Florida Man Captures Alligator By Using Garbage Can

Oct 01, 2021 by apost team

We’ve probably all read a headline at some point that mentions some variation of the “Florida man,” an internet term that has grown in popularity over the last few years as more outrageous antics continue to happen in the state. There have been a lot of shenanigans happening in the Sunshine State, from people stealing food by shoving it down their pants to people performing cartwheels in an attempt to outrun the police. 

One of the most common animals in Florida is the alligator, and this creature has become one of the prime topics again and again in news related to the state. Eugene Bozzi, a 26-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Mount Dora, Florida, found himself in a scary predicament one day in September 2021 when he realized there was an alligator running about in his neighborhood. He knew he needed to do something and that he needed to act fast to keep everyone safe.

With some creativity and quick thinking, Bozzi grabbed a large trash bin and figured out a way to maneuver the alligator, doing his best to capture the large animal. He continued to try to coax the alligator into the trash can and finally found success, with plenty of onlookers cheering the veteran on in the process. One neighbor managed to capture a video of the entire event, which has been taking the internet by storm since Sept. 29, 2021. Yet another headline about a man from Florida has captured the world’s attention, but fortunately, this one has a happy ending.

USA Today reported that Bozzi first learned that there was an alligator outside from his kids. Once he realized just how big the animal was, he knew he needed to act fast to keep the kids safe. “The only thing that came to my mind was to protect my kids and the other children outside,” Bozzi said.

He grabbed his recycling bin from inside his home to try to trap the alligator. At first, his angle was slightly off, but he kept trying to coax the gator inside. He managed to figure out a way to hit the animal on its head, causing it to freak out and eventually go inside the container. Bozzi quickly closed the lid, keeping the alligator trapped inside. “I used the front like a hippo mouth,” he explained. “I saw that he was more timid and he was backing down, so that’s why I knew it had the advantage.”

In a now-viral video, an onlooker captured the moment Bozzi trapped the gator and later set it free in a nearby bushy area with a body of water. People were heard cheering the veteran on in the background as he bravely captured the large animal and set it free far enough away that it wouldn’t be able to hurt anyone. Bozzi told USA Today that no humans were injured during the event, and the alligator appeared to be unhurt as well. 

The 26-year-old has since garnered plenty of media attention and has been trying to take it all in. “I feel like I was just doing what I was supposed to do at the time to make me more comfortable,” Bozzi said.

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What did you think about the heroic actions of this Florida man? Were you surprised he was able to capture the alligator? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your family members and friends, too.