While Animal Planet’s “Call of the Wildman” ended on unfortunate circumstances, there was no silencing the Turtleman himself. In 2017, Ernie Brown Jr. started a YouTube channel where fans got to see his day-to-day life performing outdoor activities, hanging out with friends, and having fun at home. Starting in 2020, Brown began a series on his YouTube called “Turtleman’s Hunt for Bigfoot” which followed him and his friends as they searched for the legendary creature. The web series consisted of ten one-hour-long episodes, with the final coming out in July 2022.
Sadly, Brown experienced some major losses in the last few years. On February 1, 2019, he lost his best friend and “Wildman” co-star Neal James, who passed away at age 55 from natural causes. In August of the same year, Brown also lost his other friend David Allen “Squirrel” Brady at the age of 58 followed by his loyal dog Lolly in December.
Brown himself had a near-death experience in March 2022. While trying to cut down a tree, a limb fell down and hit him in the shoulder, briefly leaving him unconscious. He needed to be hospitalized as a result, with severe damage to his arms and chest. Thankfully, despite fan concerns, Brown reported that he would be alright in a Facebook video addressed from his hospital bed. Currently, Brown remains active on Facebook, where he shares updates on his many upcoming meet-and-greet events taking place throughout the South.
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