No shoes, no equipment, no problem for our good friend Mike Dragich, a.k.a. “Blue Collar Brawler.”
Dragich, a licensed Florida alligator trapper, MMA artist, veteran, and nonprofit leader in Florida, trapped and removed an 8-foot alligator wandering the streets of Downtown Jacksonville.
Dragich told News4JAX he was at a Jacksonville Icemen game with his family when he heard the nuisance gator call from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office seeking a trapper.
He didn’t have his equipment with him so he caught the gator in True Florida man style — with his bare hands! And bare feet...
“I was at a hockey game downtown Jacksonville with my family!” Dragich told News4JAX. “Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office called the emergency alligator situation to FWC and I was dispatched. It was only five minutes from the game, so I literally left the game, caught the alligator, and then went back to the game!”
April is the start of mating season for alligators. That’s why we keep hearing these crazy stories of gators popping up in random places.
Reminder: Do not try this on your own. If you see an aggressive or nuisance alligator, call the FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).