“Florida Man” stories are synonymous with people doing something dangerous and/or illegal… but that’s not always the case. A recent Florida Man story is all about an unexpected hero that, naturally, involves wrangling a gator. Last week, the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office was alerted to a gator that was roaming around the median of I-95/I-295. For everyone’s safety, this wild animal needed to be safely moved ASAP.
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So, the sheriff’s office teamed up with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Highway Patrol, and… the Blue Collar Brawler. No, that last one isn’t the name of some local group. It’s a single man, named Mike Dragich, who is known for wrangling gators all over Florida. See him in action in the video below!
@nypost A Marine veteran known as “Blue Collar Brawler” was filmed running onto a highway to wrestle a 6-foot-long alligator — all while barefoot.
♬ original sound – New York Post | News
Popular Florida Man Known for Wrangling Gators Caught in Heroic Moment
Watching Mike in action is incredible. You can tell he’s had a lot of practice. In fact, he’s a licensed gator trapper (so don’t try something like this if you’re not)! It probably won’t come as much of a surprise that Mike is also a mixed martial arts fighter and a Marine veteran. So, while the idea of getting anywhere near a gator is terrifying for most of us, this wrangler was made for this kind of work!
“It definitely gets my blood, my heart pumping and my blood flowing, the adrenaline going,” Mike says. “I’ve done it quite a bit, so I feel confident in what I’m doing with these animals. I know how they move. That’s not the same for everyone, so you’ve got to be careful, never approach these animals.”
Thankfully, alligators tend to keep away from humans. Even when they do get close, they only attack when threatened or cornered — this is especially true on land. So, if you ever do cross paths with one, make sure to stay at least 30 feet away, and keep the heroic stuff to professionals like Mike!
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here!
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