HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Rookie Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers had their hands full Wednesday during an alligator-trapping training exercise.
Capturing a 10-foot American crocodile and then moving the 400 pound reptile to a new enclosure is a fearless feat. And when it was over, there were plenty of relieved handshakes and fist bumps.
It is currently alligator mating season and South Floridians are encountering more nuisance gators than ever, so FWC officers need to be prepared and you can't learn this stuff from a text book.
"I got bit by a 12 foot, 1,000 pound alligator," trapper Will Nace said.
Nace has been a trapper and trainer for four years and he knows the dangers first hand.
"Trappers are not always available to come out on situations, and if it is a dangerous situation they need to be able to handle it," he said.
Two man teams practiced roping, catching and securing gators in the pit, and at times it got hairy and scary.
"It's nerves, it's adrenaline. It is thinking, 'Am I going to lose a finger? Am I going to lose an arm?'" FWC spokesman Lorenzo Veloz said.
Officials say the reason you approach the gator from behind is because the gator can't see you, and the reason that you pull its neck up is because the alligator has an amazing amount of downward thrust but very little upward thrust, so this is the best way to control the animal.
"There is no hesitation. No time for fear. You need to get in there and get it done," Juan Blanco, who was receiving training, said.
Blanco has been on five gator calls since joining the FWC, but Wednesday was the first time he and his fellow rookies have gotten up close and personal with a gator.
"The training we did today was hands on, the real deal and definitely changes the way I look at things next time I respond to an alligator call," Blanco said.