Florida is known for having gators in golf course ponds, bears tearing through trash cans, and panthers wandering suburban streets like they own the place.
But a shoe thief just raised the bar for wildlife comebacks.
And this British woman learned a pricey lesson about respecting Florida’s apex predators.
The takeaway
Next time you spot a Florida alligator, remember what happened to that woman’s footwear.# Florida Woman Got Instant Karma When She Tried to Chase Off This Alligator
Sometimes Mother Nature has a sense of humor.
A British tourist learned that lesson the hard way during her Florida vacation.
And what happened next will make you think twice before messing with a gator.
Sarah Louise Martin was enjoying her morning coffee at a rental home in Kissimmee when she spotted something straight out of a nature documentary – an alligator casually strolling across the lawn while a herd of deer grazed nearby.
The scene was so peaceful you’d think they were old friends.
“Morning everyone. I’ve just woke up and come outside and I’ve just seen this on the grass outside – an alligator casually walking around and some deers. Well, they look like deers. I’m not too sure what they are,” Martin narrated in her TikTok video.¹
Martin, visiting from Gravesend in the United Kingdom, couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
The deer seemed completely unbothered by their scaly neighbor, probably because the family next door was feeding them breakfast.
When humans decided to play wildlife referee
Everything was going smoothly until someone decided the alligator was getting too close for comfort.
That’s when the shoe-throwing began.
Someone hurled a pair of shoes at the gator, which startled the reptile and sent it scrambling briefly away from the deer.
But apparently one round of shoe-flinging wasn’t enough.
Another person got closer and launched a second shoe at the alligator, presumably trying to herd it back toward the water.
That’s when the gator decided to teach these humans a lesson about respect.
Instead of retreating like a good little reptile, the alligator grabbed one of the shoes in its powerful jaws and made a beeline for the water – taking the footwear with him.
“No! They’re throwing their shoe at him,” Martin said in the video, watching the drama unfold.²
Then came the moment that made this story go viral.
“Get the shoe and eat it!” Martin cheered. “Run off with her shoe. That serves her right for throwing the shoe in.”
The internet declares this perfect justice
Martin’s TikTok video exploded across social media platforms, with viewers celebrating what they saw as instant karma.
The clip made its way to WFLA News, which posted it on X with the caption “’KARMA’: Watch what happened when a woman tried to shoo a gator from a group of deer.”³
And honestly? The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
Here’s someone throwing shoes at a wild animal – which is both dangerous and disrespectful – only to have that same animal snatch the shoe and disappear into the depths.
It’s like the alligator was saying, “You want to play games? Fine. But I’m keeping this as a souvenir.”
Martin seemed to appreciate the poetic justice of it all, later writing on TikTok: “Don’t throw shoes at animals, or karma will get you.”
Why this woman’s mistake could have been deadly
While the shoe theft makes for entertaining social media content, this incident highlights some serious safety concerns that every Florida visitor should understand.
Florida is home to more than 1.3 million alligators spread across all 67 counties in the state.⁴
These aren’t zoo animals or pets – they’re apex predators that have survived since the time of dinosaurs.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has clear guidelines about alligator encounters, and “throw shoes at them” definitely isn’t on the recommended list.
Wildlife officials have a simple rule about gator encounters – keep your distance and keep your shoes on your feet.⁵
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission warns against feeding alligators or messing with their behavior because it teaches them that humans equal food.⁶
What’s fascinating here is that this gator wasn’t even being aggressive toward the deer.
These reptiles will tolerate other animals when they’re not actively hunting – they’re not mindless killing machines like the movies suggest.
When nature photography goes wrong
Martin’s experience serves as a perfect example of how quickly a peaceful wildlife encounter can turn chaotic when humans get involved.
The original scene – alligator lounging near grazing deer – was actually quite normal for Florida.
These animals have learned to coexist in many areas, especially where humans regularly provide food sources.
Once those shoes started flying, everything went sideways.
The gator switched from lazy sunbathing mode to “game on” – and nobody saw what came next.
This is exactly why wildlife experts constantly stress the importance of observing animals from a distance rather than trying to manage their behavior.
The shoe bandit strikes back
What makes this story particularly delicious is the alligator’s response.
This gator had other plans entirely.
Rather than retreating like everyone expected, it grabbed that shoe and basically said, “Thanks for the donation.”
Look at the precision here – it didn’t snap at random objects or thrash around wildly.
The reptile went straight for the shoe that had been hurled at it, snatched it with surgical precision, and made off with the prize.⁷
Researchers have documented alligators using tools and showing complex problem-solving skills that would surprise most people.⁸
This little revenge heist might be another example of just how clever these ancient predators really are.
Florida’s wildest residents get the last laugh
Martin’s viral moment perfectly captures what makes Florida such a unique place to live and visit.
Where else in the world can you wake up to find an alligator having a casual breakfast meeting with a herd of deer?
And where else would that same alligator demonstrate such perfect comedic timing by stealing someone’s shoe?
The incident also shows why Florida has become internet famous for its wildlife encounters.
Between alligators in swimming pools, bears raiding garbage cans, and panthers strolling through neighborhoods, the state offers no shortage of memorable animal interactions.
But this shoe-stealing gator might just have set a new bar for Florida wildlife revenge stories.
If you ever find yourself face-to-face with a Florida alligator, remember Martin’s hard-earned wisdom: “Don’t throw shoes at animals, or karma will get you.”
Because sometimes the best revenge is served cold – and with teeth.
And if you’re planning a Florida vacation, maybe pack an extra pair of shoes.
Just in case you meet this particular gator, who’s probably still wearing his trophy somewhere in the depths of that Kissimmee pond.
¹ Josh Frigerio, “Florida alligator takes woman’s shoe after she provoked him: ‘Serves her right’,” Fox 35 Orlando, July 29, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ WFLA News, “’KARMA’: Watch what happened when a woman tried to shoo a gator from a group of deer,” X (formerly Twitter), July 29, 2025.
⁵ Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, “A guide to living with alligators,” 2025.
⁶ Ibid.
⁷ Josh Frigerio, “Florida alligator takes woman’s shoe after she provoked him: ‘Serves her right’,” Fox 35 Orlando, July 29, 2025.
⁸ Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, “Alligator Behavior and Intelligence Research,” 2025.
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Author: rgcory
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