{"id":745881,"date":"2026-04-22T18:14:59","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T18:14:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/745881\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T18:14:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T18:14:59","slug":"florida-man-in-socks-and-sandals-scoops-alligator-with-recycling-cart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/745881\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Man in Socks and Sandals Scoops Alligator with Recycling Cart"},"content":{"rendered":"

The post Florida Man in Socks and Sandals Scoops Alligator with Recycling Cart<\/a> appeared first on A-Z Animals<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Watch the Video<\/p>\n

Click here to watch on YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n

A Florida man is receiving praise in the comments section after a video of him trapping a 5-foot alligator in his 64-gallon recycling cart was posted to the WESH 2 News official YouTube channel.<\/p>\n

\u201cPut this brave man in charge of his city\u2019s animal control department now!\u201d one commenter writes.<\/p>\n

American alligators (Alligator\u00a0mississippiensis) and the state of Florida go hand-in-hand. The Sunshine State is home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators. As such, encounters between the state\u2019s official reptile and its citizens happen. Alligators, though, are naturally wary of humans, and they usually flee before anyone realizes they were even there.<\/p>\n

That day, though, everyone in the neighborhood knew about the problem on this man\u2019s lawn.<\/p>\n

The three-minute video begins with the man, wearing a black durag, white t-shirt, black gym shorts, white crew socks, and black Adidas slides, approaching the alligator with a recycling cart on its side. The alligator is lying in the garden mulch of the flower bed in this man\u2019s front yard.<\/p>\n

\"Wildlife<\/p>\n

Alligators are an important part of Florida\u2019s natural history and are an integral component of freshwater ecosystems.<\/p>\n

\u00a9Benjamin Klinger\/Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n

The recycling cart\u2019s opening\u2014a dark abyss and surely a threatening sight for the alligator\u2014moves toward it. A dance begins. The Florida man pushes it forward a step or two; the alligator, mouth agape, responds, walking backward a step or two. Forward, back, forward, back.<\/p>\n

The man knows his chance to capture the alligator is close.<\/p>\n

Finally, the man, hoping to scoop the alligator up, quickly lunges the cart toward the alligator, who attempts to fight off its oversized opponent,. Suddenly, the alligator feels a threat from behind. It\u2019s the lid of the recycling cart. The alligator juts forward, trying to evade the rear attack. In doing so, it moves far enough into the cart that the man is able to pull it upright, trapping the alligator inside the recycling cart.<\/p>\n

The gathered crowd erupts in cheers and applause.<\/p>\n

The job is not yet done. Across the street is a pond or lake surrounded by plenty of bushes, brush, and grass. This is the place where the man will release the alligator. He rolls the cart as close to the water\u2019s edge as possible. He lifts the blue lid, pushes over the cart, and runs up the hill away from his foe.<\/p>\n

The alligator emerges slowly, still stunned by recent events. It gathers its bearings slowly. The man, somewhat impatient, reaches for the cart to pull it away. As he does, the alligator takes no further chances and sprints for cover under the dense shrubbery surrounding the pond.<\/p>\n

Safety Tips<\/p>\n

The Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission<\/a> (FWC) reminds people that alligators seldom bite people. Nevertheless, it does happen. So, use caution when in areas where they are known to be found.<\/p>\n