Is the viral Black Panther photo in America the best proof yet—or just another internet hoax?
In this video, I break down the origins of the photo, analyze whether it could be real, and share my personal opinion on what it means for the ongoing mystery of Black Panthers in the United States.
From eyewitness accounts to expert skepticism, we dig deep into one of the most talked-about wildlife controversies in America today.
👉 What do YOU think—are Black Panthers really roaming the wild in the U.S.? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
Gulf Great White Shark Society Gift
On the 50th anniversary of Jaws, the newly-founded Gulf Great White Shark Society celebrated Gulf Great White Sharks: Return of an Icon at the Museum of the Gulf Coast with a unique artistic contribution.
The Society’s founder, award-winning wildlife journalist Chester Moore, partnered with renowned wildlife artist Calvin Carter to create the official premiere artwork, honoring the return of great white sharks to the Gulf and promoting conservation awareness.
Click to watch the documentary.
“Speaking with Calvin to give him the insights on great whites in the Gulf to create this piece was an incredible experience, and it added a lot to our premiere and thrilled the capacity crowd at the Museum of the Gulf Coast,” Moore said.
“After visiting the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s Shark Center in Chatham, MA on Cape Cod twice in 2024, and even having the honor of tagging along on their drone study of great whites off those beautiful shores with my videographer friend Paul Fuzinski, I decided the best thing to do with the original artwork was to donate it to them for their future fundraisers.”
Calvin Carter putting final touches on the piece.
Through the event, the Society was also able to contribute a $300 donation directly to AWSC.
“They are doing groundbreaking work on shark science and safety, and it means a lot to support their mission. I reached out to AWSC co-founder Cynthia Wigren and was excited to see they were happy to take the beautiful piece Calvin created,” Moore added.
Calvin Carter expressed his excitement for the project.
“I’m honored to work with Chester on something so meaningful. Art can play a powerful role in helping people connect with conservation. I’m especially proud to represent the Gulf’s great whites, a subject close to my heart,” Carter said.
Chester and Calvin in the official Calvin Carter Art Studio.
The piece was inspired by “LeeBeth,” the great white shark that made headlines when she appeared off South Padre Island in 2024. Having spent much of his time in South Padre, Carter drew on the landscape and atmosphere of the area to capture “the idea of another great white just beyond the surf, once again showing the comeback of the species and how they show up in unexpected places.”
“Art is a universal way to convey the beauty and awe of sharks,” Moore said.
“It’s something even kids can engage with and Calvin knows this best, since he also teaches high school art,” Moore said.
Together, the Society and Carter hope that this collaboration will not only honor the Gulf’s connection to these apex predators but also help fund critical conservation work through the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.
“The return of great whites to the Gulf is a reminder that our waters are alive with wonder,” Moore said.
“By blending science, art, and community, we can inspire people of all ages to protect these incredible creatures and ensure their legacy endures for generations.”
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The nights are getting longer, the air is crisp, and the woods feel just a little darker this time of year. That can only mean one thing: Dark Outdoors October has arrived.
All month long, we’re turning up the atmosphere with stories, scares, and survival tips that bring out both the thrill and the reality of the great outdoors.
And we’re celebrating it in the style of my award-winning podcast Dark Outdoors®!
Everyone loves a good campfire tale — the kind that makes you glance over your shoulder when the trees rustle. This month, we’ve collected some of the creepiest outdoor stories we’ve ever heard. From strange disappearances on lonely trails to ghostly encounters deep in the wilderness, these tales are meant to keep you hooked… and maybe a little spooked.
Yep, we’re going to have some fun monster tales.
Outdoor Safety Awareness
Darkness and fear make a perfect mix for a good story — but real danger is no joke. That’s why Dark Outdoors October isn’t just about chills. We’re also spotlighting essential outdoor safety awareness: how to prepare for solo hikes, how to stay safe when camping off the grid, and what to do if you encounter wildlife in unsettling situations. Our goal? To make sure the only scares you face are the ones you want.
The most dangerous thing in the woods is people-and this guy (Ted Bundy) was the apex version of that.
Strange Outdoors Cinema
For those who like their scares on screen, we’re also exploring strange and unsettling cinema set in the great outdoors. From backwoods horror classics to overlooked indie gems, we’ll talk about how filmmakers capture the primal fear of being far from safety — and why the wilderness is one of the creepiest settings for a story ever told.
No way we’re letting the month pass without talking about outdoors-centered horror like Friday the 13th.
See Me Live
If you’re in the area, you’ve got a chance to be part of the adventure in person:
🎤 This weekend I’ll be speaking in Honobia, Oklahoma— sharing stories, insights, and a taste of the Dark Outdoors spirit live.
🎬 On October 17, I’ll be debuting a new Dark Outdoors documentary in Jefferson, Texas. It’s a project I’m incredibly excited about, and I can’t wait to share it with you first.
Be Part of the Dark Outdoors Community
If you’ve been enjoying Dark Outdoors, now’s the perfect time to make sure you never miss an episode. 🎙️ Subscribe today on your favorite podcast platform — Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your shows. It’s the easiest way to stay plugged into Dark Outdoors October and every spine-tingling story to come.
👉 To make it even easier, I’ve put everything in one place: my Linktree. One click, and you’ll find all the platforms plus extras in one hub.
A Special Treat: Swamp Devil
Here’s something extra for the true diehards: the first 10 people to email me at chester@chestermoore.com will receive a download link to Swamp Devil — a recently recovered track from my early-2000s band Freak13.
It’s dark, raw, and straight from the swampy depths — a perfect soundtrack for October.
So subscribe, spread the word, and shoot me that email if you want to claim your exclusive piece of music history. Once those 10 slots are gone, they’re gone.
🔥 Creepy campfire stories, outdoor safety tips, strange cinema, live events, and now rare music from my vault — Dark Outdoors October is going to be unforgettable.
What if America’s wilderness hides a predator science won’t acknowledge? In this episode of Dark Outdoors®, author Michael Mayes—known for his work Shadow Cats—joins us to dig into the controversial and chilling reports of black panthers roaming across the U.S.
For decades, eyewitnesses from Texas to the Appalachians have sworn they’ve seen something impossible: massive black panthers prowling the woods, stalking farmlands, and vanishing into the shadows. Yet, mainstream science insists such creatures don’t exist in North America.
In this thought-provoking episode of Dark Outdoors, we sit down with author and researcher Michael Mayes to explore the mystery at the heart of his book Shadow Cats. Together, we examine chilling accounts, folklore, and the deep cultural roots of black panther sightings. Are these elusive predators a product of myth, mass misidentification, or could there be something truly hidden in America’s wild places?
Expect a conversation that pushes beyond campfire tales—diving into history, biology, and the unsettling implications of predators that may walk unseen. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, this is one episode that will make you think twice the next time you walk into the woods after dark.
Are they black mountain lions – black cougars?
Are they black jaguars?
Are they jaguarundi?
Are they escaped exotics?
What about the mysterious black longtail?
Take a deep dive on black panthers with us.
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Social media is exploding with wild claims about a supposed “dolphin hunting season” in Florida.
Facebook and Instagram are flooded with viral posts and shocking videos — but what’s real and what’s pure internet fiction? In this video, we cut through the noise and give you the truth.
Forget speculation and fake news — here’s what’s really happening in Florida: Is there actually a dolphin hunting season? What official sources say (and don’t say)
Why social media blew this rumor out of control The facts you need to know about dolphins, conservation, and Florida wildlife laws
⚠️ If you’ve seen the viral clips or trending hashtags, you NEED to watch this breakdown. We’re not chasing theories — we’ve got the facts.
👉 Stick around until the end — because the truth is clearer than the internet wants you to believe.
I’m spending more and more time correcting wildlife news. This is one of the wildest examples of fake outdoors news out there.
Chester Moore
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A family hike turned into a fight for survival when a father, his wife, their toddler, and infant daughter came face-to-face with a mountain lion. Dark Outdoors dives deep into the wilderness dangers that most people never see coming.
On this gripping episode of Dark Outdoors,® we recount the terrifying true story of a family’s dangerous encounter with a mountain lion.
What began as an ordinary hike quickly spiraled into a life-or-death struggle when a father, hiking with his wife, three-year-old son, and infant daughter strapped to his chest, came face-to-face with one of nature’s most feared predators.
Listeners will hear how this quiet day on the trail turned into a desperate fight for survival. With his young children and wife at risk, every decision mattered. The father’s quick thinking, protective instincts, and raw courage kept his family alive against all odds.
This episode goes beyond the story itself, exploring the realities of mountain lion behavior, how families can prepare for dangerous wildlife encounters, and what survival experts recommend if you ever come face-to-face with a predator in the wild.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
A firsthand account of a family’s mountain lion encounter on the trail.
How a father protected his wife, toddler, and infant from a deadly threat.
Survival insights and safety tips for hikers and families in mountain lion country.
The hidden dangers of hiking with young children — and how to prepare.
If you’re fascinated by true survival stories, wildlife encounters, and the resilience of the human spirit, this episode will keep you on the edge of your seat.
For some, it’s a symbol of wilderness. For others, it’s a predator to be feared. For many, it’s a creature that hovers between memory and myth. Few animals embody that tension more than the dire wolf, long believed to have vanished more than 12,000 years ago.
Now, through the work of Colossal Biosciences, the dire wolf has reappeared in the form of three pups named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi. The project has sparked fascination and debate, drawing headlines that place the ancient predator back into public imagination.
One of the pups in the facility in Dallas (Courtesy Colossal Bioscience)
At the center of this effort is Matt James, Chief Animal Officer of Colossal Biosciences and Executive Director of the Colossal Foundation.
His comments offer a window into how scientists are approaching not just the prospect of de-extinction but how some in the science community believe it can impact wildlife conservation.
“The big vision of Colossal Biosciences is simply to make extinction a thing of the past. The dire wolf project is proof of concept, but it’s also about creating tools that can prevent other animals from following the same fate.”
Reconstructing the Dire Wolf
The project began not with intact remains but with fragments: a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull. From those samples, Colossal’s team sequenced far more genetic information than had ever been available before.
“We got 500 times more data than we’d ever had on the dire wolf genome, That allowed us to identify the key areas that make a dire wolf unique, and then make those edits into the gray wolf genome.”
Rather than cloning a full dire wolf from ancient tissue, which is not possible given DNA degradation over thousands of years, the team relied on gray wolves as a genetic baseline. Specific edits were introduced to recreate traits associated with the dire wolf: physical size, coat coloration, and other features tied to its identity as a distinct species.
The animals are growing quickly at the facility near Dallas. (Courtesy Colossal Bioscience)
The pups now live in a large preserve, not destined for release but for study.
It’s important to note these animals are not literal re-creations of the extinct species.
Some scientists describe them as genetically edited gray wolves — animals engineered with about 20 targeted changes to mimic key dire wolf traits. As such, the pups are considered proxies that approximate the appearance and biology of dire wolves, rather than true members of a species gone for more than 13,000 years.
According to James, the focus now has been on monitoring their development while keeping animal welfare at the forefront.
“People ask, why not make 20,000 edits? But this is about welfare, We made 20 carefully chosen edits to get the core phenotypes while ensuring the animals’ health.”
Wolves in Popular Culture and Science
The dire wolf carries unusual resonance in the public imagination.
From the Rancho La Brea tar pits to fantasy novels and television series, the animal has long been a point of fascination.
Colossal’s announcement drew attention not only because of its scientific novelty but also because of those cultural associations.
“Everybody knows Game of Thrones. Everybody knows dire wolves. That recognition was intentional. It puts de-extinction, wolf conservation, and biodiversity loss into the zeitgeist.”
The strategy appears to have worked. Discussions of de-extinction are often cloistered within scientific circles, but the dire wolf project placed cloning and gene editing into the spotlight like nothing else in recent years.
Turning Toward the Red Wolf
For James and his colleagues, the dire wolf project was not an end but a beginning.
The next chapter focuses on an animal still alive, though barely: the red wolf (Canis rufus).
Once roaming across the southeastern United States, the red wolf dwindled to near extinction in the 20th century. In the 1970s, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service captured the last known wild individuals in Texas and Louisiana. Only 14 animals were taken into captivity, and just a subset of those produced offspring. Every red wolf alive today in North Carolina or in captive breeding facilities descends from that narrow genetic base.
James underscored the challenge.
“There are about 250 animals in the captive breeding population, and they all came out of 14 animals. Only 12 of those ever bred, and really only about eight lines continue. That’s not a lot of diversity,” he said. “We need to inject new diversity into that group if we’re going to see a robust recovery.”
The “Ghost Wolves” of Galveston
In recent years, genetic surveys of canids along the Texas Gulf Coast produced surprising results. Animals thought to be coyotes tested with significant red wolf ancestry, in some cases upwards of 70 percent have been found on Galveton Island, TX.
Colossal refers to these animals as “ghost wolves,” a term that has since gained traction locally.
“Despite a complete lack of management, those genes have survived. What we’re doing is starting to clone animals from that population to create a captive group. The idea is to enhance red wolf representation and reduce coyote integration, creating a tool the Fish and Wildlife Service could use.”
The discovery of red wolf genetic material persisting outside managed populations raises questions about how past conservation choices were made.
In the 1970s, selection for captive breeding relied on physical appearance (muzzle length, coat color, and body size) rather than genetic analysis, which was not possible at the time.
As a result, many animals carrying valuable red wolf genes were overlooked.
The Red Wolf Controversy
No discussion of red wolves can avoid the controversy that has followed the species for decades.
The reintroduction of red wolves to North Carolina in the 1980s was initially hailed as a breakthrough. But over time, the program drew criticism from multiple sides. Landowners voiced concerns about predator presence on private property. Hunters worried about impacts on deer populations. Others questioned whether animals released were “true” red wolves or hybrids.
Management decisions further complicated matters. As wolves bred with coyotes, debates erupted over whether hybrid animals should be protected or removed. Court cases, shifting policies, and fluctuating support left the program in constant flux.
At times, the wild population fell to fewer than two dozen individuals. Periodic releases from captivity attempted to stabilize numbers, but the long-term future of the species in the wild has remained uncertain.
Against this backdrop, the discovery of “ghost wolves” in Texas and Louisiana has reignited discussion.
For some, it’s evidence that the species’ genetic legacy never truly disappeared. For others, it raises fresh questions about what defines a species and whether restoring it is achievable or desirable.
A Species at the Crossroads
Field observations suggest ghost wolves behave differently than typical coyotes. More social, less skittish, and morphologically closer to the red wolf, they occupy a gray area between categories. Some closely resemble captive red wolves.
For James, this points to a possible path forward, though it is one with uncertainties. By carefully selecting and cloning individuals with high red wolf ancestry, managers could potentially strengthen the species’ genetic base. That effort would require coordination with federal agencies and a cautious timeline.
“We’re talking about maybe ten years of captive management before these tools could be directly integrated into the recovery program. There are many stakeholders, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service leads that program, so our role is to show what’s possible.”
Conservation Implications
In North Carolina, where red wolf reintroduction has long been contentious, local acceptance has been a hurdle. James contrasted that with the situation in Texas.
“The citizens of Galveston have embraced the ghost wolf. They’ve become stewards of both the animal and the land. It could be a model for coexistence,” he said.
Whether that model could translate to other regions remains to be seen. But the persistence of red wolf genes in Gulf Coast canids has reframed conversations about the species’ status and potential and the ties to cloning and gene editing technology open up doors that inspire some and concern others.
Between Past and Future
The juxtaposition is striking: on one side, dire wolves engineered from fragments of Ice Age remains; on the other, red wolves clinging to survival in marshes and barrier islands.
One project looks back thousands of years, the other barely half a century. Both highlight the tools now being applied to conservation — genetic sequencing, cloning, selective editing and the debates surrounding their use.
For some, these approaches represent hope: new ways to reverse biodiversity loss and strengthen species at risk. For others, they raise ethical and ecological questions about intervention, priorities, and unintended consequences.
Colossal’s work with wolves underscores the complexity of those choices. The dire wolf pups are a scientific milestone. The ghost wolves of Galveston are a reminder that nature often holds on in unexpected ways.
Conservation has entered a new realm through rapidly advancing technology and it’s up to us to determine if this new path is something we need to go down or walk away from.
Chester Moore
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Were U.S. soldiers in Vietnam only battling human enemies—or were they also encountering undiscovered ape species in the jungle? Author RC Bramhall joins Dark Outdoors to reveal the terrifying legend of the Rock Apes.
Were U.S. soldiers in the Vietnam War facing more than just human enemies? Many veterans swore they encountered these creatures, known as the “Rock Apes,” while fighting in the dense jungles of Southeast Asia.
On this episode of Dark Outdoors, RC Bramhall, author of Haunted War Tales, joins Chester Moore to share chilling stories of these bipedal, ape-like beings and the battles that ensued.
Blending military history, cryptid lore, and firsthand soldier accounts, Bramhall explores whether these encounters were stress-induced hallucinations or genuine brushes with an undiscovered primate. If you’re drawn to the eerie crossroads of war stories, wilderness mysteries, and other strange outdoors phenomena this episode is one you can’t miss.
New Shirts For Sale!
Want the coolest ocean conservation shirt out there?
I’m doing a Gulf Great White Shark Society t-shirt and a decal with shipping (US only) for $20.
We have adult small through XL. Our 2X sold out.
Get yours now before they run out! We have one order at this price.
Back in the mid 1990s, I hunted hogs with dogs at Clarkrange Hunting Lodge in Clarkrange, Tenn.
The first morning of the hunt, we jumped up a nice reddish-colored boar with nasty tusks. I decided it was a shooter, so I found a good rest on a tree, squeezed the trigger on the .54 caliber Traditions muzzleloader, and out came the smoke.
All I could see was that something was running toward me and I assumed it was 175 pounds of tusks and rage, so I started up the tree. Thankfully, it was just one of the dogs realizing the hog was dead and its work was done.
On the way back to the cabin, the dogs jumped up another hog to which the guide said, “I think it’s the Satan hog!”
Well, that got my attention.
“Could you please explain to me what exactly is the Satan hog?” I asked.
“It’s this black boar that charges unprovoked and has killed several dogs. It almost got me once and we haven’t been able to kill it,” he said.
I for some reason thought it might be a good idea to go photograph this hog if the dogs had it bayed up.
Bad idea!
As soon as we arrived on the scene, this black hog, which was only around 150-pounds, ran straight at me, forcing me to seek refuge in a tree. I did notice it hooked as it ran by. As soon as the dogs got it again, I jumped back down and started shooting photos and got charged again. Just as I started to think this was a really bad idea, the hog took off and the dogs behind it but they soon returned. They simply could not hold the beast.
“Man, that Satan hog is something else,” I said to my guide.
“No, that wasn’t it. I’ve never seen that one before. The Satan hog is a whole lot meaner than that,” he said.
You can’t make some of this stuff up.
Chester Moore
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“The most dangerous thing in the woods is people.” If you’re into the hard-edged, real-world side of the outdoors—cases, cautionary tales, and how to come home safe—Dark Outdoors® the multiple award-winning podcast is your show and this blog is your gateway to it.
This is the decal you will get!
To thank new listeners and readers, I’m mailing out a limited run of Dark Outdoors: The Most Dangerous Thing in the Woods is People decals—free.
What you’ll get
That creepy phantom killer image above is what you will get! It’s a perfect slap for your cooler, gun case, tackle box, or back glass. It’s a badge that says you take the wild—and the people in it—seriously.
How to claim yours (3 quick steps)
Subscribe to the Dark Outdoors podcast using my Linktree where you will find links to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartradio & Audible: 👉 linktr.ee/darkoutdoorspodcast
Your mailing address (name, street, city, state, ZIP)
That’s it—I’ll drop a decal in the mail.
Why subscribe?
Real cases & real takeaways. Situational awareness, backcountry smarts, and stories that could save a life.
Expert voices. Law enforcement, search-and-rescue, biologists, survivors.
No fluff. Field-tested safety talk for hunters, anglers, hikers, and anyone who goes where the pavement ends.
Fine print (simple & fair)
Free while supplies last. One decal per household.
U.S. mailing addresses only for now.
Please allow a couple of weeks for delivery.
Your mailing address is used only to send the decal—no spam, no sharing.
Want to help even more?
After you subscribe, leave a quick rating or review in your podcast app. It helps other outdoorsmen and women find the show—and it helps keep people safer outside.
Stay sharp out there.
Chester Moore
PS: As I say at the end of every episode before you enter the outdoors, “Pray. Prepare & Pack Heat”.
Manatee mistaken identity A gentle sea cow once took the blame for damage in Texas waters—but mounting evidence suggests the real culprits were juvenile bull sharks stirring up trouble.
The “lassoed” bull shark rumor A newspaper once claimed Texas game wardens “lassoed” a bull shark after it attacked someone. Spoiler: that’s pure myth, and I’ll explain why in the video.
A 40-year-old great white tale Decades ago, whispers spread that a “baby great white” was found in Sabine Lake. We’ll sift through whether that story has any teeth—or if it’s just another fishy rumor.
From jaw-dropping legends to real shark science, this commentary explores the history, the hype, and what’s actually swimming beneath the surface of Texas waterways.
