I was nearly engaged to a "Kiwi" several years and ago who wanted me
to dump my ferrets and move back to New Zealand with him. Of course I
wasn't going to do that but I did look into why they were banned.

Years ago farmers had rabbits in New Zealand and the rabbits multiplied
like mad and were eating everything they could find. So they brought
over ferrets, weasels, stoats from the UK, and set them loose to kill
the rabbits Well they killed the rabbits but they also found the
flightless birds - including the country's beloved Kiwi - quite tasty
as well. And with New Zealand an island lacking any predators clearly
there would no keeping down the population of mustelids. Hunters were
sent out to then kill off the ferrets, weasels, stoats. I found some
horrifying pics of proud hunters with a blanket spread out with all
the cute critters he'd slaughtered

I find it funny that they didn't think about this beforehand. Did they
really think they'd just go kill the rabbits then come back and go "Job
done How much do I get paid and when's the next boat back home?"

Interestingly enough we also found out that they they're banned there
they do breed them there and sell them to Australia. The facility's
are much like a jail to make sure NO ferrets get out.

Love me, love my ferrets. It never could have worked!

[Posted in FML 7474]