1 00:00:01,168 --> 00:00:02,801 [josh gates] on the episode of expedition x. 2 00:00:02,803 --> 00:00:08,240 I saw something large, black just walking on the road. 3 00:00:08,309 --> 00:00:12,411 [josh] my team is heading deep into the wild forests of the ozarks... 4 00:00:13,447 --> 00:00:15,280 [jessica chobot] that's scaring me. 5 00:00:15,282 --> 00:00:19,318 [josh] ...Where terrified witnesses are reporting seei a monstrous creature 6 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:21,653 And hearing its horrific scream. 7 00:00:21,755 --> 00:00:22,654 [animal howling] 8 00:00:22,723 --> 00:00:24,023 Oh, my gosh. 9 00:00:24,025 --> 00:00:25,524 -Well, I stood there with a shotgun. -Yeah. 10 00:00:25,526 --> 00:00:28,293 [josh] some believe it's on a killing rampage. 11 00:00:28,295 --> 00:00:31,230 Had a piece of it eaten out of its side. 12 00:00:31,232 --> 00:00:34,400 Holy [beep]! There's a big chunk of meat over here. 13 00:00:34,402 --> 00:00:36,035 [phil torres] that is so fresh. 14 00:00:36,037 --> 00:00:39,605 [josh] phil and jess hunt for evidence of this mysterious predator 15 00:00:39,607 --> 00:00:40,506 [phil speaking] 16 00:00:42,810 --> 00:00:44,043 [jess] it's terrifying actually. 17 00:00:44,045 --> 00:00:46,545 [josh] or are they the ones being hunted? 18 00:00:46,614 --> 00:00:47,646 [jess] I just saw something. 19 00:00:47,648 --> 00:00:48,747 [phil whispers] all right, let's get closer. 20 00:00:51,752 --> 00:00:52,951 [phll] ooh! [beep] 21 00:00:53,754 --> 00:00:55,454 [josh reading] 22 00:00:56,791 --> 00:00:59,324 My name is josh gates. 23 00:00:59,326 --> 00:01:02,661 In my travels, I've experienced strange things 24 00:01:02,730 --> 00:01:06,298 That defy logic and made me question everything. 25 00:01:06,300 --> 00:01:07,833 Oh, my god. 26 00:01:07,935 --> 00:01:10,602 Now, I've put together a team to investigate 27 00:01:10,604 --> 00:01:13,038 The stranger side of the unknown. 28 00:01:13,140 --> 00:01:15,207 Let's go. 29 00:01:15,209 --> 00:01:19,411 [josh] phil torres is a scientist who hunts for rational explanations. 30 00:01:19,413 --> 00:01:21,279 [phil speaking] 31 00:01:23,150 --> 00:01:27,753 [josh] jessica chobot's paranormal research has made her a true believer 32 00:01:27,822 --> 00:01:29,922 If you're here with us, knock again. 33 00:01:29,924 --> 00:01:32,224 [josh] together we're searching for answers... 34 00:01:32,226 --> 00:01:33,592 [phil] what is happening here, jess? 35 00:01:33,594 --> 00:01:36,361 ...To the world's most extraordinary mysteries 36 00:01:37,331 --> 00:01:40,132 This is expedition x. 37 00:01:43,938 --> 00:01:45,304 All right, guys, I wanna start today 38 00:01:45,306 --> 00:01:47,306 By playing an audio recording for you. 39 00:01:47,308 --> 00:01:48,907 Phil, as our resident biologist, 40 00:01:48,909 --> 00:01:50,109 I'm very eager for your take on this. 41 00:01:50,111 --> 00:01:51,110 Give a listen. 42 00:01:53,514 --> 00:01:54,513 [animal howling] 43 00:01:54,515 --> 00:01:55,848 [phil] oh, wow. 44 00:01:56,851 --> 00:01:59,551 Sounds almost like a wolf, but not quite. 45 00:01:59,620 --> 00:02:01,320 It's weird, right? One more time. 46 00:02:01,322 --> 00:02:02,121 Listen. 47 00:02:04,258 --> 00:02:05,624 [animal howling] 48 00:02:07,261 --> 00:02:08,060 I mean, that's freaky. 49 00:02:08,062 --> 00:02:08,861 It is freaky. 50 00:02:08,929 --> 00:02:09,828 What is it? 51 00:02:09,830 --> 00:02:10,862 That's a great question. 52 00:02:10,864 --> 00:02:12,297 That's what people in the ozarks wanna know, 53 00:02:12,299 --> 00:02:13,799 Which is where this was recorded, 54 00:02:13,801 --> 00:02:17,236 And it's what they refer to as the ozark howler. 55 00:02:17,337 --> 00:02:19,004 Okay, I have heard of this. 56 00:02:19,006 --> 00:02:21,006 It's kind of like a hell hound sort of thing. 57 00:02:21,008 --> 00:02:24,109 Yes. It's a hell hound. It's a mutant cat, bear, wolf. 58 00:02:24,111 --> 00:02:25,677 No one knows what it is. 59 00:02:25,679 --> 00:02:28,714 But people have been seeing and especially hearing it in the ozarks 60 00:02:28,716 --> 00:02:30,249 For 100s of years 61 00:02:30,317 --> 00:02:32,050 And one of the alleged witnesses 62 00:02:32,152 --> 00:02:34,620 Is an iconic hero from american history. 63 00:02:38,792 --> 00:02:40,359 [josh] the ozarks, 64 00:02:40,427 --> 00:02:44,963 47,000 square miles of ancient mountains and plateau, 65 00:02:44,965 --> 00:02:48,534 Carved by time into a labyrinth of rugged cliffs. 66 00:02:48,602 --> 00:02:50,402 Much of it is unexplored, 67 00:02:50,404 --> 00:02:55,207 Riddled with dangerous sink holes and over 300 cave 68 00:02:55,209 --> 00:02:57,643 And if the legends are to be believed, 69 00:02:57,744 --> 00:03:01,547 There's a large and dangerou predator prowling these wood 70 00:03:04,051 --> 00:03:08,287 1810, as the story goes, one famous explorer had see 71 00:03:08,289 --> 00:03:11,590 Pretty much every native animal on the american frontier. 72 00:03:11,592 --> 00:03:13,725 But a run-in with the so-called howler 73 00:03:13,727 --> 00:03:15,961 Made him flip his coonskin cap. 74 00:03:16,029 --> 00:03:19,398 It is said that none other than daniel boone 75 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,034 Wrote a letter to his sister-in-law about his encounter 76 00:03:22,102 --> 00:03:27,306 With a creature that was quo "black and swarthy with horn a top his scalp. 77 00:03:27,308 --> 00:03:29,608 I am told of the sound that it makes, 78 00:03:29,610 --> 00:03:32,344 A terrible howling in the middle of the night. 79 00:03:32,446 --> 00:03:36,114 Warnings of this for settler should be passed along." 80 00:03:37,418 --> 00:03:39,918 By the late 1800s, reports of violent 81 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:44,156 And sometimes fatal confrontations with the beast increase. 82 00:03:44,224 --> 00:03:46,124 Survivor descriptions are similar. 83 00:03:46,126 --> 00:03:52,030 A large, agile, dark, and horrifying creature with a blood curtailing cry 84 00:03:52,032 --> 00:03:56,301 Described as a cross between a wolf's howl and an elk's call. 85 00:04:01,041 --> 00:04:05,410 In the last decade, claims of run-ins with the beast have exploded 86 00:04:05,412 --> 00:04:09,615 Farmers, hunters, hikers, all recount terrifying brush 87 00:04:09,617 --> 00:04:11,817 With this mysterious apex predator. 88 00:04:13,721 --> 00:04:17,889 Some say that as more and mo people build homes at the edge of the forest 89 00:04:17,891 --> 00:04:21,760 Perhaps these creatures are emerging to protect their territory. 90 00:04:21,828 --> 00:04:23,462 Now, there's a sudden rise 91 00:04:23,563 --> 00:04:26,598 In the number of livestock and pets that have gone missing. 92 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,601 Or even worse have been foun chewed to pieces. 93 00:04:30,504 --> 00:04:32,838 Some fear it's only a matter of time 94 00:04:32,939 --> 00:04:34,706 Before there's a deadly confrontation 95 00:04:34,708 --> 00:04:38,043 Between a human and the ozark howler. 96 00:04:42,349 --> 00:04:43,749 So what do you think? 97 00:04:43,850 --> 00:04:45,517 You know, josh, when you mentioned the ozarks, 98 00:04:45,519 --> 00:04:48,553 I thought you were talking about the new season of the jason batemon show. 99 00:04:48,655 --> 00:04:50,689 -Ooh! -A pop cultural reference 100 00:04:50,691 --> 00:04:52,057 -From phil. What? -I did it! 101 00:04:52,059 --> 00:04:53,258 Did I do it right? 102 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:54,760 Yeah, but there's no way you watch ozark. 103 00:04:54,828 --> 00:04:56,161 [phil] no, I watch some shows. 104 00:04:56,263 --> 00:04:57,162 Yeah, bugs. 105 00:04:57,231 --> 00:04:59,197 Yeah, the 24-hour bug news network. 106 00:04:59,199 --> 00:05:00,299 -Is that real? -[josh] no. 107 00:05:00,301 --> 00:05:01,833 -'cause I would watch that. -I know you would! 108 00:05:01,902 --> 00:05:04,636 Listen, with the ozark howler, I kind of love the story 109 00:05:04,705 --> 00:05:07,506 Because there's clearly a lot of eyewitnesses, 110 00:05:07,508 --> 00:05:09,041 And we have this recording. 111 00:05:09,109 --> 00:05:12,811 So if we figure out what known animal made that noise, 112 00:05:12,813 --> 00:05:14,245 We solve the case. 113 00:05:14,247 --> 00:05:16,448 And in this area, there are black bears, there's mountain lions. 114 00:05:16,550 --> 00:05:18,617 A lot of large predators. 115 00:05:18,619 --> 00:05:22,054 And any big animal's gonna leave behind some biological evidence. 116 00:05:22,056 --> 00:05:25,924 So I wanna get out there, look for dna, for hairs, for scat. 117 00:05:25,926 --> 00:05:27,492 I mean, my only issue with this 118 00:05:27,494 --> 00:05:31,596 Is that none of the descriptions match anything that's out there. 119 00:05:31,598 --> 00:05:34,199 But if you run across a black bear in the middle of the night, 120 00:05:34,201 --> 00:05:36,702 That's enough to scare the scat out of anyone. 121 00:05:36,704 --> 00:05:38,136 That's pretty good. 122 00:05:38,205 --> 00:05:40,038 However, black bears don't have horns. 123 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:41,440 Yeah, and they don't howl. 124 00:05:41,541 --> 00:05:42,941 I'll admit I'm a little baffled, 125 00:05:42,943 --> 00:05:45,310 But that's why I think we should try to get our own recording 126 00:05:45,312 --> 00:05:47,312 And try to find some physical evidence out there. 127 00:05:47,314 --> 00:05:48,413 So that's your mission? 128 00:05:48,415 --> 00:05:50,048 I've connected with the witnesses 129 00:05:50,117 --> 00:05:51,316 That recorded this audio. 130 00:05:51,318 --> 00:05:52,718 I want you to go meat them. 131 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:54,720 Go to the place where they heard this. 132 00:05:54,722 --> 00:05:55,954 See if you can hear the same thing. 133 00:05:56,022 --> 00:05:58,924 See if you can find that elusive physical evidence. 134 00:05:58,926 --> 00:06:01,626 Is this a mis-identified animal? 135 00:06:01,628 --> 00:06:03,762 Or is this ozark mystery beast? 136 00:06:03,831 --> 00:06:05,564 -Mystery beast. -Mis-identification. 137 00:06:05,632 --> 00:06:08,233 Oh, boy. Good luck, guys. 138 00:06:11,505 --> 00:06:14,206 [josh] phil and jess fly just over a 1,000 miles 139 00:06:14,208 --> 00:06:16,908 From new york city to springfield, missouri 140 00:06:16,910 --> 00:06:20,512 And then drive straight into the heart of ozark country. 141 00:06:24,118 --> 00:06:25,850 Wow, that's pretty. 142 00:06:25,852 --> 00:06:30,055 [josh] the cliffs, rivers, and remote forests of this land lost in time 143 00:06:30,057 --> 00:06:32,491 Hide rare and unusual wildlife, 144 00:06:32,493 --> 00:06:35,060 Like a giant nocturnal salamander, 145 00:06:35,162 --> 00:06:37,362 Known as the ozark hell bender, 146 00:06:37,464 --> 00:06:43,301 And a blind subterranean fis that lives deep in caves and dines on bat guano. 147 00:06:43,303 --> 00:06:45,270 It's enough to make you wond 148 00:06:45,272 --> 00:06:47,339 What else could be hiding out here. 149 00:06:48,942 --> 00:06:52,144 Wonder why they call missouri the show-me state. 150 00:06:52,245 --> 00:06:55,714 No idea, but I hope it shows me the ozark howler. 151 00:06:55,716 --> 00:06:58,216 [chuckles] that's such a stupid joke. 152 00:06:58,218 --> 00:07:00,752 -[jess laughs] -it's what I'm here for, jess. 153 00:07:00,821 --> 00:07:02,053 Stupid jokes. 154 00:07:03,657 --> 00:07:04,990 But they also it the cave state. 155 00:07:04,992 --> 00:07:09,795 Well, they know that's where the ozark howler is hiding. 156 00:07:09,797 --> 00:07:11,730 [josh] I've arranged for phil and jess to meet 157 00:07:11,732 --> 00:07:14,900 With the witnesses who recorded those eerie howls. 158 00:07:14,902 --> 00:07:18,937 They say they captured more strange sounds just a few nights ago. 159 00:07:19,006 --> 00:07:21,072 [sharon robinson] welcome to the hot ozarks. 160 00:07:21,074 --> 00:07:23,842 [josh] steve robinson is a former navy seal, 161 00:07:23,911 --> 00:07:26,945 And his wife sharon was a professional animal trainer. 162 00:07:27,014 --> 00:07:31,149 They have lived at the edge of the ozark forest for over 20 years. 163 00:07:31,251 --> 00:07:33,752 We gotta hear this thing. What recording do you have? 164 00:07:33,821 --> 00:07:35,053 [steve robinson] got him in a rainstorm. 165 00:07:35,122 --> 00:07:36,154 Let me see here. 166 00:07:41,028 --> 00:07:42,427 [animal howling] 167 00:07:48,602 --> 00:07:50,235 [phil] you can hear it over the rain? 168 00:07:50,337 --> 00:07:52,804 -[jess] yeah. -That tells you that must've been loud. 169 00:07:52,806 --> 00:07:53,905 Let me try the other one. 170 00:07:57,044 --> 00:07:58,043 [animal howling] 171 00:08:01,048 --> 00:08:02,714 Oh, my gosh. 172 00:08:02,716 --> 00:08:04,850 This went on for 45 minutes. 173 00:08:04,918 --> 00:08:07,419 That's scary sounding. 174 00:08:07,421 --> 00:08:09,521 -Yeah, he was-- yeah. -Well, I stood there with a shotgun. 175 00:08:09,523 --> 00:08:11,556 -[jess] yeah! -That does not sound like a happy animal. 176 00:08:11,658 --> 00:08:12,690 [sharon] he was not. 177 00:08:12,692 --> 00:08:14,693 So I have to ask. You guys live near the woods. 178 00:08:14,695 --> 00:08:16,361 You must hear all sorts of wild animals calling. 179 00:08:16,463 --> 00:08:17,195 -[steve] oh, yeah, yeah. -[sharon] and that's the thing. 180 00:08:17,197 --> 00:08:18,697 You hear coyote packs running 181 00:08:18,699 --> 00:08:21,099 -And [imitating a coyote] and running or howling. -[phil] sure. 182 00:08:21,101 --> 00:08:23,902 -You hear of the neighborhood dogs and foxes. -[jess] yeah. 183 00:08:23,904 --> 00:08:25,103 So odd sounds. 184 00:08:25,105 --> 00:08:26,738 -[sharon] so all of those things... -Oh, yeah. 185 00:08:26,773 --> 00:08:29,841 -...That are natural we hear over and over again. -[jess] yeah. 186 00:08:29,943 --> 00:08:31,376 -You know, nighttime, daytime. Nothing. -[steve] and this does not. 187 00:08:31,378 --> 00:08:33,345 -[steve] it's not something we can identify. -[sharon] yeah. 188 00:08:33,446 --> 00:08:34,713 [phil] you know, I can't either. 189 00:08:34,715 --> 00:08:37,148 [jess] steve gives us a copy of his audio files 190 00:08:37,217 --> 00:08:38,850 So we can have the sounds analyzed. 191 00:08:38,919 --> 00:08:41,052 -Awesome! I'll take care of this. -Yep. 192 00:08:41,154 --> 00:08:43,889 [jess] then they share a suggestion for where to look next. 193 00:08:43,891 --> 00:08:45,423 Prey animals need water. 194 00:08:45,425 --> 00:08:47,259 If this thing is hunting prey animals, 195 00:08:47,327 --> 00:08:48,727 It's gonna be near water. 196 00:08:48,729 --> 00:08:49,828 -Okay. -Perfect. 197 00:08:49,830 --> 00:08:51,463 [phil] I like your logic. 198 00:08:52,733 --> 00:08:55,634 [jess] steve and sharon claim the howling happens only after dark. 199 00:08:57,104 --> 00:08:58,469 It's getting close to sunset 200 00:08:58,471 --> 00:09:01,206 So we head out to a remote area along the water. 201 00:09:04,912 --> 00:09:05,810 [jess] all right, you ready? 202 00:09:05,812 --> 00:09:07,512 [phil] yeah, let's get out there. 203 00:09:16,390 --> 00:09:18,056 [phil] this will take us deeper, more remote 204 00:09:28,702 --> 00:09:31,303 [jess] I mean, there's just nothing around here. 205 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,207 Trees as far as the eye can see. 206 00:09:50,257 --> 00:09:53,658 [phil] I'm not sure what animal made those sound steve and sharon recorded, 207 00:09:53,727 --> 00:09:58,163 But I still think that most eye witnesses in a moment of intense fear 208 00:09:58,231 --> 00:10:01,099 Simply mis-identified a black bear in the distance 209 00:10:01,101 --> 00:10:02,601 Before it gets dark, 210 00:10:02,603 --> 00:10:05,403 I want to look for hair, prints, scat, 211 00:10:05,405 --> 00:10:07,105 Anything that backs up my theory. 212 00:10:11,545 --> 00:10:13,745 [jess] see any tracks or anything like that? 213 00:10:13,814 --> 00:10:16,047 [phil] I'm gonna check this out, jess. 214 00:10:16,049 --> 00:10:17,282 That's a cave! 215 00:10:18,852 --> 00:10:21,620 Many animals, including bear and mountain lions, 216 00:10:21,622 --> 00:10:23,822 Will seek shelter from the elements 217 00:10:23,824 --> 00:10:27,225 Or a place to hide their you from predators or humans. 218 00:10:29,029 --> 00:10:32,397 Any animal living here would leave some physical evidence behind, 219 00:10:32,399 --> 00:10:35,834 Like hair, paw prints, or bones from its prey. 220 00:10:35,935 --> 00:10:39,938 And of course, jess is hopin to find some howler dna in here. 221 00:10:39,940 --> 00:10:41,406 Look at that. 222 00:10:41,408 --> 00:10:42,640 Oh, yeah, you could see 223 00:10:42,642 --> 00:10:44,509 Where it's, like, the water starting to eat away at it. 224 00:10:44,511 --> 00:10:46,678 [phil] oh, yeah. 225 00:10:46,680 --> 00:10:50,315 Well, I'm not seeing any signs right now that this thing is inhabited. 226 00:10:50,317 --> 00:10:52,217 What's that smell though? 227 00:10:52,219 --> 00:10:53,818 -[phil] you smell it? -I mean, it just stinks. 228 00:10:53,820 --> 00:10:54,919 I don't know what I'm smelling. 229 00:10:54,921 --> 00:10:57,455 [phil] smells kind of like urine. 230 00:10:57,557 --> 00:10:59,357 There are different types of animal pee. 231 00:10:59,459 --> 00:11:02,127 Some is just to, you know, process urine, 232 00:11:02,129 --> 00:11:06,498 But others is more musky that would mark its territory, maybe mark this cave. 233 00:11:06,500 --> 00:11:07,665 -Yeah. -[whispers] here, come feel. 234 00:11:09,503 --> 00:11:11,403 [jess] for decades, witnesses have reported 235 00:11:11,405 --> 00:11:13,838 Seeing and hearing the howler at night. 236 00:11:13,907 --> 00:11:16,307 So our senses are now on high alert. 237 00:11:19,279 --> 00:11:20,745 [phil] check this out, jess. 238 00:11:21,948 --> 00:11:24,516 These are the native black cap raspberries here, 239 00:11:24,518 --> 00:11:25,817 Also known as bear food. 240 00:11:28,255 --> 00:11:29,921 [phil] bears are omnivores, 241 00:11:29,923 --> 00:11:33,725 Meaning that they eat meat, and also plants, roots, and fruit. 242 00:11:34,461 --> 00:11:35,894 Bears do have a sweet tooth 243 00:11:35,896 --> 00:11:39,130 So where there are berries, good chance there are bears 244 00:11:41,401 --> 00:11:43,134 [phil] holy [beep]! 245 00:11:48,642 --> 00:11:49,941 [phil] oh, my god. 246 00:11:52,145 --> 00:11:54,245 Holy [beep]! 247 00:11:54,314 --> 00:11:56,448 I see a big pad there. 248 00:11:56,549 --> 00:11:58,216 -[jess] oh, what is that? -[phil] it's hard to tell. 249 00:11:58,218 --> 00:11:59,417 [phil] this is not a bear track. 250 00:11:59,419 --> 00:12:01,820 They have five toes, not fou 251 00:12:01,822 --> 00:12:04,622 And they have strong nails at the tip of each toe, 252 00:12:04,624 --> 00:12:07,358 Useful for fighting or foraging. 253 00:12:07,394 --> 00:12:10,361 So we might see claw marks here if it was a bear. 254 00:12:10,463 --> 00:12:13,198 If it was a wolf track, we'd also see claw in prints 255 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:15,600 But I'm not making out any here. 256 00:12:15,602 --> 00:12:18,403 I don't see claw marks there. 257 00:12:18,405 --> 00:12:22,040 So there's a chance [whispers] that could be a big cat print. 258 00:12:22,109 --> 00:12:27,045 Retractable claws are a trai that is almost exclusive to felines. 259 00:12:27,147 --> 00:12:31,049 While bobcats are known to roam these forests, mountain lions seldom do. 260 00:12:31,051 --> 00:12:34,018 Once plentiful here, they were pushed out by humans 261 00:12:34,020 --> 00:12:35,920 And now are just rare visitors. 262 00:12:35,922 --> 00:12:38,656 And I'm not aware of any breeding populations here. 263 00:12:38,758 --> 00:12:41,559 -So I'm gonna try to get the 3d scan of them. -Okay. 264 00:12:43,463 --> 00:12:47,198 [phil] I'll need a better vi in order to identify what animal left this print 265 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:50,034 I'll make an impression of I with lidar scan. 266 00:12:50,103 --> 00:12:53,304 Lidar means light detection and ranging 267 00:12:53,306 --> 00:12:55,039 Okay. 268 00:12:55,041 --> 00:12:58,543 A pulse laser scans a surfac and creates a detailed 3d rendering. 269 00:12:58,645 --> 00:13:00,444 [jess] oh, that's pretty goo 270 00:13:00,446 --> 00:13:03,014 [phil] I can compare those images to known print from different species. 271 00:13:03,950 --> 00:13:04,749 That's really cool. 272 00:13:04,785 --> 00:13:06,317 [phil] let's keep going. 273 00:13:08,655 --> 00:13:10,955 The track seemed to head in this direction. 274 00:13:10,957 --> 00:13:12,357 [jess] all right, let's put the camera traps up. 275 00:13:12,425 --> 00:13:13,424 Okay. 276 00:13:15,328 --> 00:13:16,594 I'll hit the far end of the spring. 277 00:13:16,596 --> 00:13:18,930 -You run and go closer to along creek bed. -Okay. 278 00:13:22,602 --> 00:13:24,636 [jess] we spread out over a half-mile wide area 279 00:13:24,704 --> 00:13:27,038 And set up the motion activated cameras 280 00:13:28,041 --> 00:13:29,407 [phil] oh, boy. 281 00:13:29,409 --> 00:13:31,142 [jess] or at least, I do. 282 00:13:31,211 --> 00:13:33,011 Phil's easily distracted. 283 00:13:34,014 --> 00:13:35,613 That's a big spider. 284 00:13:35,615 --> 00:13:37,415 And for scale, that thing is big. 285 00:13:38,952 --> 00:13:39,951 Whoo. 286 00:13:41,221 --> 00:13:42,821 I love these woods. 287 00:13:44,724 --> 00:13:47,258 Let's set up the camera trap. 288 00:13:55,402 --> 00:13:57,735 Pointing right at that game trail. 289 00:13:57,804 --> 00:13:59,504 See that right up there. 290 00:14:05,111 --> 00:14:08,246 Anything would cross right here actually. 291 00:14:08,315 --> 00:14:10,415 Let me check if there's any hair on this. 292 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:14,252 Holy [beep]. 293 00:14:15,322 --> 00:14:16,321 Look at that. 294 00:14:16,323 --> 00:14:17,822 We got hair. 295 00:14:17,824 --> 00:14:20,959 And it even has the root of the hair on it, 296 00:14:21,027 --> 00:14:23,061 Which means good chance we can get dna out of it. 297 00:14:25,532 --> 00:14:26,431 Two of these. 298 00:14:28,201 --> 00:14:31,202 Okay, we got hair. 299 00:14:34,140 --> 00:14:37,141 Looking at that, it definitely doesn't look like deer. 300 00:14:39,579 --> 00:14:41,512 Way too thick, way too dark. 301 00:14:42,449 --> 00:14:44,215 Oh, man, this could be a bear. 302 00:14:45,318 --> 00:14:47,218 Or it could be the howler. 303 00:14:47,220 --> 00:14:48,219 It's probably bear. 304 00:14:50,624 --> 00:14:51,556 Amazing. 305 00:14:54,661 --> 00:14:56,261 I won't have a definitive answer 306 00:14:56,362 --> 00:14:58,429 Until I have it analyzed at a lab. 307 00:14:58,431 --> 00:15:00,765 So for now, jess and I have something planned 308 00:15:00,833 --> 00:15:03,101 That may bring whatever animal left this ha 309 00:15:03,103 --> 00:15:06,204 Running back toward us along this trail. 310 00:15:06,206 --> 00:15:08,339 [jess] I set up my camera trap right down there, 311 00:15:08,408 --> 00:15:09,307 Closer to the prints. 312 00:15:09,309 --> 00:15:11,409 Why don't we set up around here 313 00:15:11,411 --> 00:15:12,810 And do our calls from here and see what we can get. 314 00:15:12,812 --> 00:15:14,612 -[phil] okay. -Maybe we can lure something in. 315 00:15:16,082 --> 00:15:18,917 [jess] no one can identify the creature making the eerie howls 316 00:15:18,919 --> 00:15:21,052 That witnesses have heard and recorded. 317 00:15:23,623 --> 00:15:27,825 Maybe if we amplify its unique cry out into the forest... 318 00:15:27,827 --> 00:15:30,662 ...The howls will attract more of its kind. 319 00:15:30,763 --> 00:15:32,964 Whatever that is. 320 00:15:32,966 --> 00:15:35,199 We can use this limestone to our advantage too. 321 00:15:36,202 --> 00:15:38,536 Just blast sounds out this way. 322 00:15:38,638 --> 00:15:40,405 -Mmm-hmm. -And it'll echo off here 323 00:15:40,407 --> 00:15:42,540 And just really resonate through this part of the forest 324 00:15:42,642 --> 00:15:46,110 And will also help us basically retrieve any sounds back 325 00:15:46,112 --> 00:15:49,180 -If anything calls back to us. -Okay. 326 00:15:49,182 --> 00:15:53,151 [phil] many large animals like wolves, coyotes, and even some big cats 327 00:15:53,219 --> 00:15:57,956 Communicate with each other over long distances by howling or roaring. 328 00:15:59,526 --> 00:16:01,960 Animals do this to identify their location 329 00:16:02,028 --> 00:16:03,328 For their pack or pride, 330 00:16:03,330 --> 00:16:05,096 To find a mate, 331 00:16:05,098 --> 00:16:08,700 Or as a warning to others to stay out of their territory. 332 00:16:11,705 --> 00:16:14,939 Let's hope the message we're about to send out is friendly. 333 00:16:20,113 --> 00:16:21,746 I'm gonna play the howler noise. 334 00:16:21,781 --> 00:16:23,247 Got it ready. 335 00:16:24,751 --> 00:16:27,852 [jess] I break out the flir to detect any heat signature 336 00:16:29,055 --> 00:16:32,256 Now, we have eyes and ears ready for any responses. 337 00:16:32,325 --> 00:16:34,425 [phil] now, the noise. 338 00:16:34,427 --> 00:16:35,727 Shh. 339 00:16:43,003 --> 00:16:44,201 I thought I heard something, 340 00:16:44,203 --> 00:16:46,104 But I think it might just be the water from the spring. 341 00:16:47,107 --> 00:16:49,040 Okay, the howler noise. 342 00:16:49,142 --> 00:16:51,409 -Okay, ready? -Yeah, I'm ready. 343 00:16:51,411 --> 00:16:52,944 [animal howling over recorder] 344 00:17:26,513 --> 00:17:28,946 It is dead silent out there. 345 00:17:29,048 --> 00:17:30,481 [jess] I'm not getting anything. 346 00:17:30,483 --> 00:17:31,448 Zero. 347 00:17:31,518 --> 00:17:33,051 Well, hey, he sent you two files, right? 348 00:17:33,152 --> 00:17:34,419 So why don't we just play the second one 349 00:17:34,421 --> 00:17:36,020 -And see if we get lucky. -Okay. 350 00:17:37,957 --> 00:17:39,824 [animal howling over recorder] 351 00:17:51,538 --> 00:17:53,704 Was that an echo? I thought I heard it immediately-- 352 00:17:53,706 --> 00:17:54,739 -[animal growls] -[gasps] 353 00:17:54,808 --> 00:17:56,140 Right there, right there. 354 00:17:56,242 --> 00:17:58,609 I did hear it. It was over here to the left. 355 00:18:03,049 --> 00:18:04,849 [phil] why don't we use the parabolic mic. 356 00:18:04,951 --> 00:18:07,418 If we can isolate that audio 357 00:18:07,420 --> 00:18:08,853 -And compare it to this... -Mmm-hmm. 358 00:18:08,955 --> 00:18:10,254 ...We'll see if it's a match. 359 00:18:10,323 --> 00:18:11,722 -Okay, go grab the mic. -Yeah. 360 00:18:14,060 --> 00:18:16,227 [phil] parabolic microphone have a reflector 361 00:18:16,229 --> 00:18:17,762 That concentrates soundwaves 362 00:18:17,864 --> 00:18:19,430 -Look at that guy. -Yeah. 363 00:18:19,432 --> 00:18:21,732 [phil] the device amplifies distant noises 364 00:18:21,801 --> 00:18:23,601 And helps us track their direction. 365 00:18:23,603 --> 00:18:24,702 [jess] okay. 366 00:18:26,940 --> 00:18:28,005 I can play it one more time. 367 00:18:30,043 --> 00:18:31,609 [animal howling over recorder] 368 00:18:51,064 --> 00:18:52,063 We had it. 369 00:18:53,333 --> 00:18:55,700 We absolutely had something call back to us. 370 00:18:55,702 --> 00:18:57,235 Maybe the 360 might got it 371 00:18:57,303 --> 00:18:58,503 'cause it is running right now. 372 00:18:58,505 --> 00:18:59,303 Better have. 373 00:18:59,305 --> 00:19:01,405 -But I gotta say-- -shh. 374 00:19:31,838 --> 00:19:33,404 [phil] something's moving toward us. 375 00:19:35,041 --> 00:19:36,207 [jess] play it one more time just to see 376 00:19:36,209 --> 00:19:37,708 If it's coming over here. Maybe it's getting closer. 377 00:19:39,712 --> 00:19:42,213 I'm gonna play a clip and then pause it immediately after. 378 00:19:42,215 --> 00:19:43,214 -[jess] okay. -Ready? 379 00:19:43,216 --> 00:19:44,015 [jess] yeah. 380 00:19:44,017 --> 00:19:45,550 [howl recording plays] 381 00:19:50,857 --> 00:19:52,523 [howl recording plays] 382 00:19:55,728 --> 00:19:57,929 [jess] I'm not hearing it anymore. 383 00:19:57,931 --> 00:19:59,430 [phil] maybe it caught our scent? 384 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:03,501 If that is what people call the howler here, 385 00:20:03,503 --> 00:20:04,802 We got it on tape. 386 00:20:04,804 --> 00:20:06,670 Oh, yeah. 387 00:20:09,175 --> 00:20:13,711 [phil] I still can't identify what animal it is from the howls we captured. 388 00:20:13,713 --> 00:20:17,315 So, the next morning, we connect with josh to figure out our next steps 389 00:20:18,051 --> 00:20:19,717 -Hi. -Hey, josh. 390 00:20:19,719 --> 00:20:22,520 Hey, how are you? Have you found the, uh, ozark howler? 391 00:20:22,522 --> 00:20:24,121 Daniel boone and I are dying to know. 392 00:20:24,123 --> 00:20:25,556 [jess] well, we definitely found something. 393 00:20:25,625 --> 00:20:29,260 We played howler noises out into the woods last night 394 00:20:29,362 --> 00:20:32,063 And we actually got a real-time response. 395 00:20:32,164 --> 00:20:33,497 Yeah, josh, take a listen to this. 396 00:20:33,499 --> 00:20:35,633 I'm gonna play you what steve gave us 397 00:20:35,735 --> 00:20:37,435 That he's been hearing around his property. 398 00:20:37,503 --> 00:20:39,136 [howling on recording] 399 00:20:42,208 --> 00:20:44,242 And this is what we heard back. 400 00:20:45,411 --> 00:20:48,112 [howling on recording] 401 00:20:48,114 --> 00:20:49,513 That is insane. 402 00:20:49,515 --> 00:20:51,281 You got that as a response? 403 00:20:51,283 --> 00:20:54,518 Yeah, it happened immediately after we played out steve's recording 404 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:55,553 Wow. Play it again? 405 00:20:56,322 --> 00:20:58,522 [howling on recording] 406 00:20:58,524 --> 00:21:00,057 [jess] that is not the sound of a bear. 407 00:21:00,159 --> 00:21:01,359 No, it is not. 408 00:21:01,427 --> 00:21:02,760 Phil, what do you think it is? 409 00:21:03,229 --> 00:21:05,062 It's a howler. 410 00:21:05,064 --> 00:21:09,233 I'll be honest, I'm starting to lean a little bit more away from this bear theory. 411 00:21:09,302 --> 00:21:11,202 I'm just not sure where I'm leaning towards. 412 00:21:11,204 --> 00:21:13,938 We did find some large animal tracks last night 413 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:15,006 That we were able to scan. 414 00:21:15,008 --> 00:21:16,807 And I collected a hair sampl 415 00:21:16,809 --> 00:21:19,210 [josh] send all of it my way we will get it analyzed. 416 00:21:19,212 --> 00:21:20,611 In the meantime, 417 00:21:20,613 --> 00:21:23,714 Word of your investigation I traveling fast in the ozarks 418 00:21:23,716 --> 00:21:26,050 I just got an email from a woman and her son 419 00:21:26,052 --> 00:21:28,919 Who say they actually have a photo of the howler 420 00:21:28,921 --> 00:21:30,421 That they want to show you in person. 421 00:21:30,423 --> 00:21:32,089 [jess] oh, wow. I can't wait to see that. 422 00:21:32,091 --> 00:21:34,959 Perfect. Yeah, text us the address and we'll head there now. 423 00:21:35,028 --> 00:21:37,028 Good luck, you guys. Stay safe. 424 00:21:37,030 --> 00:21:38,229 -Awesome, bye. -You got it. 425 00:21:38,231 --> 00:21:40,965 [jess] a photograph is huge 426 00:21:41,033 --> 00:21:42,933 People in the ozarks have reported seeing 427 00:21:43,035 --> 00:21:45,503 An unknown beast for more than a century. 428 00:21:45,505 --> 00:21:48,706 But this could be the first photographic evidence of it 429 00:21:51,311 --> 00:21:54,211 Phil and I drive half an hou to highlandville missouri, 430 00:21:54,213 --> 00:21:56,213 A small town nestled in the ozarks 431 00:21:56,215 --> 00:21:59,617 With a population of only about 1,000 people. 432 00:21:59,619 --> 00:22:02,153 Josh has connected us with stephanie wigger, 433 00:22:02,254 --> 00:22:03,821 And her son, kendall nakato 434 00:22:03,823 --> 00:22:06,023 You have pigs back here? 435 00:22:06,025 --> 00:22:07,325 [wigger] just these four guys. 436 00:22:07,327 --> 00:22:10,127 Stephanie has lived in the area for over 25 years. 437 00:22:10,129 --> 00:22:12,530 And raises livestock on her farm. 438 00:22:12,532 --> 00:22:14,198 So you guys have a lot of property out here? 439 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:15,333 [wigger] 55 acers. 440 00:22:15,335 --> 00:22:17,034 [jess] her son kendall is a college student 441 00:22:17,103 --> 00:22:20,137 Pursuing a degree related to wildlife and agriculture 442 00:22:20,239 --> 00:22:22,807 Well, just right around where we're standing I've seen 443 00:22:22,809 --> 00:22:26,410 Wild boars and coyotes as well as other wildlife. 444 00:22:26,412 --> 00:22:28,212 So we're interested in that "other wildlife." 445 00:22:28,214 --> 00:22:30,314 [jess] so you believe you've seen the ozark howler? 446 00:22:30,316 --> 00:22:34,352 Yeah. The first time I saw it was just about five months ago. 447 00:22:34,420 --> 00:22:36,654 When you come up the driveway, it was in that tree. 448 00:22:38,224 --> 00:22:40,491 -[phil] really? -[wigger] yeah. 449 00:22:40,493 --> 00:22:41,926 When I turned around and looked back, 450 00:22:41,928 --> 00:22:44,762 I saw it come down the tree and go around the side of the barn. 451 00:22:44,831 --> 00:22:47,298 [phil] an animal in a tree is a big clue. 452 00:22:47,300 --> 00:22:49,500 Canines are lousy tree climbers, 453 00:22:49,502 --> 00:22:54,038 So whatever stephanie saw wouldn't have been a coyote or a wolf. 454 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:55,606 [kendall] I didn't believe her at first. 455 00:22:55,608 --> 00:22:57,975 And had just thought she must have seen, you know, 456 00:22:57,977 --> 00:23:00,511 The normal black bear or something in the tree. 457 00:23:00,513 --> 00:23:03,814 Until I was driving to the gym less than a quarter mile from here. 458 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:11,522 And I saw something large, black, with brown rings. 459 00:23:11,524 --> 00:23:14,959 And it was very skinny like it was emaciated, almos 460 00:23:17,130 --> 00:23:18,295 [phil] how big are we talking about? 461 00:23:18,297 --> 00:23:19,463 150 pounds. 462 00:23:19,532 --> 00:23:20,998 [jess] oh, my gosh. 463 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,601 I'm just wondering why it wouldn't come after one of your hogs out here. 464 00:23:23,603 --> 00:23:27,405 We have had livestock go up missing and had some of them-- 465 00:23:27,407 --> 00:23:28,939 -[phil] like what? -[kendall] there was a time 466 00:23:28,941 --> 00:23:30,441 When our sheep was actually attacked. 467 00:23:30,476 --> 00:23:32,810 My sheep was on the ground, screaming. 468 00:23:32,812 --> 00:23:34,979 And it had a piece of it eaten out of its side 469 00:23:34,981 --> 00:23:36,414 -While it was alive. -[jess] oh, my gosh. 470 00:23:36,416 --> 00:23:37,814 And it was sitting in the middle of the pen. 471 00:23:37,817 --> 00:23:40,217 Something had jumped in there and pinned it down and eaten it 472 00:23:40,219 --> 00:23:43,954 And jumped out of the pen when it heard me run out the door. 473 00:23:43,956 --> 00:23:47,958 [jess] stephanie shows us the photo of the predator captured on a game camera. 474 00:23:48,060 --> 00:23:50,428 [wigger] that's from one of the driveway cams. 475 00:23:54,033 --> 00:23:57,835 [jess] that does look really suspicious. 476 00:23:57,937 --> 00:23:59,904 I mean, the body looks like a big cat, 477 00:23:59,906 --> 00:24:01,739 But I can't see the head. 478 00:24:01,841 --> 00:24:03,541 So, that doesn't rule out the howler. 479 00:24:04,410 --> 00:24:07,011 The only big cat that should be out here 480 00:24:07,013 --> 00:24:08,813 Would be a cougar or a mountain lion. 481 00:24:08,815 --> 00:24:12,817 And I've never heard of a black mountain lion or one with ring markings. 482 00:24:12,819 --> 00:24:16,520 [josh] there are no black big cats native to the united states. 483 00:24:16,522 --> 00:24:19,056 But what about escaped exotic pets? 484 00:24:19,926 --> 00:24:21,325 It is estimated that there a 485 00:24:21,327 --> 00:24:25,463 As many as 10,000 privately owned big cats in the us. 486 00:24:25,564 --> 00:24:28,065 More tigers are kept in private collections 487 00:24:28,133 --> 00:24:31,302 Then there are in accredite zoos or in the wild. 488 00:24:32,405 --> 00:24:35,339 Ownership of these animals is a serious issue. 489 00:24:35,441 --> 00:24:37,441 Brought into the spotlight by media attention 490 00:24:37,510 --> 00:24:41,612 On a controversial breeder of tigers and other big cats 491 00:24:41,614 --> 00:24:44,315 ...Real name is joseph maldonado-passage 492 00:24:44,317 --> 00:24:46,650 And everybody knows me as joe exotic. 493 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:50,821 We are a zoo open to the public 494 00:24:50,823 --> 00:24:52,423 That takes unwanted animals. 495 00:24:52,425 --> 00:24:54,058 It's a circus, let me tell ya. 496 00:24:55,228 --> 00:24:57,328 [josh] there's also a booming black market. 497 00:24:57,330 --> 00:24:59,129 And since it's off the radar 498 00:24:59,131 --> 00:25:02,700 No one is monitoring the safety of the situation 499 00:25:02,702 --> 00:25:06,003 Every year, some big cats escape captivity, 500 00:25:06,005 --> 00:25:08,806 Making headlines across the nation. 501 00:25:08,808 --> 00:25:11,609 And those are just the ones that are reported. 502 00:25:11,611 --> 00:25:13,277 What about sounds? Have you guys noticed 503 00:25:13,279 --> 00:25:15,045 Any strange sounds coming from this thing? Or at night? 504 00:25:15,047 --> 00:25:16,113 -[wigger] yeah. -[kendall] definitely. 505 00:25:16,115 --> 00:25:19,016 Howls, screams, guttural sounds. 506 00:25:19,018 --> 00:25:20,818 A little after dusk and stuff. 507 00:25:20,820 --> 00:25:23,420 You know, like, it makes the hair on my arms stand up. 508 00:25:23,422 --> 00:25:25,356 Okay, well, crazy. 509 00:25:25,424 --> 00:25:28,225 I feel like we are in ground zero for something 510 00:25:28,227 --> 00:25:30,160 Very big and wild out there. 511 00:25:30,229 --> 00:25:33,931 Would you mind if we try to kinda take on your property tonight? 512 00:25:33,933 --> 00:25:35,733 -Maybe we could set up some trail cams-- -yeah. 513 00:25:35,801 --> 00:25:38,702 ...And things like that to try to document what you guys have been seeing? 514 00:25:38,704 --> 00:25:40,237 -Sure, go ahead. -[kendall] yeah. 515 00:25:40,339 --> 00:25:41,338 [jess] perfect. Thanks guys. 516 00:25:44,210 --> 00:25:45,542 Whoo-hoo. 517 00:25:50,016 --> 00:25:52,716 We head out into the forest on stephanie's property 518 00:25:52,718 --> 00:25:54,251 Just before nightfall. 519 00:25:58,724 --> 00:26:01,325 [phil] big cats are mostly nocturnal hunters. 520 00:26:01,327 --> 00:26:02,726 We're going to set up camera 521 00:26:02,728 --> 00:26:06,263 Designed to capture full col images in low light 522 00:26:06,332 --> 00:26:09,300 So there will be no questio what creature we're seeing. 523 00:26:09,302 --> 00:26:11,835 I definitely think we should set up some game traps along here. 524 00:26:11,937 --> 00:26:13,504 'cause not only does that give us a chance 525 00:26:13,506 --> 00:26:15,606 Of getting a photograph of whatever she's talking about, 526 00:26:15,608 --> 00:26:17,408 But also what it's eating out here. 527 00:26:17,410 --> 00:26:19,009 Let's go a little bit deeper. 528 00:26:19,011 --> 00:26:20,778 [jess] yeah, I would agree. 529 00:26:25,051 --> 00:26:29,653 Phil wonders if people are seeing either a wildcat or an escaped big cat, 530 00:26:29,722 --> 00:26:32,723 But I don't believe 200 year of ozark howler sightings 531 00:26:32,725 --> 00:26:36,160 Can be written off as mere misidentifications. 532 00:26:36,261 --> 00:26:38,395 -This seems like a good location, right? -[phil] yeah. 533 00:26:38,397 --> 00:26:40,297 We're looking for game trial 534 00:26:40,299 --> 00:26:43,634 If what stephanie saw running off in this directio was a large cat, 535 00:26:43,736 --> 00:26:46,503 This trail would lead it to water, shelter, 536 00:26:46,505 --> 00:26:50,007 And the food source that is unfortunately, their barn. 537 00:26:50,009 --> 00:26:51,942 -Looks like the path goes that way. -[jess] yeah. 538 00:26:52,011 --> 00:26:52,843 [phil] goes that way. 539 00:26:53,446 --> 00:26:54,645 And that way. 540 00:26:54,714 --> 00:26:56,313 So, why don't we set it up right there? 541 00:26:56,315 --> 00:26:57,348 [jess] yeah. 542 00:27:03,055 --> 00:27:04,154 Okay. 543 00:27:16,335 --> 00:27:17,901 [jess] wait, I thought I just saw something. 544 00:27:17,903 --> 00:27:19,503 I thought I just saw eyeshine over there. 545 00:27:22,942 --> 00:27:24,108 Oh, I just saw it too. 546 00:27:24,110 --> 00:27:25,409 -[jess] right? Yeah? -I just saw it too. 547 00:27:25,411 --> 00:27:27,444 Definitely eyeshine. It was right... 548 00:27:27,513 --> 00:27:28,746 All right, let's get close. 549 00:27:35,254 --> 00:27:37,354 -Oh, [bleep]. -[jess] what is it? 550 00:27:38,624 --> 00:27:39,657 [phil] oh, [bleep]. 551 00:27:40,726 --> 00:27:41,558 What was that? 552 00:27:43,029 --> 00:27:44,061 Do we have bear spray? 553 00:27:50,803 --> 00:27:53,037 -[phil] oh, [bleep]. -[jess] what is it? 554 00:27:54,140 --> 00:27:55,305 [phil] oh, [bleep]. 555 00:27:56,208 --> 00:27:57,207 What was that? 556 00:27:58,644 --> 00:27:59,810 Do we have bear spray? 557 00:27:59,812 --> 00:28:02,012 Yeah, I've got it. 558 00:28:02,014 --> 00:28:04,415 [jess] when the biologist asks for bear spray, 559 00:28:04,417 --> 00:28:06,617 It's really time to worry. 560 00:28:07,253 --> 00:28:08,218 [phil] holy [bleep]. 561 00:28:10,556 --> 00:28:11,855 Shh, shh, shh, shh. 562 00:28:27,807 --> 00:28:30,641 [phil] we're at a serious disadvantage in these woods 563 00:28:30,743 --> 00:28:34,111 There are plenty of large an dangerous animals out here, 564 00:28:34,113 --> 00:28:36,714 Including bears and maybe mountain lions, 565 00:28:36,716 --> 00:28:40,017 Which have much better nigh vision than we humans do. 566 00:28:43,522 --> 00:28:45,622 Bears tend to attack head on 567 00:28:45,624 --> 00:28:47,825 But large cats are ambush predators, 568 00:28:47,827 --> 00:28:51,261 Striking from behind or abov 569 00:28:51,330 --> 00:28:54,565 Victims seldom know what hits them until it's too lat 570 00:28:54,633 --> 00:28:57,801 And the large animal stephanie spotted, it was up in a tree. 571 00:28:57,803 --> 00:29:01,305 So while we scan the forest floor for prints scat, or other evidence, 572 00:29:01,307 --> 00:29:04,108 We need to remember to look up as well. 573 00:29:06,312 --> 00:29:07,344 [distant howl] 574 00:29:07,446 --> 00:29:08,512 Wait, shh. 575 00:29:09,115 --> 00:29:10,447 [distant howl] 576 00:29:12,017 --> 00:29:13,150 That sounds like the howl. 577 00:29:18,124 --> 00:29:19,957 [jess] let's set up that camera trap. 578 00:29:20,626 --> 00:29:21,625 [phil] yeah. 579 00:29:36,809 --> 00:29:40,110 So, check out what I got. 580 00:29:40,112 --> 00:29:42,112 Did you bring pot out to the woods? 581 00:29:42,114 --> 00:29:43,914 -[laughing] it's not pot. -What's you bring? 582 00:29:44,617 --> 00:29:45,616 Oh, is that... 583 00:29:45,618 --> 00:29:46,950 Did you bring catnip? 584 00:29:47,019 --> 00:29:49,720 -[phil] I brought catnip. -[jess] no way. 585 00:29:49,722 --> 00:29:51,989 [phil] catnip is an herb in the mint family. 586 00:29:51,991 --> 00:29:55,325 Cats role around in it, releasing the oil from the leaves. 587 00:29:55,327 --> 00:29:57,661 As they inhale it, they essentially get a high 588 00:29:58,330 --> 00:29:59,262 You got a cat at home, 589 00:29:59,331 --> 00:30:00,731 What happens when you put out catnip? 590 00:30:00,733 --> 00:30:04,434 They get all rub-y and weird and real squirrely and... 591 00:30:04,503 --> 00:30:05,803 -Right? -Yeah. 592 00:30:05,805 --> 00:30:07,604 The same thing happens with big cats. 593 00:30:07,606 --> 00:30:09,306 -Really? -And the rub-y part, 594 00:30:09,308 --> 00:30:10,607 That's what we can take advantage of. 595 00:30:10,609 --> 00:30:11,842 We got some tape. 596 00:30:11,944 --> 00:30:14,444 So, what we're gonna do is put the sticky side out-- 597 00:30:14,513 --> 00:30:16,313 -Uh-huh. -...And wrap it around this tree. 598 00:30:16,315 --> 00:30:19,550 With the hopes that if a cat does come by, 599 00:30:19,651 --> 00:30:22,019 We'll get a photo of it and it'll leave us behind 600 00:30:22,021 --> 00:30:24,388 Some of its hairs so we can analyze the dna 601 00:30:24,390 --> 00:30:25,956 And figure out who this thing is. 602 00:30:25,958 --> 00:30:30,060 That is a great "trap", per se. 603 00:30:30,129 --> 00:30:32,429 [phil] gotta give it a good little spread. 604 00:30:32,431 --> 00:30:35,799 And now, what we need is some tape. 605 00:30:38,204 --> 00:30:40,571 So, I think if we use the foxpro 606 00:30:40,573 --> 00:30:43,707 And sent out some animal-in-distress sound, 607 00:30:43,709 --> 00:30:47,010 Maybe there's a chance it'll get curious enough 608 00:30:47,012 --> 00:30:48,745 To come take a look. 609 00:30:50,950 --> 00:30:53,116 [jess] the foxpro can mimic the cries of animals 610 00:30:53,118 --> 00:30:55,352 And it features some selections we suspect 611 00:30:55,454 --> 00:30:57,120 Are on the howler's dinner menu. 612 00:30:58,958 --> 00:31:02,326 I'll have my flir cam ready to detect any incoming creatures. 613 00:31:02,328 --> 00:31:04,428 -We got some options here. -[jess] uh-huh. 614 00:31:04,430 --> 00:31:07,064 One option is "lost sheep." 615 00:31:07,066 --> 00:31:08,131 Oh. 616 00:31:08,133 --> 00:31:10,133 It bit a giant chunk out of one of their sheep. 617 00:31:10,235 --> 00:31:11,602 Mmm-hmm. Totally do it. 618 00:31:11,604 --> 00:31:13,136 -[phil] ready? -[jess] uh-huh. 619 00:31:13,772 --> 00:31:16,106 [sheep bleating] 620 00:31:26,051 --> 00:31:28,051 I'm not picking anything up on the flir. 621 00:31:28,053 --> 00:31:30,087 With no reaction to the prey animal, 622 00:31:30,089 --> 00:31:33,657 We queue up the sound that did seem to stir something up last night. 623 00:31:33,759 --> 00:31:35,325 The howler recording. 624 00:31:35,327 --> 00:31:37,261 [howling on recording] 625 00:31:46,105 --> 00:31:47,237 [low distant growl] 626 00:31:47,339 --> 00:31:48,605 Shh. You hear that? You hear that? 627 00:31:48,607 --> 00:31:49,706 Was that coyotes? 628 00:31:49,708 --> 00:31:50,607 [phil] I don't know. 629 00:31:55,414 --> 00:31:56,446 Hear the movement? 630 00:32:08,627 --> 00:32:11,094 [jess] that sound was coming from over there. 631 00:32:11,096 --> 00:32:12,329 Let's head that way. 632 00:32:14,133 --> 00:32:15,832 -Ready? -[phil] yeah. 633 00:32:21,707 --> 00:32:24,041 [jess loudly] holy [bleep]. Check this out. 634 00:32:26,145 --> 00:32:27,511 I mean, that [bleep] fresh, too. 635 00:32:27,513 --> 00:32:28,712 [phil] that is so fresh. 636 00:32:28,714 --> 00:32:30,614 You can see it's dislocated right out of there. 637 00:32:30,616 --> 00:32:31,815 This is something big. 638 00:32:31,817 --> 00:32:33,150 Like a deer or a hog. 639 00:32:33,251 --> 00:32:34,751 [jess] or a sheep. 640 00:32:34,753 --> 00:32:37,120 -[phil] also, look at the... Look at where the flies are. -[jess] yeah. 641 00:32:37,122 --> 00:32:39,056 [phil] spread all over so this is really fresh. 642 00:32:41,627 --> 00:32:43,760 I want us to also look up in the trees right now 643 00:32:43,829 --> 00:32:46,630 Because lots of times when big cats hunt prey, 644 00:32:46,632 --> 00:32:48,732 They will drag them up. 645 00:32:48,801 --> 00:32:50,434 So this could have even fallen from a tree branch. 646 00:32:53,505 --> 00:32:55,872 -Looking at this side... -[jess] mmm-hmm? 647 00:32:55,874 --> 00:32:58,308 [phil] there's some scratch marks that could be from teeth 648 00:32:58,310 --> 00:33:00,344 Which could have saliva which could have dna. 649 00:33:00,412 --> 00:33:02,245 -Right. -[phil] cool, swab here. 650 00:33:03,649 --> 00:33:06,950 Oh, yeah. Those are definitely teeth marks. 651 00:33:06,952 --> 00:33:09,553 I mean, here's a thought though, would a bear have killed this? 652 00:33:09,621 --> 00:33:13,123 [phil] well, a bear I could see coming back for the rest of its food. 653 00:33:13,125 --> 00:33:15,959 A big cat, too. Lots of times they drag piece by piece. 654 00:33:16,929 --> 00:33:18,094 [jess] I think we should go 655 00:33:18,130 --> 00:33:20,530 Because I'm not feeling terribly safe right here. 656 00:33:21,900 --> 00:33:23,033 I got the bear spray. 657 00:33:25,104 --> 00:33:27,104 So we'll leave the camera traps up tonight? 658 00:33:27,106 --> 00:33:28,205 [phil] oh, yeah. 659 00:33:28,207 --> 00:33:30,207 Between the catnip, fresh berries, 660 00:33:30,209 --> 00:33:31,408 And that giant chunk of meat, 661 00:33:31,410 --> 00:33:33,276 There's gonna be some activity. 662 00:33:33,278 --> 00:33:34,344 [jess] okay. 663 00:33:39,151 --> 00:33:40,317 [phil] based on the pawprint 664 00:33:40,319 --> 00:33:42,119 The descriptions from eyewitnesses, 665 00:33:42,121 --> 00:33:43,620 And the sounds we captured, 666 00:33:43,622 --> 00:33:46,623 I'm thinking what people are calling the "howler" 667 00:33:46,625 --> 00:33:47,957 Is some kind of big cat. 668 00:33:47,959 --> 00:33:50,961 I've contacted stephanie schuttler, a fellow biologis 669 00:33:51,063 --> 00:33:54,865 Who's doing research on big cat populations in the eastern us. 670 00:33:54,933 --> 00:33:55,799 Who is this? 671 00:33:55,801 --> 00:33:57,200 -[jess] hi puppy. -This is train. 672 00:33:57,202 --> 00:33:59,603 -[phil] train? -He is our detector dog. 673 00:33:59,605 --> 00:34:03,140 -He's trained, like his name says, "train..." [laughs] -[jess] perfect. 674 00:34:03,241 --> 00:34:06,176 [schuttler] ...To look for mountain lion scats. 675 00:34:06,178 --> 00:34:08,311 -Well, that's perfect-- -yeah. 676 00:34:08,313 --> 00:34:09,413 [phil] ...Because we are after... 677 00:34:09,415 --> 00:34:10,747 We don't really know what we're after. Should we... 678 00:34:10,849 --> 00:34:12,749 Well, I'm after the ozark howler. 679 00:34:12,851 --> 00:34:15,152 I don't know who you're after, but... 680 00:34:15,253 --> 00:34:16,720 -[phil] let's just show her what we got. -[jess] all right. 681 00:34:17,956 --> 00:34:20,057 We play the howls steve recorded. 682 00:34:20,059 --> 00:34:23,827 [howling on recording] 683 00:34:23,829 --> 00:34:25,762 Have you heard a noise like that before out here? 684 00:34:26,198 --> 00:34:27,931 No, I haven't. 685 00:34:27,933 --> 00:34:30,700 My expertise is not in vocalizations, 686 00:34:30,702 --> 00:34:33,336 But this doesn't sound as screechy to me as a fox, but... 687 00:34:33,405 --> 00:34:36,940 I've heard coyotes, but, but not like that. 688 00:34:36,942 --> 00:34:38,742 [phil] okay. That's interesting. 689 00:34:38,810 --> 00:34:42,145 There's something else, though, a photo from a witness. 690 00:34:42,214 --> 00:34:44,514 This is the best image that they have. 691 00:34:44,516 --> 00:34:46,817 What do you think of this one? 692 00:34:46,819 --> 00:34:48,218 [schuttler] I mean, it's definitely a cat. 693 00:34:48,220 --> 00:34:52,322 It's pretty long which is usually indicative of larger cats. 694 00:34:52,324 --> 00:34:54,458 [phil] it can't be a black mountain lion. 695 00:34:54,526 --> 00:34:56,726 There has never been a documented case 696 00:34:56,728 --> 00:34:59,062 Of melanistic mountain lions. 697 00:35:00,265 --> 00:35:02,432 It is caused by a gene. 698 00:35:02,501 --> 00:35:04,534 It's when the coat becomes all black. 699 00:35:04,636 --> 00:35:06,303 So that's what a black panther is. 700 00:35:06,305 --> 00:35:08,638 And if you see it in good light, 701 00:35:08,740 --> 00:35:11,341 You'll actually see the spots underneath. 702 00:35:11,409 --> 00:35:13,643 But, it's just, it's legs are way too short. 703 00:35:13,712 --> 00:35:16,046 It's just too low to the ground. 704 00:35:16,048 --> 00:35:19,316 If it's what we call a black panther which is a melanistic jaguar, 705 00:35:19,318 --> 00:35:21,618 It just, its shoulders would be much higher. 706 00:35:22,121 --> 00:35:23,053 So, that's the thing. 707 00:35:23,155 --> 00:35:25,021 If there were a melanistic big cat out here, 708 00:35:25,023 --> 00:35:27,791 It would have to either be a jaguar or a leopard, 709 00:35:27,793 --> 00:35:29,526 Which has definitely never lived here. 710 00:35:29,528 --> 00:35:33,430 Yeah. It there were, it would definitely be an escapee. 711 00:35:34,833 --> 00:35:38,935 So, why would you use a dog like this to try and find scat? 712 00:35:39,037 --> 00:35:41,538 Dogs obviously have a good sense of smell 713 00:35:41,607 --> 00:35:44,074 And they're able to, to smell it out. 714 00:35:44,076 --> 00:35:46,843 That's critical data to have those scat samples, right? 715 00:35:46,945 --> 00:35:48,278 Yeah, absolutely. And... 716 00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:49,713 [jess] like what it's eating, what its... 717 00:35:49,715 --> 00:35:51,214 Who its interacting with. 718 00:35:51,216 --> 00:35:54,417 [schuttler] yeah, and the genetics so we can tell if individuals are 719 00:35:54,419 --> 00:35:57,120 Related to each other, where they come from. 720 00:35:57,122 --> 00:35:58,755 -[train barks] -[schuttler] I think he's ready to go. 721 00:35:58,824 --> 00:36:00,690 Let's see what you can do, train. 722 00:36:00,692 --> 00:36:02,926 [schuttler] okay, train. Go find it. 723 00:36:03,462 --> 00:36:04,528 [phil] oh, and he's off. 724 00:36:12,404 --> 00:36:13,303 Look at him go. 725 00:36:15,140 --> 00:36:16,506 He's got a scent trail. 726 00:36:19,144 --> 00:36:20,410 Did he just find something? 727 00:36:27,319 --> 00:36:30,453 It is said that famous frontiersman daniel boone 728 00:36:30,555 --> 00:36:32,422 Wrote a letter to his sister-in-law 729 00:36:32,424 --> 00:36:34,524 In which he claimed to have encountered a, quote, 730 00:36:34,526 --> 00:36:36,560 "black and swarthy creature. 731 00:36:36,628 --> 00:36:38,795 But did he really see a howler? 732 00:36:38,797 --> 00:36:40,430 Here to help us unpack this story, 733 00:36:40,432 --> 00:36:42,766 Is historian john mack faragher. 734 00:36:42,768 --> 00:36:44,434 It's not beyond speculation 735 00:36:44,503 --> 00:36:46,403 He saw whatever was out there. 736 00:36:47,105 --> 00:36:48,338 What is beyond speculation 737 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:50,006 Is whether he wrote about it or not. 738 00:36:50,008 --> 00:36:52,509 And why is that? What makes the letter suspect? 739 00:36:52,511 --> 00:36:54,611 [faragher] the letter, it proports to end 740 00:36:54,713 --> 00:36:57,714 With the phrase, "your umble sarvant." 741 00:36:57,816 --> 00:37:01,451 Well, boone used that phrase in his business correspondence. 742 00:37:01,553 --> 00:37:05,822 We have, in fact, only one existing personal letter that boone wrote 743 00:37:05,924 --> 00:37:07,724 And that was to his sister-in-law 744 00:37:07,792 --> 00:37:10,627 And it ends, "farewell, dear sister." 745 00:37:10,729 --> 00:37:13,430 So, no good evidence that he wrote about the howler? 746 00:37:13,432 --> 00:37:15,599 If there was such a letter, we would know about it. 747 00:37:15,700 --> 00:37:19,035 So there you have it, no real proof that this letter exists. 748 00:37:19,037 --> 00:37:20,537 Which is too bad because it would have been 749 00:37:20,639 --> 00:37:22,906 A real "boone" to the howler legend. 750 00:37:28,213 --> 00:37:29,512 [phil] did he just find something? 751 00:37:29,514 --> 00:37:30,714 -[train barks] -[schuttler] show me. 752 00:37:33,819 --> 00:37:35,885 [jess] it looks like there's something right here. 753 00:37:35,887 --> 00:37:37,721 [phil] oh, we got scat. 754 00:37:37,723 --> 00:37:38,622 [schuttler] there it is. 755 00:37:38,624 --> 00:37:40,323 [phil] oh, wow. 756 00:37:40,392 --> 00:37:41,825 What do you think just looking at it? 757 00:37:43,128 --> 00:37:44,527 [schuttler] it's a carnivore of some kind. 758 00:37:48,166 --> 00:37:49,766 I mean, this is definitely carnivore scat. 759 00:37:49,768 --> 00:37:53,003 This definitely ate another animal. 760 00:37:53,005 --> 00:37:55,672 'cause we are seeing fur in there, bones in there. 761 00:37:57,309 --> 00:38:00,143 It's evidence we know something is 762 00:38:00,145 --> 00:38:02,445 Wandering around here, eating people's farm animals. 763 00:38:02,547 --> 00:38:04,447 -Mmm-hmm. -So, we got our specimen. 764 00:38:04,549 --> 00:38:06,816 We should be able to get some dna from it. 765 00:38:06,818 --> 00:38:09,219 [phil] yeah, we'll send it to the lab for a dna test. 766 00:38:09,221 --> 00:38:12,922 [schuttler] awesome. Well done. 767 00:38:12,924 --> 00:38:16,226 [josh] if we're to believe the various witnesses over the centuries, 768 00:38:17,195 --> 00:38:19,929 A mystery beast is prowling and howling 769 00:38:19,931 --> 00:38:22,065 Deep in the forests of the ozarks. 770 00:38:24,903 --> 00:38:29,105 So, when we analyze the volume of evidence that phil and jess gathered 771 00:38:29,207 --> 00:38:33,710 Is there enough to positively id the so-called ozark howler? 772 00:38:35,213 --> 00:38:37,480 The game cam photo is compelling. 773 00:38:37,482 --> 00:38:41,518 But with the animal's head obscured and nothing to indicate scale, 774 00:38:41,520 --> 00:38:44,521 It's impossible to determin whether it's something large 775 00:38:44,523 --> 00:38:46,323 Like an escaped jaguar, 776 00:38:46,325 --> 00:38:48,625 Or as small as a common house cat. 777 00:38:50,329 --> 00:38:53,196 Dna testing on the single ha that phil gathered 778 00:38:53,198 --> 00:38:55,332 From a log on the game trai 779 00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:57,701 Came back as a bear. 780 00:38:59,504 --> 00:39:03,606 However, there's the partia print phil captured with the 3d scanner. 781 00:39:04,810 --> 00:39:06,676 Closer inspection confirms 782 00:39:06,678 --> 00:39:10,246 There are no claw marks around the paw pads. 783 00:39:10,248 --> 00:39:14,517 Retractive claws are a trait that is almost exclusively feline. 784 00:39:15,954 --> 00:39:18,121 There are only two types of wild cats 785 00:39:18,223 --> 00:39:20,323 That are known to prowl the ozarks, 786 00:39:20,325 --> 00:39:23,093 Mountain lions, which are extremely rare, 787 00:39:23,095 --> 00:39:24,828 And definitely not black, 788 00:39:25,697 --> 00:39:27,397 And the bobcat. 789 00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:31,101 Bobcats can be melanistic, meaning, 790 00:39:31,103 --> 00:39:34,938 On extremely rare occasions they do have black fur. 791 00:39:34,940 --> 00:39:37,607 There have been fewer than 20 documented sightings 792 00:39:37,709 --> 00:39:39,442 Of a melanistic bobcat. 793 00:39:39,544 --> 00:39:42,445 One was captured on video recently in vermont. 794 00:39:43,982 --> 00:39:47,117 Is it possible the witnesse have been seeing and hearin 795 00:39:47,185 --> 00:39:49,552 Not a mysterious hellhound beast, 796 00:39:49,621 --> 00:39:50,820 But a bobcat? 797 00:39:50,822 --> 00:39:52,322 [hisses] 798 00:39:53,058 --> 00:39:55,091 [phil] get a little swab here. 799 00:39:55,093 --> 00:39:57,827 [josh] we analyzed the dna from the saliva sample 800 00:39:57,829 --> 00:39:59,929 From the partially consumed deer. 801 00:40:00,432 --> 00:40:02,132 The culprit? Bobcat. 802 00:40:02,667 --> 00:40:03,933 [schuttler] show me. 803 00:40:03,935 --> 00:40:06,669 [josh] and the scat sample found by an elite canine? 804 00:40:06,671 --> 00:40:11,708 Dna analysis reveals that it is bobcat. 805 00:40:11,777 --> 00:40:13,877 And phil had several colleagues listen 806 00:40:13,879 --> 00:40:16,413 To the recordings he and jess captured. 807 00:40:16,415 --> 00:40:17,881 [howling in distance] 808 00:40:17,883 --> 00:40:21,284 [josh] as well as the ones recorded by our witnesses. 809 00:40:21,286 --> 00:40:23,620 [howling on recording] 810 00:40:23,622 --> 00:40:26,089 [josh] while the identity of the animal is uncertain, 811 00:40:26,091 --> 00:40:29,926 Most said that if they had to take a guess, bobcat. 812 00:40:31,596 --> 00:40:33,129 If you're still not convince 813 00:40:33,231 --> 00:40:34,597 Remember the catnip lure 814 00:40:34,599 --> 00:40:36,966 The team placed on our witness's property? 815 00:40:36,968 --> 00:40:39,602 While the sticky tape traps my team deployed 816 00:40:39,604 --> 00:40:42,405 Didn't collect any fur samples, 817 00:40:42,407 --> 00:40:45,408 Take a close look at the pho the camera snapped. 818 00:40:45,410 --> 00:40:47,010 It may be difficult to see 819 00:40:47,012 --> 00:40:49,112 Because of its signature spotted coat, 820 00:40:49,881 --> 00:40:52,649 But it appears to be a bobca 821 00:40:54,386 --> 00:40:57,420 Though they might seem a bi smaller than the huge beast 822 00:40:57,422 --> 00:41:00,824 That supposedly is the ozark howler, 823 00:41:00,826 --> 00:41:05,228 Amazingly, bobcats can jump as high as 12 feet 824 00:41:05,297 --> 00:41:08,598 And take down prey as big as an adult deer. 825 00:41:10,368 --> 00:41:13,870 Coming across this large, agile cat in the shadows 826 00:41:13,872 --> 00:41:16,406 Of the dark woods would startle anyone. 827 00:41:16,408 --> 00:41:21,077 And it might even seem almost like a monster from the old folk tales. 828 00:41:21,079 --> 00:41:23,213 A nightmare come to life. 829 00:41:24,950 --> 00:41:27,116 For more information on expedition x, 830 00:41:27,118 --> 00:41:30,420 Head to discovery.Com/expeditionx.