the office to find Frank and a gray haired gentleman with a smile hidden behind his mustache. Frank looked at us and said, “This here’s Tim Williams, he’s gonna teach ya’ll how to wrestle gators.” Being a young and fearless man, I said. “OK.” It was all downhill from there.
What were you doing before you came to Gatorland?
I grew up in my father’s business of office machine repair and sales. I did that since I was 8 years old. Fixing office machines, typewriters, copiers, fax machines. I have always loved working with my hands. When we moved to Florida and I started working at a pet shop while still working for my dad, the manager of the pet shop’s son worked at Gatorland. He got me interested so I quit the pet shop job and got a job at Gatorland. Since then I have worked on and off doing other things, construction, pest control, pool cleaning, working at a plant nursery and appliance repair but I have always come back to Gatorland.
It is challenging to learn to wrestle alligators but it has to be fun too. Tell us about what makes it fun and keeps you excited.
I think seeing the smiles on the guests faces is what keeps me excited and interested. I love the interaction we have with the guests. That sets us apart from the other theme parks. We are very much into guest interaction and we love to talk. Don’t ask us questions or we’ll hold you there for hours, telling you all about what we do and all about the cool animals we have here.
What is your favorite alligator at Gatorland and why?
Unfortunately my favorite alligator died at a ripe old age of about 60. His name was Godzilla. He was about 13 feet long. A few months before he died he got in a bad fight with another alligator. The other alligator punctured his nasal passage on the top of his snout which meant he couldn’t hold his breath underwater. But, he lived with that wound for a while. Well, one day I was leaving the park after work and I looked down in the water and saw Godzilla going into convulsions. Now, I have this passion for animals and a lot of experience with gators so I jumped in the water, got in front of him and gently lifted his snout above the water so he wouldn’t drown. By this time, I had a zookeeper behind me with a roll of tape to tape his mouth shut. Godzilla looked me in the eyes as if to say, “Ya know, you guys have taken care of me all my life, just let me die peacefully.” We actually had some guests and a few other employees help lift Godzilla onto a truck and put him into a shallow enclosure so he wouldn’t drown. Godzilla died a few weeks later. I absolutely balled. I was pretty attached to that alligator. I took him out in the back forty and buried him myself.
What is the hardest part of your job as a Gatorland Entertainer?
Ummmm….can’t think of one.
Have you ever had any close calls working with alligators or any other animal here at Gatorland?
I was hoping that this question wouldn’t come up. Yes. I have been bit but I haven’t been bit in quite some time, though. It’s inanimate objects that get me. The bell at the Jumparoo Show fell on my head. I shut my hand in the train’s door. I was struck by lightning (long story…but I lived). I slip and fall a lot. Hey, if something weird is gonna happen, it’s gonna happen to Bret.
What made you interested in alligators/reptiles?
We live in Florida, need I say more? 
What kind of pets do you have at home? Why those pets?
I have a Yellow Naped Amazon Parrot. Why? She was donated to Gatorland and she had a skin condition and some weird tail feathers so they didn’t want to put her on display. I took her home. I thought she was the biggest mistake I have ever made but now I can’t live without her. She’s my Sydney.
What kind of hobbies do you have?
I love the outdoors; camping, fishing, boating, bike riding and hanging out with friends. I love to cook. I love music. I love to play guitar although I am not very good.
Do you have any special talents?
Talents? Yes, getting myself into trouble, oh and I slip and fall a lot.
Do you have someone who inspired you to get in to this field?
Inspired me? No, not really. But, the people that I work with keep me inspired to continue in this field. I was working with reptiles and wrestling gators before any of the recent animal guys on TV had shows. Although, Tim Williams, has been a great inspiration to me. He’s the one that taught me how to wrestle alligators.
If you had a choice to travel anywhere in the world to study animals, where would you go and what animal would you study?
Costa Rica. No one animal though. There is a huge diversity of animals there.
If there was one thing you would like for our guests to know about you, what would that be?
I like long walks on the beach and puppy dogs. Ha, ha!