The Discovery Channel adventure series “Man vs. Wild” with host Bear Grylls filmed at Little River Canyon in northeast Alabama in March. The episode premiered Aug. 19 at 8 p.m.

Many locals grew up splashing in the waters of Little River Canyon on sizzling summer days. Who knew the area we know and love could be so dangerous? Perhaps predictably, local reaction to the episode featuring the Canyon has ranged from excitement about the worldwide exposure to groans over some of the unlikely situations Grylls found himself in.

After scouting locations across Alabama, the producers of “Man vs. Wild” determined that Little River Canyon had all of the elements they were seeking: natural beauty, wildlife, and a secluded area where Grylls could put his survival skills to the test.

NBC 13 in Birmingham correctly reported that Chattokee Lodge provided assistance during the filming; however, they wrongly identified the lodge's location as Leesburg. Instead, it is located in Gaylesville, and is owned by Harlan and Sheila Starr.

A production scout contacted the Starrs regarding access to a swamp. Harlan Starr said one conversation topic led to another. After the crew became aware of the lodge they arranged for accommodations.

A production company called Diverse Bristol then traveled from England with a crew of 15 and spent three weeks in Alabama working on logistical information and safety requirements. The company coordinated permit and film guidelines for Little River Canyon National Preserve with the National Park Service and the Alabama Department of Conservation.

After the crew spent a few weeks mapping out the location and working on safety requirements, Grylls was flown in and underwent training before being dropped via helicopter at the film location.

Starr said the initial crew arrived at his lodge on Feb. 17.The film crew arrived five days later and stayed through March 6. Six film crew members were there for the first four days. On the fifth day, four more crew members arrived. (Starr said actual filming of the show did not begin until after Grylls arrived in March.)

Grylls underwent training before his stay in the canyon and then was dropped atop a ledge amongst some boggy waters. According to the Discovery Channel, Grylls spent several days filming in various locations across DeKalb and Cherokee counties.

Grylls wrote a brief blog entry on Discovery Channel's website about his adventure in Little River Canyon: “We filmed in the swamps of Alabama, and the show included some great moments with forest fire, pig wrestles and very tight caving, not to mention getting picked up by state troopers after being pulled for hitching a ride on a logging truck to end the show!”

“Man vs. Wild” is more for entertainment than education. A disclaimer before every show explains that some scenes are manufactured to create extreme situations.

The question has been asked: Does Bear really know how to survive in extreme situations as is portrayed in his shows?

Israel Partridge of True Adventure Sports in Fort Payne met and spent quite a bit of time with him, and came away impressed.

“I can say from experience that he (Grylls) is well informed and able to apply his knowledge if needed to survive in extreme situations,” Partridge said. “The thing most people do not realize is true survival techniques can be quite boring to the average viewer, so the production crew creates dramatic survival situations to keep their audience captivated with the bizarre.”

True Adventure Sports offered safety personnel, guiding, technical information, and assistance with the stunts.

The information Grylls related about the swamp, alligators, and water moccasins was, as many Alabamians know, incorrect information for this corner of the state. The show did its own research on swamps and their ecosystems in the Mobile/Tensaw deltas and assumed the northern Alabama swamps would be similar.

Officials with Jacksonville State University, DeKalb County Tourism, the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and the Alabama Department of Public Safety also provided additional assistance during the filming.

Anyone who would like to learn more about the Starrs' lodge in Gaylesville can visit www.chattokeelodge.com or contact Harlan Starr at 706-512-0436.

Clips from “Man vs. Wild” and an online blog written by host Bear Grylls are available at www.discovery.com.