Podcasts · Science · True Crime

Tooth & Claw: True Stories of Animal Attacks

Wes Larson, Jeff Larson, Mike Smith | Daylight Media

218 episodes

True stories of the most extreme wild animal attacks ever documented, told and explained by Wes Larson, a wildlife biologist and animal behavior expert. Wes is joined by his brother Jeff and their mutual friend Mike, and in each episode the three pour over the details of animals attacks and explain how listeners can avoid these kinds of dangerous encounters, and learn a new appreciation for the wild things of the world

Episodes page 1 of 5

  1. Deathstalker Scorpion Attack - Gimme Shelter

    · 1 h 17 min · S1 E211

    Wes gives the boys a rundown on what may very well be the deadliest scorpion in the world, and how their search for a space place to hide from the rain led to hundreds of bites. Watch us on YouTube:…

  2. The Tragic History of Witches and Their Furry Friends

    · 1 h 24 min · S1 E210

    Witchy women (and women in general) have historically had a tough go of it. Wes delves into just how unfair things got for those accused of hitching their wagon to Satan, no matter how tenuous the claims turned out to…

  3. Wolf Attack - The Worst Way to Wake Up

    · 1 h 17 min · S1 E209

    To kick off the spookiest of seasons, Wes tells Jeff and Mike about one family's outdoor adventure that ended in violence, and their struggle to make it out alive. Watch this episode on YouTube:…

  4. The Beast in the Clouds - A Book Report with Jeff

    · 1 h 49 min · S1 E208

    In a bid to make a name for themselves and make a contribution to the world of science, two of Teddy Roosevelt's sons set out to China to find the mythical giant panda. Jeff gives a wonderful little book report about…

  5. Summer of the Bear and More Recent Animal News Stories, Plus a Conversation with Gianmarco Soresi

    · 1 h 48 min · S1 E207 · Explicit

    The guys begin by sharing some of the most head-turning, eyebrow-raising, and jaw-slackening animal news stories to hit the news over the past 6 or so weeks. They are then joined by comedian and all-around animal…

  6. The Champawat Tiger Part 2 - The Death of One Legend and the Birth of Another

    · 1 h 46 min · S1 E206

    As the tiger continues its reign of terror over the village of Champawat, a young hunter hears tell of its carnage and figures maybe he can lend the people and the country he loves a hand. Watch this episode here:…

  7. The Champawat Tiger - Part 1: The Origins of the Single Deadliest Animal in Recorded History

    · 1 h 25 min · S1 E205

    The Champawat Tiger was a female Bengal tiger responsible for the most human deaths of any animal in history. Wes explains how she might have developed such a proclivity for hunting humans and just how much fear she…

  8. Monsters of God - An Interview with Eric Goode and Jeremy McBride about the Shadowy World of Reptile Smuggling

    · 1 h 23 min · S1 E204

    Friends of the show Eric Goode and Jeremy McBride join the guys to talk about their new HBO documentary series Monsters of God, all about the seedy origins of the illegal reptile trade in the United States and beyond.…

  9. That's a Moray - Eels and the Damage They Can Do

    · 1 h 12 min · S1 E203

    Turns out its not just sharks that have a set of chompers that can d-eel some serious damage underwater. Watch us on YouTube here: ~ ~ To advertise on the show, contact us! Patreon -…

  10. Great White Shark Attack - Kenny Quits His Job

    · 1 h 33 min · S1 E202

    Kenny Doudt quit his miserable and job and found himself with all the time in the world to do what he actually loved. And so with his surfboard and best friend in tow, he ran out into the water off of Cannon Beach,…

  11. Glenn Bohn and the Brown Bear: A Grizzly Face Off in Alaska

    · 1 h 25 min · S1 E201

    Glenn Bohn's hunting trip resulted in one of the most gruesome pictures ever taken, but the truly stunning part of the story comes after the picture was taken. This is the story of what might just be the toughest many…

  12. Braveheart and the Bat + More - The July 2026 Animal News Round-up

    · 1 h 27 min · S1 E200

    The guys cover a bunch of notable animal stories and headlines that have happened over the past month or so, including a bunch of bear hijinks, petting a lioness into retreating, and many more! Watch here:…

  13. The Legend of Gustave, The Killer Crocodile

    · 1 h 34 min · S1 E199

    During one of the most violent stretches in it's country's history, Burundi was terrorized by a massive Nile crocodile that was said to be responsible for the deaths of 300 people. A small team came together and the…

  14. Rattlesnake Attack - A Real Bad Bite in Yosemite National Park

    · 1 h 15 min · S1 E198

    Kyle was busy living his best life with his wife and newborn baby when disaster literally struck while in a remote part of Yosemite National Park. After a lot pain, vomit, and diarrhea, Kyle had another nearly…

  15. Roar - The Most Dangerous Movie Ever Made W/ special guest David Dastmalchian

    · 2 h 05 min · S1 E197

    We are so pleased to be joined by a special guest for this week's episode! In this one, we talk about Roar, an insane movie from 1981 that featured over one hundred untrained lions and tigers and that resulted in…

  16. Grizzly Bear Attack - The Old-timey Montana Grizzly Attack

    · 1 h 08 min · S1 E196

    A small-town group of hunters goes out in the wilderness and has a run-in with a massive grizzly bear. One terrible, albeit heroic, decision later, the hunt ends in tragedy. Subscribe to us on Patreon here:…

  17. The Two Brothers and the Biscuit Basin Brown Bear Attack + Other Animal News Stories

    · 1 h 26 min · S1 E195

    On this edition of their animal news roundup, the guys discuss the efficacy of bear spray, a couple of unruly elephants, the real dangers that attend combatting poachers, and much more. Watch here:…

  18. Grizzly Bear Attack - Bram and the Brown Bear

    · 1 h 29 min · S1 E194

    After Bram Schaffer had an unlucky run-in with a brown bear, his chances of surviving the night were looking slim. A torrential storm wasn't going to make things any easier. Would his extraordinary bravery be enough to…

  19. Mothers, Heroes - The Tooth & Claw Mothers Day Special: 2026 Edition

    · 1 h 37 min · S1 E193

    Wes shares a handful of stories of different kinds of mothers being different kinds of heroes. What can we say, we love moms around here! ~~ Hims - To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for…

  20. The Tiny Bite That Sometimes Kills

    · 1 h 44 min · S1 E192

    Sometimes, even the smallest critters can cause major damage. Thankfully, the one featured in this episode is one that hardly ever does! See if you can guess what animal Wes is talking about before the reveal! Watch…

  21. The Great White Shark Bite Heard 'Round the World

    · 1 h 34 min · S1 E191

    In what might just be the most-seen video ever filmed of a great white shark encounter, 19-year-old Heather Boswell suffered a devastating bite to her lower body. That moment turned out to be just the beginning of an…

  22. Clavicular Shoots an Alligator and Other Recent Animal News Stories

    · 1 h 39 min · S1 E190

    Wes, Jeff, and Mike talk about some of the more notable animal news stories to hit the headlines over the past month or two, including a wolf in Hamburg, a California community grieving the death of a mama bear, and a…

  23. Kay, the Bear Lady: North Carolina's Answer to Timothy Treadwell

    · 1 h 36 min · S1 E189

    Now there are two of them (this is a reference to a Star Wars meme, which I am using to communicate the idea that Wes introduces us to a woman whom he likens to Timothy Treadwell, in that she grew a little too…

  24. Tooth & Claw Ranks the Wildlife of All 7 Continents

    · 2 h 06 min · S1 E188

    After having visited each of the 7 continents, the guys feel ready to rank them according to the wildlife they each have on offer. Which continent has the best? The worst? Find out here when they give a final vote by…

  25. In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex -- Part 2

    · 1 h 44 min · S1 E187

    In the aftermath of a strange and violent encounter with a sperm whale, the crew of the whale ship Essex are now left to brave the open ocean with nothing but a few small boats to carry them. Drastic and tragic…

  26. In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex -- Part 1

    · 1 h 36 min · S1 E186

    Whaling, it turns out, is not an easy endeavor. One ship found out the very hard way just how deadly the practice can be, covered here by Wes in part 1 of this new series by Tooth & Claw. Watch here:…

  27. Punch the Lonely Monkey and Other Recent Animal Encounter News Stories

    · 1 h 17 min · S1 E185

    The guys talk about a few of the more notable recent animal attack and encounter stories, including the first mountain lion fatality in Colorado since at least 1999, a macaque in a Japanese zoo whose story will pull on…

  28. Grizzly Bear Attack - Short King Colin and the Bear on Mt. Doogie Dowler

    · 1 h 40 min · S1 E184

    The intrepid Colin Dowler embarked on a mission to summit the mountain that was named after his grandfather, but a grizzly bear had other ideas. With only a small knife and presumably a normal-sized bike at his…

  29. Snow Leopard Attack - The Ghost of the Mountains

    · 1 h 41 min · S1 E183

    The guys are joined by big cat biologist Imogene Cancellare to discuss the recent case of a skier's violent encounter with a snow leopard in Xinjiang, China. Watch here: https://youtu.be/-n6PF8HJ3ls ~~ Coast: Right…

  30. Bull Shark Attack - Triathlon Chuck and the Big Bull Shark

    · 1 h 23 min · S1 E182

    When Chuck decided it was time to make some life changes, he didn't figure how prominently a bull shark would be featured in them. One early morning workout in the waters off the coast of Alabama was all it took to…

  31. Neurotoxins: They Hurt - A Batch of Listener Stories Including a Snowmobile Moose Flip, Multiplying Bears, and More

    · 1 h 29 min · S1 E181

    In this episode, the guys read through and react to a few more incredibly entertaining, funny, and informative stories from listeners concerning their various wild run-ins with animals. ~~ Nutrafol: Get $10 off your…

  32. The Twisted Tale of Travis the Chimpanzee

    · 1 h 27 min · S1 E180

    Wes tells the horrifying and tragic story of Charla Nash, Sandra Herold, and Travis the chimpanzee. ~~ MasterClass: Get 15% off any annual membership at MasterClass by visiting https://masterclass.com/TOOTH and using…

  33. The Tragic Tale of a Would-be Lion Tamer and Other Animal Attack News + The Tooth & Claw 2025 End of the Year Wrap-up

    · 1 h 53 min · S1 E179

    The guys talk about a few notable animal encounter headlines from the past few weeks and then get into some of the highs and lows of 2025. Watch here: https://youtu.be/1D41lklWFbk ~~ NordVPN: EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal…

  34. The Bullet Ant Episode - Is Wes the New King of Sting? ft. Jack's World of Wildlife

    · 2 h 06 min · S1 E178

    Wes covers the history of cataloguing and experiencing the extreme pain of the bullet ant's sting, and then gets into his own brush with one down in Costa Rica. Jack from Jack's World of Wildlife then comes on for an…

  35. What the F**k is Going On With Japan's Bears?

    · 1 h 45 min · S1 E177

    Japan has been seeing a higher-than-usual rate of violent encounters with bears. Wes explains why that might be and what should be done about it. Watch here: https://youtu.be/EnkSTRJoVxE ~~ Smalls: For a limited…

  36. The Ghost Grizzlies of Colorado: Part 2

    · 1 h 30 min · S1 E176

    Wes tells the tale of a man who had one final grizzly bear attack before they disappeared from Colorado altogether. Watch here: https://youtu.be/vgQO1ueH9to ~~ Aura Frames: Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at…

  37. How the Goonch Stole Christmas

    · 54 min · S1 E175

    This episode was previously exclusive to our subscriber channels, so if you feel like you've heard it before, you might just have! If you like it, consider subscribing either to our Patreon or the Apple Grizclub using…

  38. The Ghost Grizzlies of Colorado: Part 1

    · 1 h 38 min · S1 E174

    The history of grizzly bears in Colorado is steeped in tradition and tragedy. In this episode, Wes tells the story of how intruding on sacred land led to dire consequences for bears and humans alike. Watch here:…

  39. Two Bear Attacks in Arkansas - The T&C November Animal Attack News Roundup

    · 1 h 44 min · S1 E173

    Wes, Jeff, and Mike discuss some of the more notable animal attack, encounter, and otherwise noteworthy headlines from the past month or so, including a couple of bear attacks in Arkansas, an especially angry…

  40. A Sierra Foothills Murder Mystery

    · 1 h 34 min · S1 E172

    A 40-year-old woman's body was near the Sierra foothills, mangled and left for dead on the trail where she had been out on a jog. Over time, pieces of evidence began to paint a picture of what exactly had transpired,…

  41. The Mummy's Curse & Other Horrific Deaths by Animal with Sammy Smart

    · 1 h 45 min · S1 E171

    Wes concocted another episode with which to horrify friend of the show Sammy Smart of Too Scary; Didn't Watch fame. We're lucky to have a friend like her! Watch here: https://youtu.be/2QFCSvyu1eg ~ Ollie Pet Food:…

  42. Polar Bear Attack - A Violent Post-Party Polar Bear Encounter

    · 1 h 22 min · S1 E170

    In 2013, Erin Greene was on her way home from a Halloween party when she crossed paths with a polar bear. ~~ Miracle Brand: Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to https://trymiracle.com/TOOTH and use the code…

  43. The Humboldt Squid - A Dance with El Diablo Rojo

    · 1 h 28 min · S1 E169

    To kick off the scariest month of the year, Wes thought it appropriate to bring some tentacles into the equation. This intrigued Jeff. ~~ Smalls: For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping,…

  44. A Grizzly Encounter in Yellowstone - A Roundup of Recent Animal Encounter News Including a Violent Bear Attack in Yellowstone, an Elephant Pants-ing a Tourist, Big Cats in Thailand, and More

    · 1 h 32 min · S1 E168

    The guys each bring a handful of recent animal attack stories to the table to discuss with each other, and then get into the rarest bird Wes has ever een, Jeff's escape room escapades, and how much they like September.…

  45. Grizzly Bear Attack - The Hunters Become the Hunted

    · 1 h 34 min · S1 E167

    Wilf and his son-in-law Skeet went out on what they were expecting to be a routine elk hunt, but ran into something much, much more dangerous. Wes then takes the opportunity to explore why bear spray is your best…

  46. Crocodile Attack - Todd, His Dog Dig Dig, and the Saltwater Crocodile

    · 1 h 22 min · S1 E166

    Todd Bairstow held on for dear life as an eleven foot saltwater crocodile bit his legs and began tearing them apart with its signature death roll. In a moment of extreme desperation, he resorted to using an…

  47. The Legend of History's Deadliest Whale: Porphyrios the Purple

    · 1 h 14 min · S1 E165

    This is an upload of an old subscriber episode. If you enjoy it, consider subscribing to either our Patreon or Apple Grizclub! In this one, Mike talks about a handful of animal attacks that happened long ago including…

  48. The Dangers of Hunting Cape Buffalo - A Roundup of Recent Animal Encounter Headlines Including a Really Dumb Tonia Haddix Update, the Japanese Bear Safety Drill, and More

    · 1 h 29 min · S1 E164

    The guys talk about a bunch of recent animal-related headlines they thought would be educational, entertaining, or otherwise worth discussing. Stay safe out there! Watch here: https://youtu.be/aP8f4m_VQkw ~~ Hims: To…

  49. Jaguar Attack - A Rare and Deadly Encounter

    · 1 h 25 min · S1 E163

    Jaguars are an incredibly powerful cat who usually keep to themselves as far as humans are concerned. But not always. ~~ Graza Olive Oil: Add Graza Olive Oil to your summertime patio party arsenal. Visit…

  50. Toothie Tales: A Bat to the Mouth, a Snake at the Gates, and Many More

    · 1 h 33 min · S1 E162

    Our listeners have had some sticky, sharp, and dangerous encounters with some animals, it turns out! These are a few stories you all sent in for us to read through and discuss. Thank you to everyone who submitted…

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