Why Are Ferrets Illegal in California?
Raise a Paw
Wowsers, check out that leaping ferret!
Some of you readers may know the joys of owning a pet ferret, but if you’re a law-abiding citizen in California, you cannot legally own a ferret. So why not? What’s the reason for this law?
It all started in 1933, when a law restricting the importation and possession of certain wild birds and animals, including domestic ferrets, was passed.
The main reasons that the ban on ferrets still stands, according to the Department of Fish and Game Ferret Fact Sheet (March 25, 1994), are:
- Ferrets are wild animals that may bite or attack.
- Ferrets may be a rabies danger.
- Escaped pet ferrets will form feral packs (as they did in New Zealand) and threaten native wildlife.
It’s a fact that some Californians own ferrets, in spite of the law (We do not encourage this, just stating the facts, ma’am), and others are just hoping that the law gets overturned — both groups feel like the reasons are outdated and ridiculous. Groups like Legalize Ferrets explain that because ferrets are exclusively indoor pets, the chances of them being able to survive on their own for more than a few days in the wild are slim. They also point out that almost all ferrets that are sold are spayed and neutered, so they would not be able to breed and start feral colonies, if they were to survive. While ferrets can be nip-prone creatures, proper training from a young age can teach ferrets not to bite. Pro-ferret groups point out that there are more cases of dog bites in the U.S., and that ferret bites are less serious than other animals’ bites. Finally, they also encourage that ferrets owners take their pets to the vet for annual check-ups and rabies vaccinations.
So what do you think? Should California legalize ferrets?
Image: Guy Haimovitch
I can see both sides of the law.I too have ferrets(they are legal here in Colorado)and they see a vet on a regular basis however, they do not vaccinate against rabies. The rabies vaccine is not proven to be effective in ferrets. The vaccine they use is for cats. The same holds true for wolves and wolf hybrids. They too(hybrids) are legal here, and they are vaccinated against rabies(for dogs). However, once again, it has not been proven to be effective in hybrids. Therefore, if either of these pets bite someone, the only alternative is euthanasia to prove otherwise. It may be a high price to pay for these animals we keep as pets.
Kym, thanks for the feedback. I did read that the rabies vaccine wasnt proven to be effective on ferrets, but I didnt know the story behind it, so Im glad you chimed in.
There is a proven Rabies vaccine for ferrets. Merial has tested and proven that vaccine works on ferrets after many test trials.
# IMRAB 3 TF (thimerosal-free formulation) ” provides three years of rabies protection for dogs and cats and one year for ferrets.
http://imrab.us.merial.com/imrab/index.shtml
Also an Environmental Impact report is almost complete and so far no feral ferrets have been found any any of the states where ferrets are legal let alone states that have similar climates as California.
The fact the ferrets are still illegal in California is purely a political issue and special interest groups funneling money to the state to keep them illegal
no it should not be a legal their makeing up lies about them its not true do a test and see if it true bt its not so stop lieing
@ jade, if you’re going to make a post, please do a spell check.
Other than that, I have a 1 1/2 year old ferret that I had bought in Nevada. He is neutered and healthy and was 6 weeks old when I bought him. I don’t see why ferrets are such bad animals. I play rough with him and I don’t mind him nipping me at all, it’s just the way they are so I don’t bother training him. There are children younger than 5 years old in my household, and he knows better than to bite them, so I never had a problem with my ferret and the children. They always tug at his tail and hold him the wrong way, but the most he’ll do is try to escape from them and might scratch them in the process of doing so, but it is better than the dogs we have (chihuahuas) because when they get irritated with the children, they’ll bite them, so why are ferrets legal? They will cause less harm than other animals, cats can scratch and give a higher risk of infection than ferrets do and puncture the skin deeper, and as far as I can see, ferrets are VERY curious animals, which exposes them to many harmful things. Since ferrets have a strict meat based diet, they will die if left in the wild. My ferret tends to be attracted to fruits and sweets, which is very harmful to their digestive systems. If I had left him in the park near my house I’m prett sure he wouldn’t survive or in any case, bump into another ferret and reproduce since he’s neutered. Illegalizing ferrets is one of the most ludicrous laws and should be removed. Ferrets can be sweet animals, and alot more people need to see that.
Hey, my friend is trying to get a ferret in California, and I currently have one in Cali. I, until reading a few forums, believed that they were legal if spaded/neutered my dad was my informant. I got mine from my dad’s friend, I don’t know where she got him (I’ll find out). I have had him about a year and a half, and it has been an awesome pet from the beginning. He was was full grown when I got him but grew to like me quick enough I also didn’t know that fruits and sweets were bad for him, though I don’t feed him lots. I feed him a dry food, like cat food I guess but for ferrets, he enjoys it. He also gets a ferret treat every time he rolls over and is put away. Well thats my story now my question. Should my friend buy a ferret or two from another state and drive them back home or would the border confiscate them? By the way I have taken mine to a LOCAL vet and they didn’t say anything about it, whats up with that?
Thx for the help.
Hi Saul. We at Pawesome do not encourage any of our readers to break the law. But the reality is, there are already many people who own ferrets in California and veterinarians are there to treat animals in need, legal or not. Thanks for writing and hope you and your ferret are healthy and happy.
Â
whats odd they sell ferret food and ferret accesories here in CA
whats odd they sell ferret food and ferret accesories here in CA
i think that ferrets are very loving creatures every ferret that ive ever met has been extremely loving and caring towards children so i think everything people are saying about ferrets are lies they willl only be mean if you raise them that way i believe that ferrets should be legal in california period! they are not mean the owner that raised them to be mean are to blame not the animals
i think that ferrets are very loving creatures every ferret that ive ever met has been extremely loving and caring towards children so i think everything people are saying about ferrets are lies they willl only be mean if you raise them that way i believe that ferrets should be legal in california period! they are not mean the owner that raised them to be mean are to blame not the animals
I honestly think Ferrets being illegal is stupid. I mean who are they to say it will over populate and form packs, rabies blahblahblah that is with ALL ANIMALS ?? not just Ferrets. People have Ferrets in other countrys/ states do you ever hear ” Well today a 5 year old got mauled by a ferret?” You don’t because that’s pitbulls who are raised by irreasponsible owners. I don’t see why Ferrets are still illegal, it’s annoying.
excuse me. But if you let her baby lie on the floor while your ferret running around on the floor, then you are also fucking stupid. omg.
Children and ferrets major just not together, you put surely not a mastiff puppy with a child aged two years? hmmm …. people are so stupid too often! Think, however, and do not banish everything we enjoy ..
Thus we have a brain to use it to think, the stupid people should not ruin it for all of us. ferrets are a wonderful pet. I myself have 5 and am happy to have them, though they can bite, and although they may become ill. Mon vaccinate them and watch over and care for them, just as with dogs and cats? hmmm … When will they banishes dogs and cats??
Living the way in Denmark, where fortunately we still need them:) and they also dare to make them illegal .. So hello .. where is the free world we “live” in?
All you need to realize is this: Ferrets are legal in every state that borders California. If ferrets were going feral, and were living in the wild, they’d be here by now, PERIOD!
Ferrets don’t go feral in the US for many different factors. The ferrets in New Zealand were not ferrets escaped as pets, they were polecat x ferret hybrids released in droves to stem the rabbit population there. Also, hedgehogs have been proven to do the MOST damage to New Zealand wildlife, but has been pinned on the polecat ferret hybrids.