A Florida man made one scary trip into the Everglades and walked out a social media star

Jan 16, 2025

The growth of social media has led to the rise of people who try to use it for fame. 

Social media influencers are constantly trying to push the envelope. 

And a Florida man made one scary trip into the Everglades and walked out a social media star. 

Social media influencers try to get famous in the Florida Everglades

The Everglades are a mix of swamps, flooded grasslands, and prairies that cover more than 7,000 square miles in southern Florida. 

Most tourists see the Everglades through an airboat tour or the hiking trails. 

Social media influencers are giving their followers a chance to see the area in a new way. 

A group of personalities with names like Gator Chris, Luca, and Yoink Guy have built more than 25 million followers across social media platforms by going out into the Everglades to pull stunts like swimming with alligators and handling snakes. 

Yoink Guy has drawn criticism from wildlife experts for the way he interacts with animals. 

He has picked up venomous snakes in the Everglades in his quest to build an audience. 

The influencers argue they are bringing viewers to areas of nature that most people would never see and raising awareness about the importance of the Everglades. 

Barefoot snake catcher courts controversy in the Everglades 

Garrett Galvin known as Yoink Guy, has more than seven million followers on TikTok and Instagram. 

He is known for walking barefoot through the Everglades and for his interactions with the wildlife there. 

Galvin has picked up venomous snakes, petted alligators, spiders, possums, and more in his videos. 

@fishingarrett That was a close call exploring the Everglades! #eve#everglades#foryou#fyp#foryoupage#wildlife#educational#viral#snake#alligator#crocodile#animals#toad#florida#nature#python#conservation#wilderness#gecko#professional#night#crazy#wildanimals ♬ original sound – Fishingarrett

He shouts his catchphrase “yoink” every time he picks up an animal. 

Glavin started off making fishing videos but his following exploded when he went out into the Everglades at night. 

“I’m far from being a celebrity, I tell people I’m like a caveman with a phone,” Galvin said. 

He told the Miami Herald that it can take hours of work to put together a short video. 

“It takes a lot of experience and a lot of time to find these animals,” Galvin said. 

The Florida native said that he began interacting with wildlife growing up in the Fort Myers area. 

“I was little doing crazy stuff,” Galvin explained. “At like eight years old I could still do everything I’m doing now, I’m just a little stronger. I grew up and catch bigger snakes now.”

Making videos for social media has become his full-time job. 

He has expanded beyond the Everglades with trips to Peru, Australia, and Texas to film content. 

Some of his videos on TikTok have been taken down over accusations of “animal abuse” and “dangerous activities and challenges.”

But he insists that he has never harmed any of the animals in his videos.

“I don’t want people to think I’m negatively impacting the animals,” Galvin said. “Like I wouldn’t shine a flashlight on an owl in a general scenario. If it’s a non-native, I’m not hurting it whatsoever, but I am removing it.”

His videos are optimized for audiences with short attention spans in the social media age with endless options to choose from.

“I could sit there for 10 minutes and explain all the facts about one little animal and it just doesn’t work. People get bored and they swipe away,” Galvin stated. “I keep it short and sweet. You’re better off saying one fact about the animal and moving on, and over time people will catch on to it. Maybe they’d remember from one of my videos whether a snake is venomous, invasive, or not.”

The great outdoors is becoming a hot spot for social media influencers looking to compete for attention online.

DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any developments to this ongoing story.

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