OCFerrets does not actively seek animals needing to be re-homed, and will NEVER post on Craigslist or other sites looking for animals. The Origins of California's Wild Parrots There are 372 species of parrots/parakeets that have been identified worldwide, mostly living in tropical and subtropical regions. Only 2-3 stray ferrets were ever found in California, over a 100 year period. In 2008, the IUCN reclassified the species as "globally endangered", a substantial improvement since the 1996 assessment, when it was considered extinct in the wild, as the species was indeed only surviving in captivity [ inconsistent ] . If that's true, then where are they? Given that Californians have been fighting to legalize pet ferrets since 1994, many advocates in the state aren't getting their hopes up. Ferrets weren’t singled-out in this legislation. But the ecosystem isn’t just crops and stuff. They’re afraid Ferrets could wipe out rare rodents and bird species native to the state. ferrets are illegal in the entire state of California. And here's why. The problem is, when you start down that road, there are a heck of a lot of species that need to be banned, and the one that most deserves it is good old homo sapiens. In fact, the CDFG itself acknowledges there are a fair number of ferrets getting out already, saying on its Web site: "In California, many stray ferrets are found every year. I’m looking for two female ferrets preferably less than 3yrs young. Maybe ferrets really are, as a 1988 report commissioned by the CDFG infamously said, "a hazard to public health, small livestock and wildlife." OCF seeks to assist in the education of the public regarding domestic ferrets that are currently classified as a wild animal in the state of California. That same lack of native predators gave ferrets an edge in New Zealand they can't have in California, where hawks, foxes, coyotes, and other predators including cats and dogs, compete with and prey on small animals like ferrets. And the repercussion is that they’re harming the human animal bond which thousands of Californians have with pet ferrets. Answer: California law differentiates between animals that are normally domesticated in the state and those that aren’t. There are no feral colonies of ferrets in any of the other states where ferrets are legal, including those with climates and ecologies very similar to California's, such as Oregon and Washington. But Gaines says he thinks the tide is turning, even if the pace seems glacial at times. It's just that I think the fears are unlikely to become reality. As of 2007, the total wild population of black-footed ferrets in the U.S. was well over 650 individuals, plus 250 in captivity. The main reason why ferrets are illegal in California is to Protect Agriculture and Wildlife. George Lucas sues family and town over Marin property rights, Police investigating Bay Area 'mom influencer' who alleged kidnap, Newsom says California stay-at-home order will likely be extended. (The APPMA says there are 1.9 million ferrets in the United States; compare that to 88.3 million cats and 44.3 million dogs.). Even if we don't know the exact number, it's not a small one. But why should I care if they're legalized or not? I think I will continue to go through their mountain of trash over time. With the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association indicating there are just under 2 million ferrets in the United States, the number in this state could be as high as 500,000, although most estimates are much lower than that. My son decided to sell it. There are severe consequences for that cute little critter if she is discovered. It's not like they're out there and we just don't know; if your ferret goes missing, you can't exactly put up posters or retrieve it from your local animal control facility. Do all ferrets stink? It backfired badly. What kind of backward logic is that? Then in California we would have a bunch of polluted wild Ferrets running around with "tainted", "watered-down" domestic blood. The bans include various non-native species that the state considers a threat. California, as well as a few other states and countries, continue to outlaw ferrets as pets. These ferrets, a mother, I pressume, and two youngsters really enjoyed the sun. "The bottom line, from what I've been able to determine is that it's just a very fierce environmental debate," said Dave Gaines, of the legal and legislative committee of the American Ferret Association, "But ferrets are thoroughly domesticated. Ferrets probably shouldn't be classified as dangerous wild animals, and they probably aren't a huge environmental risk, even if they might be a minor one. Many ferret owners have been targeted by malicious exes and vindictive neighbors who can out them and have their pets taken away from them. Domestic ferrets are illegal in California, one of only two states to ban them. So if there were a serious threat that escaped pets could successfully establish themselves in the wild, wouldn't we have evidence of that by now? In healthy condition. Of course, Gaines, California's ferret lovers and I could all be wrong. They don’t bite until in pain or fear. What's clearly needed is for that issue to be dealt with once and for all, in terms even the CDFG can accept. But consider this: While ferrets aren't particularly efficient transmitters of rabies, they can carry the virus and there is an approved ferret rabies vaccine. A group called LegalizeFerrets.org recently announced that a donor was willing to pay the cost of the environmental impact report the governor said he needed before he could grant amnesty to California's ferrets or consider their legalization. Soak it all in. An aspiring Bay Area 'mom influencer' said her kids were almost kidnapped. No one can deny any of that. The animals you mentioned – ferrets and hedgehogs – are wild animals that aren’t normally domesticated in If you are owing … Saturday, April 2, is National Ferret Day, but there will not be much celebration in California. It assume that they could be malnourished or abused because they are pretty friendly animals. There are no feral colonies that are going to form in California and destroy endangered species. While it's legal for veterinarians to treat ferrets in California, many ferret owners are afraid to seek veterinary care for their little fugitives, which puts both people and pets at risk. They have, and have come very close to achieving that goal several times, most recently in 2006 when a ferret amnesty bill, SB 89, designed only to grandfather in ferrets already living in California (and even then only if they were neutered and microchipped), passed the California Assembly by 64-12 and the Senate 27-2. From 1989 to 1998, 47 stray ferrets from communities in the general Sacramento region of the State were transported to the Department of Fish and Game field station for temporary holding. Despite intensive lobbying to legalize ferrets in California, however, you cannot legally keep a ferret in California without a permit. Please watch in 1080HD.Sitting an hour watching ferrets on Shetland. Specifically, they were outlawed because of the fact that they were an “exotic animal” and could pose a threat to native species, agriculture, or public health and safety. But as Jeanne Carley of Californians for Ferret Legalization has pointed out, the ferret has been classified "as domesticated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Smithsonian Institute, Museum of Natural History, the Humane Society of the United States and 150 zoos, zoological societies and other authorities.". So why are ferrets illegal in California? But some opponents point out that ferrets have been able to form feral colonies in New Zealand. If ferrets are illegal, shouldn't dogs and cats be, too? Ferrets are not wild animals so you don't have to worry about that. Ferrets are illegal in California because of a 1933 law imposed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. In addition, it means that ferrets can be used for emotional blackmail. There's never been an animal yet — not even rabbits in Australia — that's done more damage to the environment than we have. Some of the evidence California has come up with to keep the ferret illegal is as close to lies (showing they have their own personal agenda) as it can possibly get. It's an old story, characterized by battling sets of statistics and interpretations of natural history. The ban has been continued since 1933 until now and the major reason which states mention behind this ban is the major differences between the ferrets that are kept captivated and the wild ones. Attempts to Legalize Ferrets in California Ferrets for Freedom AB 647: Wild animals - domestic ferrets , was introduced by Assemblyman Paul Koretz, (D-West Hollywood) in November of 2006, had the bill passed ferrets would have been allowed to be imported into California, so long as they were vaccinated against rabies and, if more than 6 months old - spayed or neutered. The ferrets escaped into the wild and thrived to the extent that New Zealand has the largest wild population in the world. Because penguins had evolved in the absence of mammalian predators, they didn't have good defense strategies against them, and because there weren't other predators around to compete with or prey on the ferrets, they, too, got out of hand, although not as spectacularly as the rabbits. But when you're done, ask yourself if you and your dogs, cats, cars, computers and cell phones could meet that standard of environmental impact. Despite widespread knowledge and domestication, few people actually know where the animals used to live in the wild or Besides, in the United States, each state is a sovereign entity and may enact its own laws , if the laws don’t violate the Federal Constitution or the rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. If you have a baby ferret preferably $150 and ..Ferret, California » Los Angeles, I would like to buy 2 ferrets preferably but 1 will be okay i can pay up to 350 with a ca..Ferret, California » Lancaster, I am looking for a ferret please text me i will respond thank you..Ferret, California » Tustin, Sheepadoodle Pups! These states make it clear they take owning exotic animals very seriously, for the animals themselves and the wildlife around them. Will California's Ferrets Ever Get to Come in from the Cold? Fine, you say; you've convinced me. (Of course, I don’t really suggest cats should be banned). This increases the threat to native species and crops. They're cute, affectionate, furry and playful. Which isn't to say I think all the objections to overturning the ban are irrational; they're not. I hiked the Bay Area’s most private park. Unfortunately, ferrets are illegal in California. Good or bad ferrets are illegal in the states of California and Hawaii, though there have been attempts in the past to free these animals as pets, there are still many states that have legalized them. After 32 years of questions, an arrest in murder of Bay Area girl, London Breed: Alex Padilla's Senate appointment 'unfortunate', Livermore outlets packed despite stay-at-home order, This Berkeley shop served as inspiration for Pixar's latest film, Americans partying in Mexico's Riviera are spreading COVID, Celestial event not seen in 800 years to be visible in SF sky, American Pet Product Manufacturers Association. There’s no such thing as a wild ferret. G..Ferret, California » Elk Grove, Hi! So, why don't ferret lovers rise up, organize and try to get the law changed? She is a year and a half. But that's not exactly what happened there. California, of course, usually wants to set trends, not follow them. The few published reports of diet in wild populations of M. nigripes indicate that black-footed ferrets were relying heavily on Cynomys as a prey base but that their diet was supplemented with other species of rodents (and rarely The California Fish and Game Code declares it a crime to possess any animal that is endangered and a threat to public security. Ferret, California » Los Angeles Buying ferrets 2 with or without cage!!! To the California Department of Fish and Game and some environmentalists, ferrets are wild animals with the potential to establish feral colonies and wreak havoc on native species if they escape from captivity. But at this point, it's treated in California political circles as part of a humorous, goofy issue, and it would take somebody with a lot of — well 'courage' is really the only word — to introduce this bill, somebody who could withstand being laughed at.". 2 months~Siberian huskies~~only boys~Local in sacramento ~ for ..Siberian Husky, California » Sacramento, Hello, I’m saving money to get a ferret. As even the CDFG has conceded, there are already tens of thousands, possibly more than a hundred thousand ferrets in California already. In our interview, Gaines said that opposition to ferret legalization in California "involves a lot of weird leaps of logic or lack of logic. Also, illegal ferrets have not poured into the United States from ferret-friendly Mexico and Canada. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who some thought would sign it, given that he'd co-starred with a ferret in "Kindergarten Cop." Especially ferrets who are carnivores, wild animals like … So by all means, don't take my word for any of this. Delaware: Yes, but you must keep your ferret up to date on their rabies vaccinations like a dog or cat.Florida: Yes. If they're likely to start these ferret enclaves and gobble up our wildlife, wouldn't at least one have sprung up by now, given those circumstances? She is small for her ..Ferret, California » Sacramento, I will be going through two major surgeries this year and wont be able to properly care f..Ferret, California » Anaheim, Vet check potty trained , USDA , De wormed , fleas, litter box, potty trained and well so..Ferret, California » Fresno, Ferret For Sale in Los Angeles County (6), pair of Ferrets for sale now so friendly Text xxx-xxx-xxxx. In other states like South Carolina, though it is legal to own ferrets, it is illegal to sell them. If California Fish and Game Commission continues to insist domestic ferrets are wild, they ought to ban domestic cats – who arguably are more wild. "The trend is absolutely towards legalization.". California: No. Right or wrong – thousands of ferret owners are ignoring the law. They were established in the hope that the little predators would help with another introduced species, the rabbit, whose population explosion in New Zealand and neighboring Australia is a thing of legend. Their owners were granted permits to keep the ‘grandfathered’ pet ferrets, but no new pet ferrets could be acquired in or brought into California. I’m located i..Ferret, California » Orange, i’ve been looking everywhere for a ferret for my fuzzbutt who lost her friend a year ag..Ferret, California » Los Angeles, Puppy huskies for sale Environmental protection is a huge issue in California, and the battle over ferret legalization is no exception. While it is illegal to have ferrets in California, ironically, more ferrets live in The Golden State than any other. When California expanded its ban on ferrets in 1987, state officials cited concerns that ferrets might bite and attack humans, particularly children and infants. New legislation will give amnesty to the more than 100k ferrets living here illegally while a study is conducted to see what impact of legalization might be on state ecosystems.Photo By Kurt Rogers. The whole world celebrates the World ferrets day on April 2nd, but sadly Californians don’t get a chance to celebrate much. After all, Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council data indicate that around one-quarter of the money spent on ferret food and supplies in this country is being spent in California. And ask if it's not time to, at the very least, give amnesty to the ferrets already here, so their owners can stop living at the mercy of vindictive exes or neighbors and openly take advantage of veterinary care, including rabies and distemper vaccination, for their pets. Also, ferrets STINK and can be rather unpredictable and And as with every issue, there is more than one side. She lives in San Francisco. It made me furious. Since they aren’t fully domesticated animals there isn’… There are tens of thousands of them in California, and they're allowed as pets in most countries and every state except Hawaii. Otis a 4 year old ferret . In what has become in my mind the Godwin's Law of the ferret debate, someone always brings that up as an example of a place where escaped pet ferrets got out of hand and started preying on New Zealand's endangered flightless birds. Ferrets are diminutive creatures with an average length of 20 inches and a weight not exceeding four pounds. "Ferrets have been illegal in all kinds of places, but over the last decade or so that has slowly been changing," he said. I'm perfectly happy with my cats and dogs, or no pets at all. Ferrets lost their value since they attack children and the media declare them to be a wild animal. Then came the backlash. Christie Keith is a contributing editor for Universal Press Syndicate's Pet Connection and past director of the Pet Care Forum on America Online. If you live in California (or anywhere else ferrets are illegal) and are still considering getting a ferret, please don’t. They can also carry canine distemper — and there's a vaccine for that, too. The California Natural Resources Agency, which includes the Department of Fish and Wildlife, bans a variety of exotic pets, one of them being ferrets. I don't have ferrets and I don't want ferrets. Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) have been domesticated for at least 2,500 years.Domestication is the process where humans selectively breed a wild animal to produce a new animal with characteristics that are useful to humans. Domestic ferrets are illegal in California, one of only two states to ban them. This represents but a small fraction of what escapes in the State as a whole.". Their colonies were nurtured and assisted until they were able to survive on their own, and the ferrets were probably crossed with their wild polecat cousins to improve their hardiness. Want Proof: There’s Although disputed by ferret lovers, the California Department Fish of Wildlife takes the position that escaped or abandoned pet ferrets pose a significant risk to California’s rare native animals and birds. The Commission directed the Department to discontinue issuing permits to possess prohibited species for pet purposes, except for those who legally possessed such animals in California at that time. 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