Ferrets are illegal in Cali, yet I see people with them?

[Chickerdoodle13]

It's probably like Turtles in NJ. You can have them, but you can't purchase them in state.

 

[KristyHall]

usually when an animal is banned it is because it is dangerous or could easily become an invasive species. It irritates me that people will get these pets anyway without the proper certification and/or training and understanding. It's careless and selfish and when the animals get loose they cause so much damage.

 

[aprophet]

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It is against the law to transport wildlife across state lines google "lacy act" normally in a city/state/federal code there is a section for definitions that spells out what wild and domestic/pet animals are anything not domestic is considered wildlife.

 

[Godsgrl]

You can go out of state and buy a ferret, you just can't get caught with it in CA. I certainly wouldn't be flaunting it around at a pet store. Plus, it would be near impossible to find a vet to treat an illegal animal. Here in GA, hedgehogs are illegal, but you can buy their supplies (food, cages, etc) at pet stores.

 

[KristyHall]

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now why are hedgehogs illegal? Another invasive species risk?

 

[Godsgrl]

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now why are hedgehogs illegal? Another invasive species risk?

I guess so, haven't looked into the whys of it. They are insectivores, what are they going to destroy around here? The water bugs, boll weevil?

 

[AquaEyes]

From what I remember back when I had ferrets, the California law is not really valid, even though it is still enforced. Basically, the department of wildlife has no jurisdiction over domesticated species, and ferrets have been bred in captivity for almost 3000 years.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Just wondering out loud...how do ferrets destroy crops? Ferrets are meat-eaters only.

 

[cafarmgirl]

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Good question. I have not looked into the exact reasons for the law but ferrets are in the weasel family aren't they? We've farmed for many years in CA's Central Valley and I can tell you weasels are just about the last thing we worry about or have trouble with in regards to crops or crop damage.

I did see on Animal Planet a ferret that had escaped and was picked up by animal control in Southern CA. Don't remember how long it had been lost but it was dehydrated and malnourished. So apparently they don't necessarily adapt well to being "wild".

 

[Carols Clucks]

We (my part of Coastal California) don't have many wild weasels here (probably part of the reason for the ban??)

But don't some people here have trouble with weasels and their chickens?