Why are ferrets illegal here in California?

Question

I dont get it?

I was looking into getting a ferret but I live in California...I might stick to getting a hamster or some goldfish...my parents dont want any large pets (dogs, cats) because are house is kindof small

Answer 1

Because ferrets eat chickens and the Dept. of Ag in California is afraid pet ferrets will escape and decimate the CA Poultry Farms.
Politics and Lobbyists in action...

Answer 2

GANDALF???
The chances of a ferret surviving in the wild are slim to none and Slim done went fishing. Ferrets are domesticated animals with very little survival skills left in them. On top of that the amount of predators out there is large enough that a ferret would never make it very long, if it even makes it across the nearest highway.
The majority of ferrets are fixed, so the chance of an unaltered ferret meeting up with another unaltered ferret are negligible as well. Therefor they'll never be able to establish a colony to pose a credible risk to wild life.
The damage done annually by feral cats and dogs is way higher than anything the ferrets could accomplish any time real soon, but you don't see them outlawed, do you?
Check
http://www.legalizeferrets.org/legalize-ferrets.htm
to see why they should be legalized.
And
http://www.cdfa.org/
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32438.asp
to help get it done.
I'm not trying to make people like ferrets any better, actually I think the majority of people I meet are better off without them, and so are the ferrets, but I also believe that people should have a choice.

Answer 3

"...the reason ferrets are illegal in California is entirely political and has absolutely zero to do with reality." (Source 1
"It's because of the laws governing private citizens keeping exotic animals; in the vast majority of places, that's illegal. Several states (and individual cities in some others) continue to classify ferrets as exotics, as inaccurate as that classification is. [California] is one of them." (Source 2)

Answer 4

Some authorities believe they are exotic or wild pets, but they have been domesticated for thousands of years and are very tame.

Answer 5

I don't know - I think it's very stupid. You can't have a ferret without having it spayed or neutered anyhow - it's not like it's going to escape and breed.

You'd have to pay me to live in California.

Answer 6

Yes CA does suck. They think if ferrets get loose in the wild, they are a non-native species which will proliferate and drive all the illegal aliens south of San Diego, and they need them for the welfare roles to vote Democraptic-I mean Democrap-Democrat.

Answer 7

Because they can survive if they get loose. Same as piranha, alligators, gerbils, some parrots, sugar gliders, and every other illegal pet. (well technically, requiring a special permit)

Considering the damage caused by invasive species there arent nearly enough laws about it.

Answer 8

I dont know why either. I think because people do illegal stuff with them so they arent legal. I wish i could have one though cus their so cute!

Answer 9

WHAT?!?! california is AWESOME and there's nothing you can say against that. there are safety issues. and besides, ferrets are boring anyway. and ugly. no offense or anything, but seriously. and they're almost going extinct, or something. how should i know? then again i should for answering this question. oh well. why do you ask, do you want a ferret?

Answer 10

they are illegal to Purchase in cali. , but not illegal to have. Iasked my aminal control officer lady friend.