Mike Dragich: Florida’s Barehanded Alligator Hero and Licensed Trapper

Are wild alligators causing chaos in your Florida community? Then it’s time to give Mike Dragich a ring. This MMA fighter and former Marine Corps member recently made headlines for subduing an 8-foot gator with his bare hands after it wandered onto busy traffic in Jacksonville. With ease, he hopped on the alligator’s back, taped its mouth shut, lifted it up, and carried it off the road – using only his bare hands.
Dragich is not just a reckless daredevil; he’s also an authorized gator trapper with a license from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). He calls himself “Blue Collar Brawler” on Instagram, where he frequently shares videos of him wrestling and capturing the giant reptiles. His services are often sought after to eliminate “nuisance alligators” – defined by FWC as those measuring at least 4 feet in length that pose a threat to people, pets or property.
One such example was last June’s capture of a 10-foot gator on an elementary school premise in Jacksonville; it put up much more resistance and presented greater danger than the little one pictured above. Dragich has shared videos showcasing his techniques for catching alligators, which typically involve getting them out of water using treble hooks attached to offshore fishing rods until they become exhausted enough to be pulled onto land where they can then be detained with tape around their jaws before being safely removed from the area.
In an interview with WJXT, Dragich explained his approach: “Normally you have to get them out of water and usually using a treble hook attached to offshore fishing rods,” he said. “You need to tire them down first by pulling them up onto land before detaining them.” However, we strongly advise against attempting anything similar without the proper training or equipment as it can be incredibly dangerous!