In 2012, Bear Grylls and the Discovery Channel couldn’t agree on a new contract, and “Man Vs. Wild” met an untimely end, much to the dismay of aspiring survivalists everywhere. This sad fact can do little dampen the body of work that Bear Grylls left behind over the show’s seven-season run, however. And, thanks to the Internet and YouTube, many of Bear’s greatest hits live on forever.
In those seven seasons, Bear ate and drank more gross things than you can count on your fingers and toes. He made death defying escapes, treacherous passes across deep chasms, and even demonstrated some survival techniques that would serve you well if you were ever find yourself stranded in the wilds. There can be little doubt after seeing him in action, that whatever it is that Bear Grylls is made out of, it’s not the same stuff that makes up the average person.
So, come take a look at 35 of the greatest “Man Vs. Wild” moments. If you’ve ever wondered about ulterior uses for your own urine, you’ll find a couple here, including how you can drink it (#35). And, if you’ve ever wondered how to catch a stingray at night, you’ll find out how when you get to #34 on the list.
1. Munchin’ on Some Zebra
His name may be bear, but you’d think his name was Lion based upon the way he’s devouring that zebra carcass.
2. Scaling an Old Railway Bridge
If you’re the kind of person that’s afraid of heights, then you may want to look away as Bear ascends a disused railway bridge. It’s not the climb that’s scary; it’s what he does to make it all the way to the top.
3. A Daring Quicksand Escape
Dangerous quicksand would be enough to kill most people, but not Bear Grylls! Not only does it not kill him, but also he shows you how to escape under your own power.
4. Mmm… Maggots!
When you’re out surviving in the wilderness like Bear Grylls, you’ve got to eat what Mother Nature provides. And, in some cases, her offering to you is a decaying log full of delicious maggots.
5. A Broken Bridge
When Bear tried to cross over a river in Alaska on a log, things didn’t exactly go as he’d planned. But, when you eat zebra for a living, such things are just a part of the job.
6. Urine Hat
Out in the stifling desert heat, Bear keeps cool by doing the only thing he knows how: peeing on his shirt and then wrapping it around his head.
7. Helicopter Free Fall
Bear just has to get to this secluded island, and a boat ride simply won’t do! That’s why he chooses to make a perilous 9000-foot drop from a helicopter into the open ocean.
8. Deadly Game Traps
Ever wanted to know how to set a trap that will crush a rib cage or one that can impale a great elk? Well, Bear Grylls can show you!
9. Elephant Dung Smoothie
Struggling with thirst in the middle of the desert, Bear finds a much-needed ration of water hiding in a perfectly ordinary pile of elephant dung.
10. Makeshift Vehicle
It’s not Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome; it’s just Bear putting together a makeshift vehicle to cross a dried-out riverbed.
11. Bear Forgets His Wet Suit
But that’s not a problem at all, because there’s a seal carcass nearby. With a few flicks of his knife, he’s got a brand new wet suit!
12. Catching Eels
With an impromptu lure, Bear catches a slippery eel and then wrestles with it on shore. He advises that you should feel your prey before killing it, as it helps to connect you with its energy.
13. Snake: The Other White Meat
After decapitating a snake and burying its head, Bear demonstrates how to properly enjoy a meal of raw snake meat. Yum!
14. Spearfishing for Salmon
Fashioning a spear out of a tree branch, Bear heads out into the shallows and catches a fresh Alaskan salmon. But, that’s not all. Wait until you see what he does next.
15. Bear Grylls Goes Noodlin’
He’s not the first to catch catfish using this method, but you have to tip your hat for the way in which he honors the noodlin’ tradition.
16. Fishing For Piranha
Using a bow and arrow to fish for piranha in a body of water he “thinks is safe”, Bear snags one, cooks it, and then eats it.
17. Insects for Breakfast
When you’re Bear, you don’t need eggs, bacon and coffee to get you going in the morning. You need a protein-rich mush of insects. It’s the breakfast of champions!
18. Speaking of Eating Insects
In this clip, Bear eats a truly exotic insect, the tree weta, while he’s in the forests of New Zealand.
19. Cooked Bullfrog
Holding a giant branch aloft, Bear swings down and plucks the life from a bullfrog in a tiny pond. Then, he roasts it over an open fire for dinner.
20. Swollen Face
Things go pear-shaped when Bear attempts to steal honey from a beehive. This clip will have you reaching for your EpiPen or laughing at Bear’s alien-like face.
21. Pulling a Luke Skywalker
Just as Luke took shelter inside a tauntaun on the frigid landscape of Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back, so too does Bear attempt to make a shelter out of a camel carcass.
22. The Spiders!
They say that humans swallow spiders all the time while they’re sleeping. Bear Grylls eats them while he’s wide-awake.
23. High-Flying Antics
Bear Grylls isn’t just a beast on the ground; he’s a beast in the sky, too. This is exactly what he proves in this death-defying stunt.
24. Skinny Dipping
How should one cross frigid arctic waters? By stripping down to one’s birthday suit and swimming across with a block of ice, of course!
25. Buried Alive
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be buried alive in an avalanche? Well, Bear Grylls is more than happy to show you almost exactly what that would be like.
26. Sleeping Up In Trees
Animal bears can be quite a problem in the Alaskan wilderness, which is why this Bear puts together a makeshift hammock to hold him up in the treetops.
27. Bear Give Himself an Enema
Floating on a makeshift raft in the middle of the water, Bear gives himself an enema. Literally.
28. Raw Sheep Heart
By eating the raw heart of a sheep, Bear Grylls became more powerful than he ever was before!
29. Bear’s MacGyver with Shoelaces
If you thought that shoelaces had nothing to do with drinking water, then you’ve never seen this clip of Bear Grylls before.
30. Speaking of Water…
When you find yourself in the desert without your trusty shoelaces, you can always harvest water from cacti, as Bear demonstrates here.
31. Almost a Bear Pancake
Remember when Bear climbed that railroad bridge? Well, after that he decided to cut through a railroad tunnel, barely escaping with his life.
32. Bear Crosses a Canyon on a Rope
If you checked out the log-crossing video earlier, then this one is going to seem eerily familiar…
33. Do You Want Lunch?
With the world always teetering on the edge of apocalypse, one would be well advised to watch this informative Man Vs. Wild clip, wherein Bear explains how to trap rats for eating.
34. Fire, Water, Burn
Building a fire over the water to lure in a stingray, Bear uses a handmade spear to nab one right out of the water.
35. Drinking Urine
He’s drawn water from a variety of different sources. In the end though, Bear proves that his body can be a closed system when he drinks his own urine. We’re sure it was a fine vintage!
