About NEWHerp
NEWHerp was founded in 1993 by life long herp enthusiast
Brad Martin Jr of Porterfield Exotics. Founded as
an educational division of Porterfield Exotics NEWHerp
began by doing educational herpetological presentations
at school and scouting functions. In 1997
we expanded our scope of functionality to form a public
Herpetological Society. We aggressively organized
herp enthusiasts to participate not only in the
continuation of our educational programs but to expand
into herp rescue/rehab/adoptions. At this point we also got
very much into the promoting of herp friendly
legislation. In 1997 we were very active in the
City of Marinette, WI in blocking a ban on herps as
pets. NEWHerp organized it's members and friends,
local educators and others to speak before the City
Council and we were very successful in keeping
Marinette's city ordinances herp friendly. We have
also assisted many other cities nationwide in helping
them organize and present good common sense legislation
rather than bans based on ignorance and fear. As
is often the case with clubs/societies such as this
after we were successful in blocking herp ban
legislation we saw a short term boom in membership
followed by a gradual dropping of members. By the
year 2000 the membership had dropped off to just a
handful of avid herp enthusiasts. Shortly thereafter
the City of Menominee, MI decided that enforcement of a
complete ban on snakes and other reptiles was a good
idea. Once again NEWHerp's membership surged as
the publicity of our efforts was a major focus of local
news. We were quite successful in Menominee, MI
with limiting the cities wide net banning approach to
just a ban on venomous herps, large (over 8 feet)
constrictors and crocodilians over 30 inches. The
city council also agreed that if existing over length
herps were not causing any problems they would not be
searching out over length pets but that only an
accredited zoo or educational/research facility could possess
venomous herps. Over the next few years our
educational presentations boomed as we were doing 2, 3
or more days of presentations every week, we were active
in local parades and setting up herp friendly displays
at local events. We were
doing many presentations and rescues throughout Northeast WI
and Upper MI. As usual gradually membership
dropped off and a handful of die hard herpers remained
and were doing all the work. Then in recent years
the economy has taken it's toll, some of our diehards
lost there jobs and moved away others have experienced
major life changes, some lost their homes, some couples
split up and many had to give up their unique herps.
Brad who continued doing the majority of the
presentations and rescues has had health issues that
severely limit how much and when he can do them.
He also had to give up many of his personal collection
of rare unique and
unusual herps and other exotic critters due to his physical
incapability of properly caring for them. NEWHerp
is currently functioning as a privately held division of
Porterfield Exotics and still operating as an active pro herp voice
that primarily uses the internet to educate and promote
responsible private herp ownership. We still
operate as a rescue/rehab/adoption facility and occasionally can
still do some educational herp presentations. We
also are always available online for consultation on
herp related issues. We maintain contact with a
statewide and beyond network of herp and other exotic
pet enthusiasts, specialists and rescuers.
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