John Tice, affectionally known as "Trapper," was the founder and leader of the Appalachian Investigations of Mysterious Sightings team (AIMS) that gave rise to the cult-classic series Mountain Monsters. Sadly, Trapper passed away in December 2019, after a prolonged illness. Mountain Monsters: A Tribute to Trapper, premiering on Sunday, January 3 at 10|9c, pays tribute to Tice, with the AIMS team sharing their favorite memories and moments with him over the years as they investigated cryptids throughout the woods of Appalachia.

The following week, Mountain Monsters returns for its fifth season. The AIMS members meet up for the first time after Trapper’s passing to discuss the team's future and embark on adventures during seven one-hour episodes and a two-hour season finale premiering on Sunday, January 10 at 10|9c. The AIMS team reads a personal letter from Trapper and heads out on a brand new adventure that he set up for them before he passed. Equipped with his personal journal filled with everything he ever learned about the woods, the team travels to the mountains of the Tygart Valley on a mission to prove that there are still wolves in West Virginia — the last of which was said to have been killed in 1900. The team encounters local farmers who tell of a dangerous predator that has been killing their livestock. The team soon believes that not only are there wolves in the Tygart Valley, but there is something much more mysterious and deadly.

Throughout the season, the team learns from locals of massive K9 cryptids with glowing red eyes that inhabit the land and are known by locals as Smoke Wolves. As they dig deeper, they realize that Trapper in fact knew about these creatures back in the 1970s. The team spends time trying to figure out if this is what Trapper meant about the wolves of West Virginia. Then, to add to the monster fun, the team realizes there is a Bigfoot lurking, terrorizing the area as well.

By the end of the season, the team understands why Trapper sent them to the Tygart Valley. They come full circle as Trapper’s daughter is filled in on their incredible findings. And Huckleberry has a Bigfoot surprise for the ages in a twist ending no one sees coming.

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