5 ms·

Ferrets are awesome. I wish they were legal in California.

• rplnt 12y ago
  How/why are they illegal?
  • spacefight 12y ago
    http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/nuis_exo/ferret/ferret_issues_table6.html http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/nuis_exo/ferret/ferre... EDIT: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/nuis_exo/ferret/ferret_issues_4.html#Laws http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/nuis_exo/ferret/ferre... "Recent Proposed Legislation Regarding Ferrets For many years, ferret owners and enthusiasts have been lobbying for a change in California law to allow importation and ownership of ferrets for pet purposes. Assembly Bill AB 2497 (Goldsmith) was introduced in 1994; Senate Bill SB 55 (Kopp) was introduced in 1995; AB 363 (Goldsmith) was introduced in 1997; and Assembly Bill AB 854 (Cunneen) was introduced in 1999. all failed passage. " "1. Ferrets may bite or scratch children, as well as adults. 2. Ferrets also carry rabies, and there is no proper vaccine against the rabies which attacks it. 3. Ferrets can also threaten native wildlife. " Source: https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100517033547AAW3R8p https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100517033547A...
    • hga 12y ago
      There is a rabies vaccine that's USDA approved for ferrets: http://imrab.us.merial.com/imrab/index.shtml http://imrab.us.merial.com/imrab/index.shtml
• masklinn 12y ago
  Maybe you could get some other mustelid native to california instead? They wouldn't have 2500 years of domestication behind them, but e.g. stoats (short-tailed weasels) are sometimes kept as pets, and are native to california (and much of the northern hemisphere). Likewise the (much closer to ferret-sized) mink, various american mink subspecies are native to california. The marten is an other california-native mustelid, though I don't know if they can be tamed easily. One last option (that I know of) could be the tayra, it's apparently easy to tame and although it's not native to california its range goes up to mid-mexico. Could be more acceptable than invasive europe-originated ferrets.
  • aaronem 12y ago
    Speaking as a former ferret owner, I would advise very strongly against trying to domesticate a wild mustelid. Given the right circumstances, even pet ferrets can be dangerous, and they have a nasty bite; running foul of a wild one would probably be a bit like falling into a wood chipper, except that a wood chipper won't run up your pant leg.
    • masklinn 12y ago
      Stoats are quite a bit smaller than ferrets though, 25~30cm and 250g versus ~50cm and ~1.5kg
      • aaronem 12y ago
        I doubt their teeth are any less sharp.
• tempodox 12y ago
  What, are ferrets not legal in CA? How can an animal be illegal?
  • masklinn 12y ago
    By being a banned for import non-native species?
  • wil421 12y ago
    Not sure if you are serious or not but there are many illegal animals in the US. Rhinos, Elephants, and Hyenas come to mind for family pets. Here is a link for CA. http://blog.sfgate.com/stew/2012/02/29/pets-you-cant-legally-own-in-california/#3188101=0 http://blog.sfgate.com/stew/2012/02/29/pets-you-cant-legally...
    • tempodox 12y ago
      The question may have looked stupid, but it was an honest question. Thanks for answering.
  • tempodox 12y ago
    Great, being down-voted for asking a question. This community is just adorable.