Legalize Ferrets Petitioners

Ferrets are legal in 48 states where they haven't caused a problem.

In 1933 the California Fish and Game Commission banned ferrets.  This is the best explanation I've seen:

In general, the Commission and the Department of Fish and Game have relatively broad authority to regulate the importing and possession of non-native species, and so that extends to ferrets. Regarding your specific question about domestic animals, it's my understanding that currently ferrets are considered wild animals under state law. Fish and Game Code section 2118(b) lists animals of the families Viverridae and Mustelidae as restricted, and I believe ferrets fall into the latter. Furthermore, the Commission is the body that determines whether an animal is wild or not because the Commission is charged with determining whether an animal is "normally domesticated in this state," (FGC section 2116). So that would indicate to me that the Legislature has declared its intent on the Commission's authority.

In the 1980's ferrets started to become popular as pets, thanks in part to the movie "The Beast Master"


The few states that had bans on ferrets gradually lifted them until only California and Hawaii are left.

We have appealed many times to the California legislature and the Fish and Game Commission.  It is really hard for a small un-funded group to sway the legislature, we haven't had any success in ten years in finding an author for a ferret legalization bill.

New rules for the Ballot Initiative process went into effect this year and we've been collecting signatures since August.  But we haven't gotten off the ground with just 5,200 collected towards the 91,740 needed to trigger a legislative hearing on ferrets.

It is our hope to raise $200,000 to hire paid petitioners so we can achieve our goals of getting ferret legalization in front of the California legislature.  The facts are sure on our side, but it is so hard to get access to the law makers.

We have until Feb 2nd to submit the signatures.

Then for the very first time we hope to have the issue of ferret legalization seriously discussed by the California authorities.