Only In Louisiana? Viral Video Of Man Casually Dragging Gator Lights Up Social Media

A viral video shared by Maddie Keith of FOX 8 Live in New Orleans has social media doing a double take after showing what many are calling one of the most Louisiana moments ever. The source material explains that the video was credited to Joshua Garcia, though it isn't confirmed whether he is the man seen handling the alligator.

A Calm Walk Back To The Wild

The short clip, captioned "Only in Louisiana," shows a man grabbing a young alligator by the tail and calmly dragging it across what appears to be a gas station parking lot before releasing it into a nearby patch of brush.

The alligator doesn't even put up a fight, almost appearing to accept its fate as it's relocated away from people and back toward a more natural area.

While the man's confidence certainly caught viewers' attention, it's important to note that approaching or handling an alligator is strongly discouraged. Even smaller gators can whip around in an instant and deliver a serious bite.

Based on comments from people who claim to know him, the man reportedly grew up around alligators and was familiar with handling them. Even so, this isn't something wildlife officials recommend the public attempt.

The Internet Had Plenty To Say

As entertaining as the video was, the comment section may have been even better.

Many viewers joked that the alligator looked completely defeated, with one person writing, "The gator just accepted his fate."

Maddie Kerth, Facebook

Another commenter asked, "Did he just put a swamp puppy in timeout?" while someone else compared the scene to "dragging my children out of stores."

Others imagined what the gator might have been thinking.

• "I ain't even done nothing! Where you taking me?"
• "Gator is clearly a repeat offender."
• "He's just walking his pet gator."
• "Like he's taking a kid to time out."

Several people also applauded the man for moving the animal away from traffic instead of harming it, while others questioned whether dragging the young gator across the pavement was the best way to relocate it.

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Don't Try This Yourself

The video may have people laughing, but it also serves as a reminder that alligators are wild animals.

Even juvenile gators can react unpredictably, and grabbing one by the tail can quickly become dangerous if it turns around. Wildlife experts generally recommend keeping your distance and contacting local authorities or wildlife officials if an alligator poses a threat or is in an unsafe location.