Marine Veteran Wrestles 10-Foot Alligator Barefoot on Florida Highway

Alligator Encounter on the Highway

• 🇺🇸 Marine veteran Mike Dragich, known as the 'Blue Collar Brawler,' responded to a call about a large alligator crossing a busy Florida highway.
• 🐊 The incident occurred while Dragich was having dinner with his family, highlighting his readiness to handle such situations.
• ⚠️ He emphasized the dangerous environment with semis and other vehicles passing, and thanked law enforcement for their assistance in securing the area.
• 📏 The alligator was approximately 10 feet long and estimated to weigh around 300 pounds, requiring help to move.

Project Savior Outdoors and Veteran Support

• 🎗️ Dragich runs a nonprofit organization called Project Savior Outdoors, which focuses on combating veteran and first responder suicide.
• 💬 He shares his personal story of being shot and left for dead, and his subsequent redemption through his relationship with Jesus.
• 🤝 Dragich aims to bring communities together, using events like the alligator rescue as a way to connect people.
• 🌐 He offers to speak at churches and organizations about his experiences and encourages people to visit bluecollarbrawler.com.

Alligator Trapping and Florida Life

• 🎣 Dragich is a licensed alligator trapper in Florida, a position he obtained after being deemed qualified by a board.
• 🤷 He humorously described his qualifications as wearing jean shorts, cut-off camo shirts, and watching YouTube videos.
• 🦶 When asked about wrestling the alligator barefoot, Dragich explained it's a preference for him, comparing it to playing a guitar with gloves – it just doesn't work for him.
• 🐊 He noted that alligators are common in Florida's bodies of water and stressed the importance of being aware of them.
• 📞 For alligator concerns, he advises people to reach out to the FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) snap hotline, though he is often called directly.