Dark Outdoors

darkoutdoors
  • 4.6 (76)
  • True Crime
  • Updated Biweekly

Dark Outdoors® is a multiple award-winning podcast that investigates terrifying encounters, unsolved mysteries, crime, and dangerous wildlife. Hosted by award-winning wildlife journalist and conservation communicator Chester Moore, each episode investigates the darker side of the outdoors through gripping storytelling, expert interviews, and firsthand reporting. From serial killers in remote forests and missing persons cases to poaching, wildlife trafficking, deadly animal attacks, cryptids, and emerging wildlife threats like screwworm, Dark Outdoors uncovers the stories most outdoor enthusiasts never hear. Whether the danger comes from nature, criminals, or the unexplained, one truth remains: the outdoors has a dark side.

  1. 4h ago

    Texas Killing Fields: Justice After 42 Years

    In 1997, Chester Moore and his wife Lisa were driving to Pasadena, Texas, to visit a friend when they came upon a scene they would never forget. Police and investigators had converged on an area near a retention pond. Chester and Lisa didn't know exactly what had happened, but they would soon learn they had driven upon the scene where, that very day, the body of 12-year-old Laura Smither had been discovered following a massive search. Nearly three decades later, Chester returns to that moment in this deeply personal episode of Dark Outdoors®, exploring Laura's murder, serial killer William Reece and the larger, haunting history of the Texas Killing Fields. And remarkably, this isn't just history. As this episode drops, the Texas Killing Fields are back in the news. More than four decades after 16-year-old Laura Miller disappeared, James Dolphs Elmore Jr. has become the first person convicted in connection with the deaths of the four women whose bodies were found in the infamous Calder Road field. The guilty verdict came just one day before this episode's release, and Elmore has now been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Chester examines those stunning new developments before turning to another question at the heart of Dark Outdoors: Why can places like this become hunting grounds for human predators? From isolated roads and abandoned fields to marshes, woods and the forgotten edges of growing communities, this is a story about what can happen where civilization meets the darkness. Because sometimes the most dangerous predator in the outdoors is human.

  2. 5d ago

    The 11-Foot Rattlesnake: Solving a Mystery That Haunted Me Since Childhood

    For Chester Moore, the question isn't simply an internet legend. It is connected to a mystery that has fascinated him since childhood. In this episode of Dark Outdoors, Chester digs into his archives and revisits an investigation into reports of giant rattlesnakes, including an extraordinary account involving a rattlesnake said to have measured approximately 11 feet long. It's a mystery Chester first encountered as a kid and one he has spent years trying to understand. How large can rattlesnakes actually grow? Where did some of the incredible historical claims about enormous rattlesnakes originate? And when stories are passed down for decades, how do we separate exaggeration and mistaken measurements from accounts that deserve a closer look? Chester follows the evidence, examines the giant-rattlesnake mystery and reveals what his investigation uncovered about a story that has stayed with him for much of his life. It's an exploration of giant snakes, outdoor history and one childhood mystery that refused to disappear.

  3. Aug 27

    Death From Above: Squall Lines, Lightning & Deadly Storms

    Lightning can turn a fishing trip, hike, hunt or day on the water into a life-threatening situation in seconds. And some of the most dangerous storms can arrive with frightening speed. In this episode of Dark Outdoors, Chester Moore reaches into his archives for an interview recorded several years ago with legendary meteorologist Greg Bostwick that has never before aired on Dark Outdoors. Bostwick discusses the dangers of lightning, squall lines and severe thunderstorms, with important information for hunters, anglers, hikers, campers, boaters and anyone who spends time outside. The conversation explores how quickly dangerous weather can develop, the threats associated with lightning and fast-moving storms and why being caught in an exposed outdoor location can become deadly. It's a timely look back at a conversation with one of the region's most respected meteorologists and a reminder that some of the greatest dangers in the outdoors don't come from animals or people. Sometimes they come from the sky.

  4. Aug 25

    Black Ghost: A Texas Jaguar Encounter

    Could black jaguars still roam Texas? Reports of black panthers, mysterious big cats and possible jaguar sightings have circulated throughout Texas for generations, but some eyewitness accounts are much harder to dismiss than others. In this episode of Dark Outdoors®, Chester Moore talks with his friend David Cleaver, a dedicated outdoorsman and hiker, about an extraordinary black jaguar sighting in Texas. Chester considers David a highly reliable witness, and the details of what he saw raise fascinating questions about the possibility of rare big cats moving through the Lone Star State. They also examine the history of jaguars in Texas, other Texas jaguar reports and the enduring mystery surrounding black panther sightings in Texas and across the South. Are all of these encounters cases of mistaken identity, or could an occasional jaguar—or another unexpected big cat—still appear where conventional wisdom says it shouldn't? Hear David's firsthand account and explore one of the most intriguing Texas wildlife mysteries on Dark Outdoors.

  5. Aug 14

    They Warned Me About the Bald Knobbers

    Before heading into the Missouri Ozarks for a story, Chester Moore received a strange warning from someone who had given him credible information about secretive organizations before: Watch out for the Bald Knobbers. The only Bald Knobgbers Chester knew were the famously silly country music and comedy entertainers from Branson. But behind that name is a much darker history. In the 1880s, the real Bald Knobbers were masked vigilantes who held secret meetings in remote areas of the Missouri Ozarks. Some became associated with intimidation, beatings and murder. Members of the notorious Christian County faction wore bizarre black masks with horns and grotesque features that look like something straight out of a horror movie. But could someone still be borrowing that imagery today? In this episode of Dark Outdoors, Chester digs into the disturbing history of the Bald Knobbers and the modern warning that led him down this strange rabbit hole. He also explores something that has surfaced repeatedly in Dark Outdoors investigations: reports of hooded, masked and strangely dressed people gathering in isolated outdoor locations. From the different-colored robes historically used by Ku Klux Klan organizations to occult imagery, ceremonial traditions and previous reports investigated in The Mystery of the Hooded Ones, history shows that people have long used masks, hoods and frightening symbolism for secrecy, ceremony and intimidation. There is no credible evidence that the original Bald Knobbers survive as an organized group today. But could modern people adopt their masks, name or imagery? And when hikers, hunters or others encounter bizarrely dressed people deep in the woods, could the explanation sometimes be stranger—and more human—than the supernatural? Sometimes the most unsettling thing you can encounter in the wilderness isn't an animal or a monster. It's another human being. Dark Outdoors investigates terrifying encounters, unsolved mysteries, true crime and dangerous wildlife—because the outdoors has a dark side.

  6. Aug 11

    Can Genetics Stop the Screwworm? A New Weapon Against The Threat?

    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 serious concerns for livestock, wildlife and anyone responsible for protecting animals in affected areas. For generations, one of the primary weapons against screwworm has been the sterile insect technique—producing enormous numbers of sterile male flies and releasing them into affected areas to disrupt reproduction. But could the next major weapon against screwworm come from genetics? In this episode of Dark Outdoors, Chester Moore talks with Matt James of Colossal Biosciences about the potential for advanced genetic technologies to change the fight against New World screwworm. Colossal has publicly discussed the possibility of using genetic biocontrol and gene-drive technology against the parasite. The basic concept is remarkable: instead of simply releasing sterile flies generation after generation, genetic tools could potentially introduce traits designed to interfere with reproduction and drive those traits through a screwworm population. Moore and James discuss what this technology could mean, how genetics might complement existing eradication methods, and the much larger question surrounding modern conservation biotechnology: Can we use our growing ability to manipulate genetics not only to save threatened species, but to fight organisms threatening wildlife and livestock? It's a fascinating intersection of wildlife conservation, emerging biotechnology and one of the nastiest parasites imaginable. The New World screwworm is back. Could genetics help send it away again? Dark Outdoors investigates terrifying encounters, unsolved mysteries, true crime and dangerous wildlife—because the outdoors has a dark side.

  7. Aug 6

    About Dire Wolves, De-Extinction and the Ghost Wolves of Galveston Island

    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 biggest scientific stories of our time: de-extinction. From the groundbreaking work of Colossal Biosciences and the renewed public fascination with the dire wolf to the incredible discovery of the "Ghost Wolves" of Galveston Island—wild canids carrying rare red wolf ancestry thought to have been largely lost—this episode examines the science, the mystery, and the conservation implications behind these extraordinary animals. How did these wolf-like canids survive unnoticed for so long? Could their genetics help recover one of North America's most endangered predators? And what does the growing field of de-extinction mean for the future of wildlife conservation? Join Chester as he separates myth from reality while exploring a story where eyewitness reports, cutting-edge genetics, and conservation collide in ways few could have imagined. In This Episode: The science behind de-extinction Colossal Biosciences amazing dire wolf project The mystery of Galveston's Ghost Wolves Red wolf genetics and hybridization How local sightings led to a remarkable scientific discovery What this means for the future of wildlife conservation Sometimes the greatest mysteries of the outdoors aren't solved by folklore—they're solved by science. And sometimes, that truth is even more remarkable than the legend. Follow Dark Outdoors for more investigations into wildlife, true crime, conservation, history, and the unexplained—where the natural world meets mystery.

  8. Aug 4

    High-Tech Killer? The Nancy Guthrie Case Part 2

    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 tracking, and other investigative tools that have fueled speculation that Nancy's disappearance may have involved someone using technology in ways few people considered at the time. The episode examines these ideas critically, separating documented facts from speculation while asking whether the "high-tech killer" theory deserves serious consideration. As always, Dark Outdoors follows the evidence rather than sensationalism. This episode is not about declaring guilt or promoting conspiracy theories—it's about examining difficult questions, evaluating the available information, and understanding why the Nancy Guthrie case continues to generate so much discussion years later. Special thanks to Daniel from the Drunk Turkey Show for lending his research and perspective to this investigation. You can find his channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@drunkturkeyshow

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4.6
out of 5
76 Ratings

About

Dark Outdoors® is a multiple award-winning podcast that investigates terrifying encounters, unsolved mysteries, crime, and dangerous wildlife. Hosted by award-winning wildlife journalist and conservation communicator Chester Moore, each episode investigates the darker side of the outdoors through gripping storytelling, expert interviews, and firsthand reporting. From serial killers in remote forests and missing persons cases to poaching, wildlife trafficking, deadly animal attacks, cryptids, and emerging wildlife threats like screwworm, Dark Outdoors uncovers the stories most outdoor enthusiasts never hear. Whether the danger comes from nature, criminals, or the unexplained, one truth remains: the outdoors has a dark side.

Information

  • Creator
    darkoutdoors
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    85
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Dark Outdoors

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