Dark Outdoors

The New World screwworm is one of the most disturbing parasites in North America. Unlike ordinary maggots that typically consume dead tissue, screwworm larvae infest wounds and feed on the living flesh of warm-blooded animals.

The parasite was eradicated from the United States decades ago, but in 2026 it returned to the U.S. mainland, creating ser...

For decades, people along the Texas coast reported seeing strange, wolf-like animals roaming the beaches and marshes of Galveston Island. Most dismissed the sightings as coyotes.

They were only partially right.

In this episode of Dark Outdoors, Chester Moore investigates one of the most remarkable wildlife mysteries in America and explores how it unexpectedly intersects with one of the big...

Did advanced technology play a role in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, or are investigators and online sleuths reading too much into the available evidence? In Part 2, Chester Moore and Daniel from the Drunk Turkey Show take a deeper dive into one of the most debated aspects of the case.

The discussion explores digital evidence, cell phone technology, surveillance capabilities, location tra...

Nancy Guthrie vanished in the remote Arizona desert, leaving behind a mystery that has captivated investigators, true crime followers, and independent researchers alike. In this first installment, Chester Moore is joined by Daniel from the Drunk Turkey Show for an in-depth look at the disappearance that sparked countless questions and theories.

Together they examine who Nancy Guthrie was, ...

In Part 2 of this powerful Dark Outdoors interview, Chester Moore continues his conversation with registered nurse Chris Carroll, whose life was forever changed after swimming toward a woman who had been attacked by a tiger shark in the Caribbean.

After recounting the rescue attempt in Part 1, Chris reflects on what happened next—and how the experience reshaped his understandi...

A woman is screaming in the water. People on shore don't know what to do. Then one man makes a decision few ever would—he swims toward the danger.

In this gripping first installment of a two-part Dark Outdoors interview, Chester Moore talks with registered nurse Chris Carroll, who found himself in the middle of a fatal tiger shark attack while vacationing in the Caribbean. What began...

Could the largest shark that ever lived still be swimming our oceans?

Scientists say the megalodon disappeared approximately 3.6 million years ago. Yet for more than a century, experienced fishermen, sailors, explorers, and divers have reported seeing sharks so enormous they defied explanation.

In this episode of Dark Outdoors, Chester Moore investigates the enduring legend of the megalodo...

Flash floods are among the deadliest hazards in the outdoors—and they can develop in minutes, often with little warning.

In this episode of Dark Outdoors, Chester Moore welcomes Dr. Tracy Fanara of Inspector Planet to discuss the devastating Texas Hill Country floods and, more importantly, the life-saving lessons every outdoorsman, hiker, camper, angler, and traveler should know.

Dra...

Most people assume the greatest dangers in the outdoors come from bears, sharks, snakes, or other wild animals.

After spending decades exploring remote forests, marshes, islands, and backcountry across America, I've learned something different.

Sometimes the most unsettling encounters don't involve wildlife at all.

In this deeply personal episode of Dark Outdoors, I share five true stories...

Twenty-four years ago, four-year-old Dannarriah Finley disappeared from her home in Orange, Texas. Three days later, her body was found on a remote stretch of marshland near Pleasure Island in Port Arthur. Despite decades of investigation, the case remains unsolved.

In this episode of Dark Outdoors, award-winning wildlife journalist and conservation communicator Chester Moore examines one ...

As concerns grow over the northward movement of the New World screwworm, one of the most important lessons comes from an outbreak that occurred nearly a decade ago in the Florida Keys.

In 2016, the flesh-eating parasite struck the endangered Key deer, threatening one of America's most unique wildlife populations. What followed was a remarkable response involving wildlife biologists, veterinarians, entomologists, and conservation ag...

In this episode of Dark Outdoors, we sit down with legendary African safari guide and wildlife expert Dave Fulson of Safari Classics and Facts Across Africa to explore some of the continent’s most intense and unforgettable snake encounters.

From heart-pounding close calls with the infamous black mamba—Africa’s fastest and most feared venomous snake—to dangerous encounters with well-camouflaged puff adde...

Few wildlife threats are as horrifying—or as potentially devastating—as the New World screwworm.

Today on Dark Outdoors, we're taking a deep dive into a parasite that eats living flesh—and it's no longer a problem confined to the history books. The New World screwworm is in Texas, it is spreading, and wildlife professionals, ranchers, hunters, and animal health exp...

Nearly 51 years after Jaws changed movie history and forever altered the way people viewed sharks, Chester Moore sits down with Jeffrey Voorhees, the actor who portrayed Alex Kintner, the young boy whose shocking death scene became one of the most unforgettable moments in cinematic history.

In this special episode of Dark Outdoors®, Jeffrey shares memories from the set of Jaws, disc...

Deep in the California redwoods, beneath a towering owl statue hidden among the trees, robed figures gather around firelight as chants echo through the darkness.

For decades, Bohemian Grove has fueled rumors involving secret ceremonies, elite power, occult symbolism, and hidden rituals far from public view.

But what if scenes like this are not isolated?

In this episode of Dark Outdoors®, we explore the frightening reality of digital stalking, GPS tracking, location sharing, and how smartphones, apps, social media, and outdoor tech can expose campers, hikers, hunters, and travelers to real-world danger in remote areas.

From trailheads and campsites to isolated backroads and deep forests, modern technology can reveal far more about your location and movements than most people realiz...

Are jaguars really being secretly released into Texas… or is the internet being flooded with AI-generated wildlife hoaxes?

In this episode of Dark Outdoors, Chester Moore dives deep into the viral rumors, fake predator stories, AI-generated wildlife content, and online fear campaigns spreading across social media. From bogus jaguar release conspiracies in South Texas to fake ...

Cocaine sharks are real!

In this interview, environmental engineer and science communicator Dr. Tracy Fanara explains what scientists are actually discovering about sharks, pharmaceuticals in the ocean, and how chemical exposure could be affecting marine life.

From trace contaminants in coastal waters to broader questions about water quality, we explore how human activity is changing ocean ecosystems—and what that could mean ...

Deep in the dark waters of Texas, stories still surface about giant garfish lurking beneath the current. Recently, a viral social media graphic exploded online claiming a massive 12-foot alligator gar made an unbelievable journey up the Trinity River — igniting debate, fear, and fascination across the internet.

In this episode of Dark Outdoors, I dig into the real story behind the viral image and track down answers directly f...