In Ecuador, a spree killer is loose in the wild as cows and other livestock are being mutilated in terrifying ways and left uneaten.

Crocodiles, the apex predator of Australia's Northern Territory, are mysteriously showing up dead, belly-up in the water, with no clear sign of visible trauma.

Kangaroos are being mauled in Victoria, Australia; the wounds mimic those seen by lions, tigers and cougars in other parts of the world, but there are no big cats in Australia.

In the jungles of Luzon Province, locals believe a vampire-like evil spirit has begun picking off villagers and livestock, taking them away without a trace.

Hundreds of endangered ridley sea turtles are turning up dead and half-eaten along the beach in Costa Rica during the monthly Arribata.

Brazilian ranchers are turning up dead, gored by some unknown creature; there's a wide range of animal suspects from jaguars to caimans.

His job as an in-demand TV cameraman has taken Paul "Mungo" Mungeam to more than 90 countries, where he's captured the world's wild and wonderful -- and sometimes hostile -- environments. Along the way, he's also heard age-old creepy tales of mythical creatures as told by local residents. In a search for the truth, Mungo turns the tables -- or would that be cameras? -- to become the focused subject of this adventure series. He leads a team of fellow adrenaline-seekers to remote, undiscovered corners of the world. At each stop, Mungo meets with eyewitnesses, searching for clues and evidence in the hope of capturing these myths and legends on camera.

The collapse of his gold mining business in Alaska has forced Farley Dean, his family, and his crew to pick up the pieces in a faraway, uncharted territory teeming with danger. Off of the coast of Papua New Guinea, on Bougainville Island, lies one of the largest untapped gold reserves in the world, but few prospectors have dared come face to face with its ferocious guardians -- crocodiles that have claimed the lives of countless fortune-seekers. Dean and his crew wade into lethal waters searching for gold just months after a local teenage boy was eaten by a croc. Assuming death is cheated, Farley's risked-filled adventure either leads to a multimillion-dollar windfall or furthers his family's financial downfall.

After a three-day crash course in fundamental survival skills, nine amateur hikers, campers and outdoor enthusiasts are flown into the rugged Alaska interior, given part of a map and some basic tools and told to hike to civilization -- ideally before harsh and potentially deadly winter weather sets in. It sounds like "Survivor," but with a big difference: The participants signed on, not for a million-dollar prize (there isn't one), but simply for the chance of a lifetime to challenge themselves in tough yet breathtakingly beautiful terrain.

A seasoned adventurer and survivalist deliberately "strands" himself in remote locales and makes his way back to civilization to provide in-depth advice for travelers who may find themselves lost on what was expected to be a routine hike or other trip.

Back to the beautiful state of Alaska for another reality-documentary series, this one set in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a protected area home to thousands of native animals... and a handful of people. In 1980, the U.S. government banned human occupation in the refuge, and only residents in seven permitted cabins are allowed to remain. The series depicts the daily rituals of four families living in isolation and contending with bitter weather, frustrating setbacks, and aggressive wildlife in an unspoiled and unforgiving wilderness. The nonconformists include Heimo Korth, the "godfather of the final frontier," and wife Edna; Bob Harte, who has spent 40 years living by his own rules; and young couple Bob and Ashley Selden, who admit that they've survived by trial and error, learning day by day the harsh reality of frontier living.

Tanana, Alaska, is like the Pacific Northwest's version of Hotel California: You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave. Well, not exactly, but describing the town as remote is akin to saying the winters are chilly. Located at the junction of the Tanana and Yukon rivers deep in the state's interior, the town has no roads in or out, and for its 200-plus residents, survival in the winter is a daily challenge. "Yukon Men" unveils the people of Tanana, who struggle to find food, heat their homes, and ward off predators. But they stick together, a bond that helps them overcome the harsh conditions.

There are creatures both legendary and unidentified roaming the Appalachian Mountains, and a band of hard-core hunters and trappers have made it their life's work to investigate them. For generations, supposed sightings of these monsters -- with such names as Wolfman, Devil Dog, Wampus Beast, Mothman and Lizard Demon -- have occurred along the 1,500-mile stretch of mountains, and it wasn't until the members of the Appalachian Investigators of Mysterious Sightings had their own personal encounters with these creatures that they became believers. Now, the AIMS crew, led by founders "Trapper" John Tice, Jeff Headlee and Willy McQuillian, use both traditional techniques and modern technology to track, trap and capture these monsters. Maybe AIMS will snag its first one while cameras are filming "Mountain Monsters"!

Back where their gold-mining adventures began, "Gold Rush" alumni Dakota Fred and son Justin persevere in the face of long odds, risking their lives for a fortune they may never realize. Assisted by a team of intrepid divers, mountaineers and bush mechanics, the Dakota Boys explore the white water rapids of McKinley Creek in Alaska, diving deep in raging torrents with a suction dredge. Not only could one wrong move prove deadly, but the guys also face wild animals, extreme temperatures and hypothermia.