The Turtle Man's Unusual Habitat: An Exploration

Ernie The Turtleman Brown Jr. is a Kentucky woodsman who gained fame through his reality TV show, *Call of the Wildman*, which aired on Animal Planet from 2011 to 2014. The show followed Brown as he responded to calls from people needing help with removing unwanted and potentially dangerous animals. Brown lived in Lebanon, Kentucky, and his show was filmed near his home.

Ernie Brown Jr. is from Kentucky

Ernie Brown Jr., also known as "The Turtleman", is from Kentucky. He was born around 1970 and grew up in a hardscrabble lifestyle, often scavenging for food. At the age of 7, Brown began catching snapping turtles from ponds near his home, a skill he learned from his uncle. This hobby eventually turned into a career when he started a nuisance animal removal business, catching and releasing animals in his home state.

Brown's unique lifestyle and animal-catching techniques caught the attention of television producers, and he was featured on the Kentucky Educational Television series "Kentucky Afield". The episode showcasing his bare-handed turtle-catching methods went viral on YouTube, attracting over 4 million views. This led to Brown being approached by executives from Sharp Entertainment and Animal Planet about a potential television show.

The resulting show, "Call of the Wildman", followed Brown as he responded to calls from people in Kentucky needing help with removing unwanted and potentially dangerous pests. The show ran for four seasons from 2011 to 2014 and was Animal Planet's most-watched program in the fourth quarter of 2011. It featured Brown's distinctive yell, a reference to his Cherokee and Shawnee heritage, and his catchphrase, "Live action!", emphasising the authenticity of his animal captures.

However, the show also courted controversy. In 2013, Brown was warned by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife for capturing a white-tailed deer, a species prohibited by the Nuisance Wildlife Control Officer (NWCO). Further investigations revealed inconsistencies in his NWCO paperwork, and his license was eventually revoked. Additionally, there were allegations of animal abuse and neglect, with Mother Jones publishing an exposé detailing instances of staged rescues and mistreatment of animals.

Despite the show's cancellation, Brown has remained in the public eye. He started a YouTube channel in 2017, giving fans a glimpse into his day-to-day life. He also embarked on a search for Bigfoot, releasing a 10-part series on his channel. Brown has continued to make public appearances and connect with his fans, despite suffering a serious injury in 2022 when he was struck by a falling tree limb.

He started catching turtles at 7 years old

Ernie Brown Jr., also known as the Turtleman, started catching turtles at the age of seven. Brown grew up in poverty in the backwoods of Kentucky, and began catching turtles from ponds near his home to put food on the table. In an interview, Brown recalled how his uncle taught him to catch turtles: "We ran out of food one day, and my uncle came over and took me and my dad to these old farm ponds, and he goes, 'I'll show you how to get some meat on the table.' So he went out in that pond and turtles started bubbling up. I was amazed, and I said, 'Daddy, let me try.'"

Brown's unique style of catching turtles and other dangerous prey with his bare hands later became the focus of the Animal Planet reality TV show *Call of the Wildman*. The show followed Brown as he responded to calls from people in his home state of Kentucky who needed help removing unwanted and potentially deadly pests. Brown's catchphrase, "Live action!", emphasised the authenticity of his unusual methods.

Brown's hardscrabble lifestyle and eccentric personality made him a compelling figure, and *Call of the Wildman* was a major hit for Animal Planet. However, the show was also controversial. Some criticised it for exploiting stereotypical views of Southerners, and in 2014, an exposé by Mother Jones revealed that many of the animal rescues depicted on the show were staged, and that several animals had been mistreated. Following the exposé, the show was abruptly cancelled, and Brown lost his license as a Nuisance Wildlife Control Officer.

He has suffered several serious injuries

Ernie "The Turtleman" Brown Jr., the star of the former Animal Planet show "Call of the Wildman", has suffered several serious injuries over the years. In one incident, Brown recalled a guy swinging a chainsaw and hitting him in the face while they were clearing some brush. This resulted in 189 stitches and the loss of several teeth. In another incident, Brown was involved in a car accident where he swerved to avoid hitting a tractor and an oncoming car. He tried to drive into a cornfield but didn't make it over the ditch. Additionally, Brown has been bitten by turtles 33 times, one of which almost caused him to bleed to death.

In March 2022, Brown suffered another serious injury in a "bad accident". While cutting down a tree, a limb broke loose and fell about 50 feet, hitting him across the neck and shoulders. This resulted in a broken arm and other significant injuries. Brown had to undergo multiple X-rays and doctors had to check his heart. Despite the pain, he maintained his sense of humour, joking that he broke the limb in two and that he got his revenge. He also stated that this was his worst injury, surpassing the bull, the car wreck, and the chainsaw cut.

Brown's injuries highlight the dangers he faces in his line of work and serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of his adventures. Despite the risks, he continues to bravely pursue his passion for pest removal and animal rescue, as depicted in his show "Call of the Wildman".

He has a YouTube channel

The Turtleman, or Ernie Brown Jr., is a Kentucky woodsman who gained fame through his reality TV show, *Call of the Wildman*. The show, which ran from 2011 to 2014, followed Brown as he removed and relocated nuisance animals in his home state.

After the show ended, Brown started a YouTube channel in 2017, where he shares his day-to-day life performing outdoor activities, hanging out with friends, and having fun at home. One of the more popular series on his channel is "Turtleman's Hunt for Bigfoot", a ten-part series that follows Brown and his friends as they search for the legendary creature.

Brown's YouTube channel currently has over 79,000 subscribers and features videos that will be familiar to fans of his TV show, as well as more unusual content. In addition to his YouTube channel, Brown also makes public appearances and engages with fans at events.

Despite his fame, Brown has experienced some hardships in recent years. In 2019, he lost his best friend and "Wildman" co-star, Neal James, who passed away at the age of 55. In the same year, Brown also lost another friend, David Allen "Squirrel" Brady, and his loyal dog, Lolly.

In March 2022, Brown suffered a near-fatal accident while trying to cut down a tree. A tree limb fell and hit him in the shoulder, briefly knocking him unconscious. He was hospitalized with severe damage to his arms and chest but was able to recover and assured fans that he would be alright.

He has appeared on The Tonight Show

Ernie "Turtleman" Brown Jr., the star of the former Animal Planet show "Call of the Wildman", has appeared on "The Tonight Show" twice. The show, which aired from 2011 to 2014, followed the exploits of a Kentucky nuisance animal removal business run by Brown. Brown, a Kentucky woodsman, gained fame for his unique style of catching dangerous prey, usually with his bare hands.

After the show ended, Brown continued to make public appearances and stay connected with his fans. He has also started a YouTube channel, where he shares his day-to-day life performing outdoor activities, as well as his ongoing search for Bigfoot.

Despite his fame, Brown has experienced several hardships. In 2019, he lost his best friend and "Wildman" co-star, Neal "Banjo Man" James, who passed away at the age of 55. In the same year, Brown also lost his friend, David Allen "Squirrel" Brady, and his loyal dog, Lolly.

In March 2022, Brown himself had a near-death experience. While trying to cut down a tree, a limb fell and hit him in the shoulder, briefly leaving him unconscious. He was hospitalized with severe damage to his arms and chest but was able to recover and assured his fans that he would be alright.

Despite the controversies and challenges, Turtleman remains a beloved figure, known for his endearing personality and his dedication to cheering up the world.

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