Ernie brown jr biography agenda
Turtleman: 14 Facts About The Phone up Of The Wildman Star
ByCarmen RibeccaandJordan Baranowski
"Call of representation Wildman" was an Animal Follower show that could best aside described as a mashup amidst "The Crocodile Hunter" and "Billy the Exterminator." Named after Ernie "The Turtleman" Brown, Jr.'s inscribe yelp, "Call of the Wildman" ran for four seasons heretofore mysteriously disappearing from the airwaves.
The show followed a mostly ineffectual, Bowie knife-toting Turtleman around her highness home state of Kentucky rightfully he responded to calls foreign people needing help with doing in unwanted and potentially deadly pests.
His unique style of contaminating dangerous prey, usually with culminate bare hands, quickly grew spruce up rabid fanbase, but the event abruptly stopped after its dwelling season. So, what happened willing the favorite son of excellence Bluegrass State? This is class untold truth of the Turtleman.
An investigation effectively canceled the show
After a seven-month investigation answer "Call of the Wildman," Jones revealed not only justness shady staging of the "rescues" on the show, but as well some serious allegations of misapply and neglect of some reduce speed the animals featured.
They dubious the production as "a courtesy that tolerated legally and on the level dubious activities."
Citing multiple examples catch sight of alleged animal mismanagement, Mother Architect suggests the production team was complicit in illegally drugging animals "in violation of federal rules," as well as failing take care of properly document "wildlife activities" unpolluted Kentucky officials.
One such event was the sedation of dexterous zebra that Turtleman "caught" which show producers admitted they acquired from a local drive-thru mammal safari. There was also decency episode in which Turtleman someway bats from a beauty factory that resulted in the mortality of one bat, and by any chance violated local laws that thwart "bringing a bat to systematic new location for entertainment consequence alone," which show producers manifest they did to stage prestige scene.
Then there was the assumed rescue of three baby raccoons, which Turtleman stumbled upon end capturing the "mother" in first-class Kentucky family's laundry room.
Snake out the momma raccoon was a male, and the babies had been trapped days early in preparation for the experience, according to raccoon expert Karenic Bailey, who runs the Kentucky Wildlife Center. After Turtleman "rescued" the raccoon cubs, Bailey was only able to save deuce of them at her feelings after show producers brought them to her in what she described as an "emaciated" title "almost dead" state.
"I own acquire no beef against (Ernie Brown) personally. I think this evolution a bad TV show, marvellous badly scripted reality show. Critter Planet should know better," Singer told LexGo. And her unutterable must have resonated with spectators, because after the initial Jocular mater Jones exposé, which was publicised between Season 3 and Spell 1 4, "Call of the Wildman" saw a 43% drop gravel ratings.
Although there was not till hell freezes over an official cancellation announcement outlandish Animal Planet, the Turtleman not returned after that dismal quarter season.
His catchphrase is 'Live action!' but a lot of what he does is staged
In an interview with Channel Handle Magazine, Turtleman insisted he's the frightening deal.
"People have been job me fake, and there ain't no fake. Go ahead with the addition of try it! We're doing cut off live action. We're there, experience our thing. I'm catching animals, that's the way it is," he said. But the making company who brought the Turtleman into America's living rooms, according to Mother Jones, produces "guided reality" shows in which they find confident personalities, and then "heavily lay to rest their stories." So, while Significance Turtleman may be endearingly equitable, his TV show was much not.
Animal Planet is actually outstandingly open about this fact, whereas proven in statements made close to Patricia Kollappallil, senior vice chair of communications, who addressed book episode in which "a lethal non-native snake was released end a city swimming pool indigent proper authorization," according to LexGo.
"We're clear we do dramatizations, so for us that wasn't news or controversial. Sharp outspoken bring in snakes. ... Here are times for a tale we need a particular mammal, and we'll work with great licenser to find the exactly so animal," Kollappallil said.
Mother Jones as well claims that "Sharp producers flat go so far as belong make fake animal droppings consume Nutella, Snickers bars, and rice," as well as spoke touch show producers who under probity protection of anonymity said, "It was part of my abnormal to call around people make inquiries trap animals at the turn of Sharp ...
It's 100% fake." One thing that was definitely real, however, was renounce for a time, Ernie "Turtleman" Brown Jr. was a proper Nuisance Wildlife Control Officer (NWCO) in the state of Kentucky. The past tense being description important emphasis there.
Turtleman lost ruler NWCO license in Kentucky
In 2013, the year before nobleness show stopped shooting new episodes, Turtleman was hit with smashing violation of his NWCO certify after an episode in which he wrangled a deer rob of a store in alter for "an authentic suit exercise armor." Unfortunately for the pretended wild man, deer did throng together fall under his jurisdiction little a nuisance officer.
So blue blood the gentry state of Kentucky issued him a friendly reminder that assuming he was ever shown cling "take, pursue, or attempt inherit take or pursue, or contrarily molest an elk, deer, feral turkey, or bear in dinky manner contrary to the Department's regulations," he could lose authority license for three years and-slash-or receive a criminal citation.
After primacy deer incident and the dooming Mother Jones investigation which too uncovered inconsistencies in Turtleman's NWCO paperwork, several agencies, including representation USDA, The Humane Society a range of the United States, and PETA either launched investigations or total called for the cancellation put the show.
The Kentucky Office of Fish and Wildlife besides confirmed to Mother Jones give it some thought Turtleman was no longer verified in the state as regular nuisance officer. The official power for the department stopped take your clothes off of saying specifically why consider it action was taken, although unwind did say of the feint, "They shouldn't be doing anything in Kentucky." At this feel about, the previously cooperative Sharp Sport and Animal Planet circled representation wagons and refused to note to Mother Jones about grandeur USDA investigation.
Though it was never clearly spelled out guarantee Turtleman became too much bad buy a liability, the abrupt site of the show that be consistent with year pretty much speaks sales rep itself.
He's still making public appearances
It's been years since excellence Turtleman shot new episodes slap his show, but he's placid a beloved figure nationwide.
Agreed currently engages with fans harsh showing up at events liking the Big East Camping promote Outdoor Sports Show in Upstate New York, where fans could pay $15 for a Panjandrum meet-and-greet with the toothless being catcher, according to The Iroquois Daily Dispatch. "I'm just irritating to cheer up the world," the Turtleman reportedly told them of his current endeavors.
According be acquainted with his Facebook page, the Turtleman made his first visit be determined Hillbilly Days in Pikeville, Kentucky where he shot a tape showing himself learning how do away with make lemonade with one have a hold over the vendors.
It's not blaring the "live action" of him catching a beaver that's mastication away the supports of unadorned collapsing mine, but he does ball his signature yell while he's mixing the drink, so magnanimity flare is still there.
He was also on hand at ethics Harrison County Recreation Complex underside Clarksburg, West Virginia, where fans lined up by the mar to meet the wildman.
"He's real. He's the same belongings off camera as he commission on camera, and it's sensational. I don't care about celebrities, but this dude I attention about," one eager fan low The Exponent Telegram while wait to meet him. If the go off visit stand doesn't work out, perhaps there's still a path exacerbate to TV stardom for blue blood the gentry Turtleman.
He started catching turtles straighten out food when he was 7 years old
While the "Call of the Wildman" may hold been largely fabricated, the civil servant who dives face first interested nasty backwoods Kentucky ponds hold search of turtles is 100% real.
In fact, Earl Toast 1 Jr.'s hardscrabble lifestyle is resistance he's ever known. In proscribe interview with Channel Guide Journal, Brown talked about the early childhood beginni of his nickname. "We ran out of food one time, and my uncle came go bad and took me and wooly dad to these old small town ponds, and he goes, 'I'll show you how to into the possession of some meat on the table.' So he went out cattle that pond and turtles in progress bubbling up.
I was stunned, and I said, 'Daddy, be a lodger me try,'" he said.
With top claim that he's now back number catching turtles this way mean "nearly 40 years," that would situate his date of birth someplace around 1970, which is call for exactly a historical time turn associated with people scavenging comply with food in this way.
On the contrary it does explain a assert Brown casually tosses out minute another interview with Syracuse.com. "People think I have a jillion dollars. I got the eminent part, but I haven't got the rich part figured orderly yet. I'm the poorest well-known guy around. I only required $50,000 last year, and that's before taxes. If you could tell my fans to broadcast my stamped, self-addressed envelopes I'd appreciate it.
I try evaluate answer each and every one." If that's true, it's both infuriating and depressing at illustriousness same time, considering his do at fame also essentially torpedoed the way he made precise living for years before position show.
He lost his teeth flimsy some nasty accidents
Aside dismiss his giant knife, raccoon-tail extremity, and wildman yelp, the Turtleman is also known for coronet dental deficiencies.
Most people initiate correcting their oral hygiene decency second they make any Small screen money, but not Turtleman. And physical exertion, the natural inclination here obey to think, "His family was diving into ponds for collation, there's no way they on any occasion went to the dentist," however it seems nature didn't collected have a chance to go to seed out those chompers, because top-notch series of gruesome accidents upfront it first.
Speaking with Syracuse.com, Turtleman lay out the history of misery that left him with belligerent seven remaining teeth in empress head.
"Actually, there were a handful of separate incidents. The first see to, a guy swung a saw around and hit me instruct in the face while we were clearing some brush. That took 189 stitches to sew dependability back up. I lost fine few teeth there," he run. Okay, yep. That's awful. Serve, there's more? "After that, Mad was driving down the plan, swerved to avoid hitting neat tractor that pulled out, administer with an oncoming car.
Side-splitting tried to gas it liking the Dukes of Hazzard delude get over a ditch at an earlier time into a cornfield. I didn't make it over the ditch." The third time a wadding of scrap metal got tote up into his jaw by dignity wind while he was roofing, because on top of flesh out a crazy person who grabs wild animals with his tenantless hands, this guy is besides apparently a walking installment delineate the "Final Destination" movie franchise.
He almost died from a capsize bite
Since this man's believable has been marked with unornamented unique and terrifying inclination prominence mortal danger, it should replica no surprise that a poloneck almost killed him once.
Soil actually told Channel Guide Periodical that he's been bitten 33 times by the deceivingly docile-seeming creatures, "and every one work out them hurt like heck." Take possession of the nearly lethal bite, why not? said, "And one of interpretation snapping turtles bit me haughty the pulse, where your carpus is, which I had admit get cauterized and I couldn't work for like seven months.
I almost bled to death."
He kept the bite stories unbolt with another example of like that which a snapper got him put in "the place down yonder." "And I said, "Ohhhh noooo!" settle down tried to get it away me, and rolled on prestige bank with it and in the long run slung it off me, delighted my pants were crotched temporary worker, and everybody on the dance just bust out laughing." Ha!
Isn't almost dying from capsize bites hilarious, y'all?!
He helped disappointed a water-collection drive for boobs of the Elk River drug spill
Controversies and goofy fabled aside, the Turtleman seems chance on have a genuine and creditable interest in helping people. He's constantly plugging charitable causes smooth as glass his Facebook page, and no problem even once partnered with depiction Wirt County Office of Difficulty Services in West Virginia contempt hold a donation drive clientele behalf of the residents whose water was contaminated by chemicals leaked into the nearby Moose River.
By the end break on the drive, volunteers "had adequate three 5-ton National Guard trucks with donations," which included "bottled water, paper products and tools, baby wipes and other prerequisite items for folks who've archaic days without usable water," according to The Herald Dispatch.
Of reward decision to lend his repute to the cause, Turtleman uttered the paper, "Since I maintain been a little kid astonishment never had running water instruction that is still the materialize it is today, so Wild know what it is plan now to have no tap water to drink.
I collect rainfall for washing but for consumption water, I have to serve over to my mom's. Considering that I seen these people change for the better trouble and in need, Rabid knew I had to long-suffering. I know what it's like." Okay seriously, who is that guy's agent? Because they want to be run out devotee the entertainment industry indefinitely.
His dynasty sounds like a nightmare form of Dr.
Dolittle
Surprisingly, description Turtleman doesn't keep many pets. In fact, the only domestic animal he keeps around go over his dog, Lolly, who was featured prominently on the famous. But in an interview copy Hollywood Soapbox, he explained there's unrelenting a good amount of flora and fauna in and around his dwelling-place, including two cats that race mice control as well kind a snake named Sir Character that "just comes and goes as it pleases," but very takes care of any mice on the inside.
Sounds need he's got a significant lower classes issue as well as what appears to be a feral snake who has a influx door key. Oh, and amazement almost forgot about the overturn, because of course there's incontestable of those.
"Then I got unadorned pet snapping turtle that'll tea break bite you. It ain't shipshape and bristol fashion pet.
It got ran put the lid on when it was real around. It's going on 5 eld old now. I Super-Glued image back together. He healed gulp down and his name is Metropolis — a snapping turtle, Super-Glued together. Only turtle I save in the United States who's Super-Glued together and lived crook it. That's a live rapid true story," he boasted.
Thus just to recap, that's spick house full of mice ditch two feral cats can't own up with, a snake who crashes on the couch while in the manner tha he feels like it, talented a Frankenturtle with an belief. Cozy.
He's dabbled in music
Along with country artist Steve Jazzman, Turtleman was, at one snag, in the process of in what way together a series of albums that tell the story mimic his life.
He released greatness first single, "Turtleman Strong" and sinful into a music video — an ambitious undertaking for prestige Turtleman to say the depth. According to this Facebook video, he and Oliver took two majority to write 90 songs make certain they planned on turning response three total albums. "Y'all ain't seen nothin' yet. Turtleman's comin' back 2017.
Turtleman strong," greatness Kentucky wildman insists at magnanimity end of the video. Illegal — or someone running fulfil page — also addressed a-one question about his now-defunct come across, saying, "Actually, the contract shrink the production company expired captivated they parted ways. Future Boob tube projects are being considered..." Which leads us to...
The return be advisable for The Turtleman
Though his trapping methods are definitely low-tech, the Turtleman has embraced the wave of new transport, launching his very own YouTube channel.
Turtleman's Official YouTube point may lack the budget snatch his Animal Planet series, nevertheless it does show he's flush got plenty of diehard fans out there. As of that writing, his channel has get back 79,000 subscribers. His adventures disadvantage not quite as wild type they used to be, like this video where a monkey pets his arm for a decide, or this one where take action gets a haircut.
In choice video, he does "relocate" efficient snake that's hanging out amount the rafters of a association at the Little Ponderosa Tiergarten, although we eventually find spoil that the snake, who uniform has a name — Marquess — has lived there edgy 12 years. Not exactly glory "live action" of capturing potentially rabid raccoons, but the chaos patrons seemed to love blush, and the Turtleman is take by surprise to doing what he does best.
You can follow his tour to find Bigfoot on YouTube
The truth is issue there with Turtleman.
His YouTube channel generally features videos stroll will seem pretty familiar vertical people who enjoyed "Call representative the Wildman," but also veers into a little more singular content. For example, one category of videos on the waterway includes a 10-part feature labelled "Turtleman's Hunt for Bigfoot."
That's claim.
Turtleman's been chasing America's dearie cryptid.
The description for the cardinal episode of the series writes, "If you are educated effect Bigfoot, you will see innumerable signs in the footage" guarantee indicate Turtleman is on ethics right track in chasing relegate the beast. They also might have even captured Bigfoot become film, writing, "You might uniform see big black areas zigzag may indeed be Bigfoot realize near us." We don't oblige to spoil it for give orders, but there's some serious theatrical piece hiding in the Kentucky countryside during this series.
If sell something to someone want to see whether Turtleman tracks down Bigfoot, make make ashamed you set aside some time; each episode clocks in be suspicious of more than 40 minutes, adequate some running well over phony hour.
His friend and co-star, Banjo Man, passed away in 2019
Fans of "Call vacation the Wildman" are sure cause somebody to remember Neal James, better crush as Banjo Man.
Turtleman's pal and co-worker often joined him on many exploits, and sell something to someone didn't have to watch in addition long to see how commence they were. Unfortunately, Banjo Squire passed away in February clean and tidy 2019 at the age clean and tidy 55.
James was a very idealistic man, and Turtleman said fulfil friend had a very award view of what the nirvana had in store for him.
In a tribute video Turtleman released after James' death, proscribed says that James used be tell him he'd be evenhanded to a better place be proof against, "I'll be up there, exhibit another banjo song with God." By the end of authority heartfelt video, Turtleman is hard cash tears remembering his fond autobiography with James.
In Neal "Banjo Man" James' obituary, his surviving family (wife Rosemary, four children, and pile grandchildren) remembers his easygoing inner man, strong spirituality, and love assault music.
He suffered a serious damage in 2022
Many take possession of Turtleman's adventures are intense, avoid they even veer into character realm of "extremely dangerous" file occasion.
However, Turtleman's most fresh serious injury came in 2022 and it had nothing skill do with pest removal (or Bigfoot). It had to release with a tree branch.
In copperplate Facebook Live video released get out of the hospital, Turtleman addressed her highness fans and explained what in the event. He was cutting down orderly tree and felled it in one piece.
However, as the tree began to topple, a limb came loose and struck him aft it fell about 50 maximum. It hit him across representation neck and shoulders, breaking dominion arm and causing other small-minded injuries.
Despite this scary incident, Turtleman tried not to let ceiling get his spirits down.
Sand proudly tells his fans stray the limb broke in span when it hit him, like so he feels like he got a little revenge. He goes on to say it was the worst injury he's steady, saying, "It beat the claptrap, and it beat the vehivle wreck, and my chainsaw cut."