The Live Action Turtle Man: What Happened?

Ernie Brown Jr., aka The Turtleman, was the breakout star of the reality TV show 'Call of the Wildman', which ran from 2011 to 2014. The show followed Brown's work as a nuisance animal removal expert in his home state of Kentucky, where he would catch and relocate wild animals, mostly with his bare hands. After four seasons, the show was cancelled due to an investigation by Mother Jones magazine, which revealed the shady staging of rescues and serious allegations of animal abuse and neglect. Despite the show's demise, Brown has continued to entertain, starting a YouTube channel in 2017 and even suffering a serious injury in 2022 while cutting down a tree.

The show was cancelled due to an investigation into animal abuse and neglect

Animal Planet's "Call of the Wildman" was a reality TV show that followed the life of Ernie Brown Jr., also known as the Turtleman. The show was a major hit for Animal Planet, spanning four seasons between 2011 and 2014. However, the show was cancelled due to an investigation into animal abuse and neglect.

After a seven-month investigation by Mother Jones, it was revealed that there was shady staging of the "rescues" on the show and some serious allegations of animal abuse and neglect. The production was described as "a culture that tolerated legally and ethically dubious activities."

One incident involved the sedation of a zebra that Turtleman "caught", which show producers admitted they procured from a local drive-thru animal safari. There was also an episode in which Turtleman cleared bats from a beauty shop, which may have violated local laws that prevent "bringing a bat to a new location for entertainment purposes alone". This episode resulted in the death of one bat.

Another incident involved the supposed rescue of three baby raccoons, which Turtleman found after capturing their mother in a Kentucky family's laundry room. It turned out that the mother raccoon was actually a male, and the babies had been trapped days earlier in preparation for the episode. After Turtleman "rescued" the raccoon cubs, they were brought to Karen Bailey, the founder of the Kentucky Wildlife Center, in an "emaciated" and "almost dead" state. Bailey was only able to save two of them.

These allegations of animal abuse and neglect led to investigations by several agencies, including the USDA, The Humane Society of the United States, and PETA. The show was ultimately cancelled, and Turtleman disappeared from American screens for several years.

The Turtleman, Ernie Brown Jr., lost his licence

Ernie Brown Jr., also known as The Turtleman, lost his licence following an episode of his show, 'Call of the Wildman'. The episode, titled 'Deer Destruction', saw Brown capture a white-tailed deer, an action prohibited by the Nuisance Wildlife Control Officer (NWCO).

After the episode aired, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife sent Brown a letter reminding him that his NWCO permit did not cover deer. The department warned that any future violations could result in the revocation of his permit, a citation, or both. Brown's last NWCO license expired in February 2014, and the department refused to renew it because he had not fully documented his captures in 2013.

The loss of his licence was not the only consequence of the episode. The show was also investigated by Mother Jones, who revealed that the show's crew had obtained an opossum from a wildlife rescue to fake a supposed wildlife infestation at a fraternity house in Lexington. The magazine also alleged that Brown had falsified records submitted to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The investigation by Mother Jones, along with the loss of his licence, led to the cancellation of 'Call of the Wildman'. The show's final season saw a 43% drop in ratings, and there was never an official cancellation announcement from Animal Planet. However, Brown and his co-star, Neal James, continued to post animal rescue videos to YouTube and Facebook.

The show was also criticised for exploiting stereotypes of Southerners

"Call of the Wildman" was an Animal Planet reality TV show that ran from 2011 to 2014. The show followed Ernie Brown Jr., nicknamed "The Turtleman", and his team of backwoods buddies, including Neal James, aka "Banjo Man", and handyman Jake Ison, as they performed animal rescues in Kentucky. The show was popular, with the first season crossing the one million mark in viewers, and the second season garnering an average of 1.6 million viewers per episode.

However, the show was also criticised for exploiting stereotypes of Southerners. Ted Ownby of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture stated that he believed the show's producers "build on preexisting stereotypes, so they don't need to build characters", and added that "people of the South get frustrated at the narrow range of representations [of them]". Dee Davis, president of the Center for Rural Strategies, expressed concern that the show approached "the thin line between an honest documentary and exploitative reality show".

The show depicted Brown's spartan existence in the backwoods of Kentucky, and some poverty advocacy groups raised concerns that it exploited stereotypical views of Southerners as being poorly educated, poorly groomed, and impoverished. In response to these concerns, Animal Planet executive Dawn Sinsel commented:

> "As with all shows that explore a subculture of America that people might not be familiar with, we're careful to make sure that we represent the talent in their true colors and not 'cover up' their natural character. Turtleman likes to catch all types of animals. We hope Ernie's carefree and loyal personality and love of animals will replace any stereotypes."

Despite these assurances, the show's portrayal of Brown's lifestyle and character, including the fact that he lives in a small home with no television or phone service, is missing his front teeth, and carries a foot-long Bowie knife, contributed to a perception of the show as perpetuating negative stereotypes of Southerners.

The Turtleman suffered a serious injury in 2022

The Turtleman, aka Ernie Brown Jr., suffered a serious injury in 2022. The star of Call of the Wildman shared in a Facebook Live video from the hospital that he had been injured while cutting down a tree limb. He broke his arm and experienced chest pains following the accident. He was hit by a tree limb that was about as big as his leg, and it fell around 50 feet before striking him across the neck and shoulders.

Despite the scary incident, Turtleman tried to remain positive. He proudly told his fans that the limb broke in two when it hit him, so he felt like he got a little revenge. He went on to say that this was the worst injury he had ever sustained, even worse than the time he was gored by a bull, or the time he was in a car wreck, or even his chainsaw accident.

The accident sparked a new wave of heart attack rumours, but these were not confirmed by the star.

The Turtleman's co-star, Banjo Man, passed away in 2019

The Turtleman, Ernie Brown Jr., became a household name through his reality TV show, *Call of the Wildman*, which aired on Animal Planet from 2011 to 2014. The show followed Brown, a Kentucky woodsman, as he removed and relocated nuisance animals with the help of his friend Neal James, known as "The Banjo Man", and his dog, Lolly.

Neal James, or Banjo Man, was a close friend of The Turtleman and often joined him on his adventures. Sadly, Banjo Man passed away on February 1, 2019, at the age of 55. According to the Washington County Coroner's Office, the cause of death was natural causes, specifically heart issues.

Banjo Man was known for his banjo playing and for his work on the show, where he served as the secretary for Brown's business, fielding calls from people in need of his services. In addition to his work on the show, Banjo Man was also active in his community. He worked at the Isaiah House in Willisburg, Kentucky, helping individuals struggling with substance abuse.

The news of Banjo Man's passing was met with sadness by many, including Animal Planet, who released a statement expressing their condolences. The Turtleman himself, Ernie Brown Jr., released a tribute video in memory of his friend, in which he shared fond memories and tearfully remembered their close bond.

The loss of Banjo Man was felt by fans of the show and those who knew him. His obituary honoured his easy-going personality, strong spirituality, and love of music. He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren, who cherish his memory and continue to be inspired by his kindness and passion.

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