A small alligator spotted on Belle Isle was captured this week by a couple of Detroit men who stepped in after state wildlife officials confirmed reports of the rare sighting.
Steve Hart, a local dog trainer and lifelong Lions fan now being called the “alligator wrangler,” said he and a man he met, named Troy, tracked and secured the reptile at Blue Heron Lagoon near the Belle Isle golf course.
Days after the Michigan Department of Natural Resources confirmed multiple reports that an alligator had been seen on Belle Isle, Hart said a woman gave him the coordinates to the last sighting. That led him to the Blue Heron Lagoon. He spent the first night in the water trying to find the animal but came up short — mistaking a river otter for the alligator in the dark.
Hart returned early the next morning and searched the shoreline for roughly six hours.
“I spotted it kind of swimming to shore,” he recalled. “Then it was like, hey, I’m Amen Ra in 4th down. If I see it, I’ve got to get it. I can’t waste the opportunity.”
He said a man named Troy was nearby with a net, and together they quickly wrangled the small gator. Hart announced the catch on social media with a mix of pride and relief: “Alright guys, me and Troy. We got the gator. Let’s go. Let’s go.”
Hart admits the decision carried some risk but felt compelled to act.
“I was, like, if I lose a finger, I’d break a wrist. I thought about all this stuff I’d sacrifice to get that alligator,” he said. “Everybody that knows me was like, there’s no doubt. If somebody’s going to get the Belle Isle alligator, it’s Steve.”
Many residents have applauded the effort, saying it helped put lingering fears to rest.
Hart said he’s calling the rescued reptile “Fafnir,” after the mythological dragon. The gator is now in the care of the Great Lakes Serpentarium in Westland, a rescue organization that will house the animal and provide veterinary care.
The serpentarium has a grand opening scheduled for October 31, where visitors will be able to see Fafnir and other rescued reptiles.
Officials have not released details about how the alligator arrived on Belle Isle. State wildlife authorities typically caution residents to keep a safe distance from wild animals and to report sightings to the DNR so trained professionals can respond safely.
Steve Hart owns and operates Spartan K9 Training. He said in addition to dog training he has recently spent time rescuing animals like snapping turtles and wild birds.
You can learn more about Spartan K9 Training on Instagram at @Spartan_k9_training or follow him here.