Wahoo is a pragmatic young teenager who frequently acts as the adult in his family. Missing a thumb due to an early incident with an alligator, he views his life among captive wild animals as perfectly normal. He relies on his ingenuity to care for the creatures and often serves as a peacemaker to manage his father's impulsive temper.

Mickey is a stubborn animal wrangler who treats his backyard collection of exotic creatures as members of his family. He maintains a strict ethical code regarding animal welfare, prioritizing their safety over financial gain. Though his parenting approach is highly unconventional, he harbors a deep love for his family and an immediate protective instinct for the defenseless.

Born Lee Bluepenny, Derek is a former Irish dancer who now stars as a rugged survivalist on the reality television show Expedition Survival!. He possesses no actual wilderness skills and relies entirely on a massive production crew and luxurious hotel stays to maintain his macho façade. His massive ego and desire for higher ratings frequently push him to ignore basic safety protocols.

Tuna is a highly intelligent teenager living in an RV with her father. She memorizes complex taxonomic classifications to distract herself from her turbulent and unsafe home environment. A devoted fan of reality television, she jumps at the opportunity to escape her daily life by joining the Everglades expedition.

Jared is an unemployed man with an alcohol addiction who relies on fear to control his daughter. Blaming others for his economic misfortunes, he subjects his family to physical abuse. He views Tuna as his personal property and demands her complete obedience.

Raven is the senior production assistant and producer for Expedition Survival!. She manages the demanding logistics of reality television and functions as a constant caretaker for her reckless star. Her professional demeanor masks the constant stress of preventing production disasters.

Link is a hulking, gruff airboat driver whose hand-built vessel is his most prized possession. Possessing little formal education, he lives a solitary life ferrying people through the Everglades. His rough exterior conceals a decent nature shaped by his own history of childhood trauma.

Alice is Mickey's massive, prized alligator with an extensive resume in film and television. While she is usually cooperative under her owner's guidance, she remains a formidable wild predator. Her sheer size and natural instincts pose a genuine threat to anyone who fails to respect her boundaries.

Susan is a Mandarin instructor and Wahoo's mother. Due to the family's financial struggles following Mickey's injury, she accepts employment overseas. She relies heavily on her son to manage the household and keep her husband out of trouble.

Julie is Wahoo's older sister who is currently attending law school. She provides legal counsel to her family and correctly identifies the exploitative clauses written into the reality show's standard paperwork.

Gerry is the executive producer of Expedition Survival!. Operating safely from a distance, he focuses entirely on budgets and ratings rather than the welfare of his cast and crew.

Sickler runs a remote Florida souvenir shop filled with questionable merchandise and tall tales. Beneath his crusty exterior, he has sharp instincts about the people who pass through his store and a willingness to protect vulnerable locals.