Summary
Overview
Dax Shepard and Monica Padman host Animal Attacks Part 3, featuring three harrowing wilderness encounters. Laura recounts leading teenage boys on a Canadian canoe trip where they were charged by a massive moose. Sarah describes fighting off three coyotes to save her dog Billy in the Massachusetts woods. Darren shares his panic-inducing confrontation with aggressive monkeys at a Thai beach, and Christy details her surprise turkey attack while biking in Wisconsin. Each story showcases the raw power of nature and the primal instincts that emerge when humans face dangerous wildlife.
Laura's Moose Standoff in the Canadian Wilderness
Laura, a wilderness canoe trip leader, was guiding ten 14-year-old boys through the Canadian wilderness on an exhausting journey involving multiple portages. After hours of paddling, a massive moose blocked their only route to water while the dehydrated group desperately needed to continue. When Laura attempted to navigate around the animal, it charged at full speed toward the vulnerable canoes. In a tense standoff, Laura held her ground and stared down the moose while boys sobbed and prepared to fight, ultimately causing the animal to retreat.
- Laura was leading 10 teenage boys on a demanding wilderness canoe trip in Canada, involving 6 portages and 6 creeks
- A massive moose blocked the creek for over 90 minutes while everyone was severely dehydrated
- The moose charged at full sprint when Laura attempted to navigate around it through what appeared to be its territory
- Laura stared down the moose from close enough to pet its nose, employing an 'alpha male' technique she learned from dog training
- The story became legendary at camp, with exaggerations claiming Laura killed the moose with her bare hands
" I'm like, in this moment, it's deciding if it's going to genuinely kill us or walk away. If it had put one foot in the boat, he could have flipped the boat and the kids would have drowned. "
" In this moment staring at this moose when my mother was training our dog back in the day was like the best way to train a dog is you alpha male it like you stare it in the eyes. Do not blink. Do not look away. Just stare at it until it puts its head down and walks away. So in this moment, I'm like, I'm going to alpha male the shit out of this moose. "
Sarah's Coyote Battle to Save Her Dog
Sarah was walking four dogs off-leash on a familiar trail in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts when her English setter Billy began screaming in the woods. She discovered three large eastern coyotes—wolf-coyote hybrids weighing up to 60 pounds—attacking her dog in a coordinated assault. Sarah ran into the fray, grabbed Billy by the neck and tail, and played tug-of-war with the coyotes over her dog's body while they continued attacking. Her other dog Remy heroically kept one coyote at bay while Sarah dragged the severely injured Billy to safety, ultimately saving his life through emergency surgery.
- Sarah was walking four dogs including her English setter Billy and a six-month-old puppy on a Manchester trail
- Three large eastern coyotes (wolf-coyote hybrids weighing 35-60 pounds) were attacking Billy in a coordinated assault
- Sarah grabbed Billy and played tug-of-war with the coyotes while they continued grabbing at his legs
- Her dog Remy kept the pursuing coyote back by lunging without making contact, giving Sarah time to escape
- Billy required extensive surgery for evisceration and internal injuries but survived and is now 15 years old
" I run in and I just grab Billy by the back of the neck and rape the blow his tail and I'm just dragging him out of the woods and I'm holding him and they're grabbing at his legs "
" I'm now playing tug of war with my dog's body and these coyotes. "
" After I got over the shock of it, it was one of those moments where this horrific thing happens. And you make it. And you make good decisions. And you figure it out. And afterward, you're so empowered by it. You're like, oh, my God. I'm such a badass. "
Get this summary + all future Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard episodes in your inbox
100% Free • Unsubscribe Anytime
Sign up now and we'll send you the complete summary of this episode, plus get notified when new Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard episodes are released—delivered straight to your inbox within minutes.