Animal Planet Renews CALL OF THE WILDMAN Series

After 12 action-packed episodes featuring the bare-handed backwoods animal-trapping skills of "Turtleman" Ernie Brown Jr., Animal Planet announces a second-season order of CALL OF THE WILDMAN, adding 16 brand-new, 30-minute episodes to premiere in summer 2012, including a special to air as part of the recently announced Monster Week this spring. The inaugural season of CALL OF THE WILDMAN delivered an average of nearly 780,000 P2+ viewers and ranks as the most-watched Animal Planet series in 4Q11.

For the past four decades, Ernie Brown Jr. has been diving into Kentucky's murkiest ponds in search of an animal capable of biting through bone. Accompanied by his canine companion, Lolly, and armed with backwoods wits as sharp as the steel blade he carries (aptly named "Thunder"), Turtleman has the uncanny ability to catch monster snapping turtles with his bare hands and return them into the wild unscathed. In CALL OF THE WILDMAN, Turtleman receives calls from dozens of businesses and home owners stuck with unwanted and potentially deadly pests. No job is too tough or dangerous for Turtleman, and his years of bonding with wild animals allow him to use his animal instincts to save them.

In addition, Animal Planet greenlights NORTHWOODS LAW, a new, six-part reality series that follows Maine's elite game warden service, set to premiere this March. This patrol unit navigates the Pine Tree State's rugged terrain during hunting season - one of the busiest and most perilous times of the year. Each punch of the time clock is a ticket to extreme danger and drama as undercover stings and intense rescues are all in a day's work. Whether they're tracking bears on dangerous mountains or busting drunk drivers on ATVs, these wardens risk life and limb to protect animals and serve the people of Maine.

CALL OF THE WILDMAN is produced by Sharp Entertainment for Animal Planet. Matt Sharp is the executive producer for Sharp Entertainment. Dawn Sinsel is executive producer for Animal Planet.

NORTHWOODS LAW is produced by Engel Entetainment. Jessica Winchell Morsa is the executive producer for Engel Entertainment. Mick Kaczorowski is the executive producer for Animal Planet.