There are severe consequences for that cute little critter if … Domestic ferrets are called domestic ferrets because they are domestic and, as it happens, quite helpless on their own. “There’s a great deal of risk with owning ferrets because they can escape and go into the environment and kill some of our more sensitive species,” said Tim Kroeker of the California Department of Fish and Game. Ferrets are incredibly social & intelligent mammals that can easily be taught tricks just like a dog. We’ve spent 100+ years turning classroom theory and a diverse liberal arts balance into real-world practice. People, in their abundant stupidity, think that if they don't want an animal anymore that they can just release it into the wild. Hello~ I'm looking to get a ferret and I know they're illegal in California but I also know its possible to get one with a license from CA Fish and Game. The future will decide for us whether ferrets should be legalized or not, for now maybe stick to dogs and cats. For the last 15 years I have filled the role as rescue coordinator, for the last 6 years Robin in Southern CA has assumed responsibility for Southern CA rescue. My mother owned ferrets for a time when I was a teenager and I had later on after moving out thought of adopting or buying two ferrets as pets. United California Ferret Alliance – An umbrella organization bringing together like-minded ferret clubs and enthusiasts to decriminalize domestic ferrets in California. The measure, upon voter approval, was designed to legalize the ownership of ferrets in California. Then jump right in with both feet at Johnson & Wales University. 3 former ferret bill authors & co-authors. We’re proud to represent the ferret community of California. The Fish and Game Commission gets around that by mis-classifying ferrets as wild, or by saying they have not been determined to be domestic in the state of California. 5 successful animal activist organizations. The California Natural Resources Agency, which includes the Department of Fish and Wildlife, bans a variety of exotic pets, one of them being ferrets. Buying Ferrets Online There are not many ways to purchase ferrets online, as most breeders and shelters don't ship their ferrets and don't provide ways to purchase them directly from their website. Welcome! Here you’ll both think and do in classrooms and learning labs that simulate industry-specific work environments. If there are some places where people are able to adopt a ferret in California, I would like to know where. Owning a ferret is illegal in California and Hawaii. Ferrets in California. - Ferrets and California - Exotic Pets at BellaOnline Their state laws maybe a little flexible, but local rules are strict, which means single cities within California and Hawaii cant permit ferrets. Saturday, April 2, is National Ferret Day, but there will not be much celebration in California. ferrets are illegal in the state of California. The main reason why ferrets are illegal in California is to Protect Agriculture and Wildlife. If we met with 15 legislators a week it would take eight straight weeks of meetings to advocate to each individual office. California Ferrets - Our Story - Duration: 8:14. Include the prep-work that goes in to it; and we’re looking at six months of full-time work. Your email address will not be published. They’re afraid Ferrets could wipe out rare rodents and bird species native to the state. Currently only the states of California and Hawaii have this law set in place, which means their pretty much up for grabs anywhere else. Pat Wright from LegalizeFerrets.org says “It’s like calling your poodle a wolf,” in a newsletter written in 2015. They can be helpful for companionship, hunting, and rodent control. When another bill in 2004 made it to a former Gov. They told us they couldn’t do so as then they would lose jurisdiction over ferrets. The Golden State and Hawaii are the only states to ban domesticated ferrets. There were about four bills from 1994 to 1999 that attempted to legalize ferrets for pets, but all failed to pass. We also made a point to learn from the ferret advocates who came before us. Which states can you own a ferret? These creatures have been a domesticated species for at least 2,500 year. is there a way i can get one out of state or country and have it live with me legally? 3 State agencies who would be affected by amending the ban. There are 120 legislators in the Capital. “I could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine," said one woman who owns six ferrets and did not want her name used. Domestic Ferrets. 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. You can't. 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. The concern is that owners may release ferrets into the wild or the pets may escape and then establish colonies in the wild. Unfortunately, since they are members of the weasel family, they are highly efficient killers and breeders with litters twice a year. Ive done a lot of research on owning a ferret and have house sat for ferrets in the past (which is why I fell in love with them.) Especially ferrets who are carnivores, wild animals like lions, tigers, and bears are also prohibited to own. The California Fish and Game Code declares it a crime to possess any animal that is endangered and a threat to public security. https://jwu.zoom.us/j/6375379529?pwd=SXU0cEVOaml1OHpNc1AxWndFTFNkQT09 Like to learn by doing? 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. Only 2-3 stray ferrets were ever found in California, over a 100 year period. I know ferrets aren't legal in California, although I really want one. The name "ferret" is derived from the Latin furittus, meaning "little thief", a likely reference to the common ferret penchant for secreting away small items.. They are afraid ferrets would end up breeding and eating all of the crops or destroy the orchards or some such nonsense. We’re currently focused on supporting the ferret rescue network in California. Ironically you could still find ferret products at your local pet store, though they claim to sell these products for they can be used with other animals, not just ferrets. They have the connections and can meet with offices much more quickly and effectively. LegalizeFerrets.org has created this petition to alert the Sierra Club of their position is terribly misinformed and that legalizing domestic ferrets in California will do no harm. You just have to be REALLY careful to not bump into the police either on the way to the vet or coming back. The cause behind the ban which the government mentions is that they are a potent source of many diseases like rabies and also they are not native to California, therefore, they can have adverse effects on the ecosystem and the natural wildlife of California. For California residents 21 and over, weed is finally legal. Your email address will not be published. Ferret Rescue in California. Please enable Javascript and refresh the page to continue I think I will continue to go through their mountain of trash over time. As far as I know, there are vets who are very happy to treat ferrets in California. California, as well as a few other states and countries, continue to outlaw ferrets as pets. If you live in California (or anywhere else ferrets are illegal) and are still considering getting a ferret, please don’t. 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. This is why it is so important to have a lobbyist. Etymology. February 2003. Among 50 states of America, you can own a ferret except for two countries that is California and Hawaii. You must make the purchase in person. Ferrets are legal in all the states of America except California and Hawaii. However, there are some ways to … 3 attorneys in the State Attorney General’s office & 1 at a district level. But the ecosystem isn’t just crops and stuff. A California Ferret Legalization Initiative (15-0034) did not make the November 8, 2016 ballot in California as an initiated state statute.. I'm sure I'm not the only person in California who wants a ferret, and I do know that some people in California do secretly have ferrets, which is why I want to know where they get them. In 2017, the state Fish and Game Commission rejected a petition to permit vaccinated ferrets as pets. The Greek word ἴκτις : íktis, Latinized as ictis occurs in a play written by Aristophanes, The Acharnians, in 425 BC.Whether this was a reference to ferrets, polecats, or the similar Egyptian mongoose is uncertain. Due to California’s wildlife ecosystem, having any alien, exotic, or invasive species is taken very seriously and was made illegal. of Fish and Wildlife. Ferrets and other wildlife, including sugar gliders and hedgehogs, are still illegal to import, transport, or possess in California without a … This is highly amusing. Required fields are marked *, The Horrifying Murder of the Watts Family, Wildfires Create New Opportunities for California’s Inmates. 7 lobbyists at the state and federal level. But try having a ferret as a pet, and you could be charged with a misdemeanor, up to six months in jail or $1,000 in fines. Pat Wright, who was behind this initiative effort, said that his group was unable to collect enough signatures to put this initiative on the ballot. Living in California definitely has its advantages but wanting a furry mouse/cat like pet, isn’t one of them. Domestic ferrets are not wild animals - Duration: 7:12. 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