Two wannabe influencers are facing a real-life Florida wildlife investigation after they filmed themselves petting alligators for TikTok — just days after a deadly gator attack rocked the state.
The jaw-dropping videos, which exploded online before being deleted, showed TikTok user Kileigh Rose and a friend paddling through Silver Springs State Park in a small clear canoe while treating the dangerous reptiles like part of a summer content challenge.
“Come with us to pet alligators,” Rose wrote over one clip, calling the reckless outing part of a “Steve Irwin summer.”
In the now-deleted video, one of the women can be seen reaching her hand into the water and rubbing it along an alligator’s back as the animal swims beside the canoe, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The clip reportedly racked up 2.1 million views before disappearing amid a wave of backlash.
“Did you get that? I just pet the s— out of him,” the kayaker said with a grin.
Another video, which drew an astonishing 21 million views, showed an alligator suddenly thrashing around dangerously close to their tiny vessel.
“F—!” one of the women shouted as the gator splashed near the canoe, while Rose screamed from a paddleboard nearby.
Now, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the footage. Petting or interfering with alligators can be considered harassment, and the women could reportedly face a $500 fine or up to 60 days in jail.
The stunt has sparked even more outrage because it came just days after several terrifying alligator attacks in Florida, including one that killed 31-year-old Brittany Clark.
Clark was attacked on June 28 while swimming in the Econlockhatchee River at Little Big Econ State Forest, about 90 miles from where the influencers filmed their risky content.
That was not the only recent gator scare. On June 27, 11-year-old Brodie Terry of Pennsylvania lost his hand after he was attacked while fishing with his family. Days later, on July 3, 71-year-old fisherman James Grayson McMicken was ambushed by an alligator while fishing near a canal by his North Fort Myers home.
McMicken survived only after fighting back in a desperate struggle, reportedly jamming his thumb into the gator’s eye and beating it with his fishing rod.
Online, many viewers were stunned by the influencers’ behavior and said the women should face consequences.
“Repercussion need to happen. This is 100% harassment of the gator, the gator is swimming away, even hissing as a warning but she continues to follow it,” one viewer wrote.
Another person mocked the dangerous stunt, writing, “Not the brightest bulb in the pack.”
The viral backlash has turned what appeared to be a clout-chasing adventure into a cautionary tale about just how quickly a Florida wildlife encounter can go wrong.
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