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Massive 10-foot alligator gets captured along a Florida highway by a licensed trapper

The huge reptile scared drivers before he was taken to a safer space

Massive 10-foot alligator gets captured along a Florida highway by a...
Massive 10-foot alligator gets captured along a Florida highway by a licensed trapperInstagram

Florida, the Sunshine State, is known for its beautiful beaches, summer weather and alligators, lots of alligators, as the reptiles are an integral part of the state's ecosystem.

These types of animals have an important role in the food chain and help keep other populations in balance. They are also some of Florida's most misunderstood animals.

Met his match! Massive 10-foot alligator gets captured along a Florida highway by a licensed trapper

Authorities have said that alligators approached by humans may become alarmed, think that they are being threatened and defend themselves. Residents of Florida need to be careful around heavy vegetation at the water's edge where the reptiles are known to lie in the daytime.

Massive alligator gets captured along a Florida highway

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office teamed up with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Highway Patrol, and a local alligator trapper after a large gator was spotted recently in I-95 at Jacksonville's Southside area.

"If you were cruising down I-95/I-295 on the Southside yesterday and thought you saw a barefoot man wrestling a giant alligator in the median - nope, your eyes weren't playing tricks on you. That happened," the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office wrote in Facebook.

The man that captured the gator was none other than local gator-wrangling legend Mike Dragich, the Blue Collar Brawler, to wrangle this beast off the road and keep everyone safe. It took him a few minutes to take the huge alligator off the side of the road and take him to a safer place.

An MMA fighter who's known in Florida

Mike Dragich is a Marine veteran, MMA fighter, licensed alligator trapper for the state of Florida, and follower of Christ. He is also the Founder of Project Savior Outdoors whose mission it is to fight PTSD and Veteran suicide by connecting with the great outdoors and sharing the true freedom that comes through faith.

The 33-year-old middleweight fighter has competed in four amateur bouts and is on a two-fight winning streak. His last outing was at Premier Fight League 35, where he finished Jaguar West via first-round knockout. That experience has helped him on his job as a licensed gator trapper.

Dragich has said that catching alligators make him feel like a superhero, particularly Batman. "A lot of fighters will understand that when you go to the cage, you're nervous but once that cage door closes, you gotta be focused and honestly that's what I when I capture this gators."

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