Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said they were alerted to the capture after someone told the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office that the man took home the alligator.

Conservation officials said the alligator was about 45 inches long.

According to witnesses, the alligator was crossing Lemon Road on Monday night when the man decided to catch it and grabbed it by its tail. While holding onto the tail, the alligator whipped around and bit the man on the leg, then ran into some bushes.

As if getting bitten once wasn’t enough, the man reached into the bushes to grab the gator and was subsequently bitten again.

Eventually he was able to catch the creature and take it home. He received puncture and laceration wounds.

A wildlife officer issued Dirk Alan Willms, 44, of Lemon Street a citation for possessing the alligator, and then released it in Lake Jesup.

The maximum penalty for the crime is 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

While the officer was filling out the citation, Willms said he should have cut the gator’s tail to take home to eat, and left the gator where he caught it, according to the officer’s report.

He also told the officer he had caught several alligators in the past without getting bitten.

Officer Naomii Tye said that if someone sees an alligator that they think is a threat to public safety, they should call the FWC.

“They should never try to catch it themselves, no matter how small it is,” Tye said.

Catching and possessing alligators without a permit is against the law in Florida.

The FWC encourages residents to report violators at the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline, 1-888-404-3922. Callers are anonymous and may be eligible for a reward if their information leads to an arrest.

Read more: The Sanford Herald - Sanford man bitten twice charged with catching gator

Submitted on 07/19/2010

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: The Sanford Herald (Florida) June 19, 2010

Copyright © 2010 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
Getting bit once wasn't enough for this guy? I'm sure we'll be hearing from him again in the future... Thanks!

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
He got bit twice and then took it home? Oh, brother.

The Darwin Awards Gift Shop

The Darwin Awards Condom Keep yourself out of the gene pool! A condom in a matchbook, useful for emergency contraception, bachelor parties, frat parties, and important rites of passage. LOADED inside and out with funny quotes and stories. Everyone loves this item! Friends don't let friends reproduce! $13 for Pack of 4