Mount Dora, Florida – One Florida man tapped into his creative side when an alligator tried to take refuge in his own front yard.

When an alligator tried to make one family's home his own, a protective dad took matters into his own hands.

In an Instagram video that's now gone viral, US Army veteran Eugene Bozzi is seen creatively using a trash can to taunt and inevitably capture an alligator that was lurking In his front yard.

Captioned, "I got kids to protect," the video shows Bozzi going head-to-head with the alligator, who doesn't seem to mind the challenge.

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As the man inches the trash can closer, the alligator starts to move backward, seemingly trying to get a better angle to strike.

A group of onlookers can be heard anxiously cheering the man on in the background, while the alligator continued to hiss directly at Bozzi just a few feet away.

But the Army vet didn't bat an eye and continued to carry out the mission in defense of his family and his neighbors.

Once he had the alligator nearly cornered, the man dropped the lid of the trashcan, hitting it on the head, causing the animal – and onlookers - to freak out.

Moments later, Bozzi had the noticeably agitated alligator partially inside the trash can, but he still had to get the can in an upright position if he wanted to keep himself, his family, and his neighbors safe.

Slowly but surely, the man lifted the can up with a hand on the lid to ensure the gator couldn't escape, as the crowd of onlookers cheered in relief.

In an interview with the New York Post, Bozzi said, "[My] military instinct kicked in – and, you know, 'protect at all costs.'"

According to NBC-affiliate WESH 2, Bozzi released the alligator at a nearby lake.

The original video has garnered over 97,500 views in just 18 hours.