Dark Outdoors

Four people were killed and one injured in a wave of shark attacks along the New Jersey coast in 1916. While history blamed a great white, modern experts suggest a far more adaptable—and dangerous—suspect: the bull shark.

In July 1916, a series of shark attacks along the New Jersey shore left four dead and one injured, sparking nationwide panic and later inspiring the iconic film Jaws. While a great white shark was captured and blamed, modern science points to another predator: the bull shark.

Renowned for its ability to thrive in both saltwater and freshwater—and its aggressive behavior—the bull shark may have been the true culprit behind the 1916 Jersey Shore shark attacks.

In this episode of Dark Outdoors, we:

• Revisit the chilling events of 1916 and their cultural impact

• Examine evidence that challenges the “great white” narrative

• Explore the bull shark’s unique adaptability and hunting behavior

• Speak with a Texas shark expert about population trends

• Reveal a promising, simple shark deterrent that could protect both people and sharks in the future

Whether you’re fascinated by true crime, marine biology, or ocean predators, this episode dives deep into one of the most infamous—and misunderstood—shark attack stories in history.

From hooded figures around midnight fires to chilling satanic ceremonies, Chester Moore exposes real encounters with the occult in the wilderness—and the terrifying dangers they pose.

In this unsettling episode of Dark Outdoors, we confront the occult in the great outdoors through first-hand accounts of bizarre and terrifying rituals.

You’ll hear:

• A border patrol agent who stumbled upon hooded figures gathered around a ritual fire in an area infamous for satanic activity

• A security guard who witnessed a dark outdoor ceremony firsthand

• Three boys who came face-to-face with a disturbing ritual deep in the woods

These stories uncover the hidden world of satanic groups, sacrificial sites, and secret occult practices that can turn a night in the wild into a nightmare.

Special thanks to Chris James of the Strange Things with Chris James podcast for contributing one of these chilling accounts.

Please subscribe to Dark Outdoors® to keep up with true crime stories and terrifying encounters in the wild.

Dark Outdoors partners with Texas Fish & Game to bring you our Missing in the Wild reports. Learn more at fishgame.com.

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Feral Apes in the American SouthcFrom an orangutan-like creature on a swamp porch to baboon sightings in the woods, Dark Outdoors uncovers chilling reports of wild primates lurking across Texas, Florida, and beyond.

In this eerie episode of Dark Outdoors, Chester Moore investigates decades of strange, unnerving encounters in the American South—not with native wildlife, but with creatures resembling feral apes and wild primates.

Firsthand accounts include:

• A woman who saw an orangutan-looking creature on her porch in a swampy homestead

• A hunter who encountered a troop of baboons deep in the wilderness

• A hairy hand reaching into a deer blind under cover of night

Some researchers suggest these sightings may stem from escaped or released primates dating back to the mid-20th century, when exotic pet ownership and roadside zoos were more common. Over time, populations may have adapted, creating secretive breeding groups in remote, unmonitored regions.

Wildlife journalists and field investigators have documented anomalous hair samples, chilling vocalizations, and ambush-like behaviors that align more with great apes than with any known North American species.

Join us as we explore the legends, theories, and eyewitness encounters that suggest something wild—and very real—may still be lurking just beyond the campfire’s glow.

From missing hunters to eerie swamp dolls, Chester Moore and author Lyle Blackburn explore chilling tales of disappearances, dark rituals, and even serial killers hidden in America’s swamps.

In this intense episode of Dark Outdoors, host Chester Moore is joined by renowned author and storyteller Lyle Blackburn, discussing his book Sinister Swamps and the unsettling mysteries that haunt these wild, watery landscapes.

Highlights include:

• Campers and hunters who vanished without a trace in the Everglades and Great Dismal Swamp

• The terrifying case of mysterious dolls discovered in an Alabama swamp

• Accounts of serial killer activity lurking in America’s wetlands

• Other eerie tales where wilderness and true crime collide

With Blackburn’s vivid storytelling and Moore’s investigative edge, this episode sheds light on the dark secrets hidden in swamps across the South.

 

Surviving a Grizzly Attack in Wyoming. In this special uncut episode, Ben Verheul recounts his terrifying, hour-long survival story of being mauled by a grizzly deep in the Wyoming wilderness.

In this unforgettable episode of Dark Outdoors®, Ben Verheul shares the full, uncut story of his harrowing grizzly bear attack in the remote Wyoming backcountry.

You’ll hear:

• How he endured and survived a brutal grizzly mauling

• Why he was certain the bear that attacked him was the same grizzly he had previously encountered

• Firsthand insights into the split-second decisions that meant the difference between life and death

If bear encounters and survival stories intrigue you, this one will blow your mind. It’s a chilling, raw account of man versus nature at its most primal.

 

From crocodile massacres to tiger attacks, Chester Moore and author R.C. Bramhall uncover terrifying true stories of soldiers facing deadly wildlife in battlefields around the world.

In this chilling episode of Dark Outdoors®, Chester Moore sits down with R.C. Bramhall, author of Haunted War Tales: True Military Encounters with the Bizarre, Paranormal and Unexplained, to discuss the deadly wildlife threats faced by soldiers in wartime.

Topics include:

• A crocodile-caused massacre that remains one of the deadliest animal attacks in history

• Tiger attacks on soldiers in dense jungles

• The harrowing story of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and shark-infested waters

• Snakebites that proved as lethal as bullets

• Encounters with huge bunker rats in Vietnam—and much more

These stories highlight how war zones are not only dangerous from combat, but also from the wild predators and creatures that lurk in the shadows.

 

Dark Outdoors® investigates shocking reports of huge drones over Sabine Lake and deep inside Louisiana, and explores new tools to track these mysterious machines.

In this exclusive episode of Dark Outdoors®, Chester Moore delivers a detailed report on massive drone sightings across the Texas–Louisiana region.

Highlights include:

• A huge drone over Sabine Lake on the Texas–Louisiana border

• A report of a large drone in the interior of Louisiana

• Additional eyewitness accounts of mysterious aerial activity in the region

Joining the discussion is Scott Tompkins, creator of DroneTracker.app, a mapping system designed to log drone sightings and uncover patterns behind what’s really happening in the skies.

This episode raises important questions about who is operating these drones, why they’re flying in remote areas, and what it means for outdoor safety and security.

From the East Coast to the Gulf Coast, mysterious drones are appearing—and in some cases, stalking people. Homeland Security claims they have no answers. Dark Outdoors® investigates.

In this special edition of Dark Outdoors®, Chester Moore dives into the unsettling wave of strange drone sightings reported across the United States.

Key details include:

• Unexplained drones spotted along the East and Gulf Coasts

• Reports of individuals being stalked by mysterious aerial machines

• Homeland Security’s surprising admission that they “don’t know what’s going on”

• The deeper questions: Who is behind these drones? Why are they targeting people? And what do they mean for outdoor safety?

This episode shines a light on one of the most mysterious and underreported outdoor threats emerging today.

Please subscribe to Dark Outdoors® for more true crime stories, wilderness investigations, and terrifying outdoor encounters you won’t hear anywhere else.

 

Author Lyle Blackburn joins Chester Moore to unravel the eerie true story of the Lake Worth Monster—also known as the Greer Island Goatman—in this chilling Halloween edition of Dark Outdoors®.

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In our special annual Halloween cryptozoology episode, host Chester Moore sits down with acclaimed author and researcher Lyle Blackburn to discuss his latest book, The Lake Worth Monster: The True Story of the Greer Island Goatman.

This deep dive explores:

• The legend and lore of the Lake Worth Monster

• Why this case has been so misunderstood for decades

• How the story of the Goatman of Greer Island continues to haunt Texas folklore

• The broader place of cryptids and creepy creatures in Halloween storytelling

If you love cryptozoology, Texas legends, or spine-tingling mysteries tied to the outdoors, this episode will keep you on the edge of your seat.

 

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From fatal animal attacks to chilling disappearances, Chester Moore and author Randi Minetor explore the most haunting cases from her seven-book series on death in national parks.

In this gripping episode of Dark Outdoors, Chester Moore speaks with best-selling author Randi Minetor about the shocking and often tragic stories she’s uncovered in her seven-book series on death in America’s national parks.

Topics include:

• What kills more visitors than anything else in national parks

• The harrowing and deadly “Night of the Grizzly”

• Alligator attacks in southern parks

• Mysterious disappearances where missing people were later found dead along the very trails that had been searched

• And much more chilling detail from across the park system

This episode pulls back the curtain on the hidden dangers of national parks, blending history, wildlife encounters, and the mysteries that still haunt America’s wildest places.