I just lost a long mail I wrote on this subject.  I'll *try* to
summarize:
 
        1) If you live in CA, FIND A VET BEFORE YOU GET A FERRET.
           I know of 2 in San Jose that will work on ferrets.  If you
           need their names, request them through this list.  I moved
           to LA for a couple of years and spent weeks trying to find a
           vet.  No luck.  We ended up planning a trip to SJ for their
           vaccinations.
 
        2) Flying into CA with a ferret is risky.  Some people have
           done it, but unlike borders where you can simply turn around
           if there's a problem, there's no where to run in the
           airport.  Plus many airlines won't let you travel with a
           ferret.
 
        3) It's laughably easy to drive into CA with ferrets.
 
           o If possible, avoid the border station.  On interstate 80,
             you can get off in Truckee, pass the border station on
             side streets, then get back on 80 at Donner Lake.
 
           o Make sure you're driving a car with CA plates.  They spend
             more time with non-residents.  They may stop every 5th or 6th
             car with CA plates.  They usually just ask you if you're
             carrying fruit.
 
           o Don't carry fruit.  The border stations are there to try
             to keep fruit flies out of the state, but they WILL
             confiscate ferrets or at least will turn you around if
             they find a ferret.  If you have fruit, be honest, give it
             to them quickly, and hopefull they won't search your car.
             If you're carrying a cooler, put that in an accessible
             place away from the ferret stuff so you can drag it out
             and let them search it without seeing the ferret.
 
           o Obviously, hide the ferret and conceal any cage.  If you
             can't conceal the cage, put the ferret in a soft gunny sack or
             purse and hide it under the seat.  The ferret will squirm
             when it hears new voices.
 
           o Sometimes baby ferrets can make a lot of noise.  My husband
             bought Olly as a surprise for me and drove with him across
             the border on I80.  Olly was very little and wailed the
             entire drive.  Joe forgot to bypass the border station, but
             even though they stopped him and asked him if he had fruit,
             they didn't hear Olly (who was under the seat).
 
           o If they do see your ferret, play dumb.  Tell them you'll
             turn around and return it.  Try another border or hide the
             ferret better.  They will be looking for you the second
             time, though.
 
        3) Once you've got your ferret home, make sure your house is
           absolutely ferret-proof.  If it escapes and someone turns
           it in to the county or city shelter, you may never see it
           again, you may be fined, and they may destroy it.
 
        4) Avoid any park or forest land where you might encounter CA
           Fish and Game or any other person working for the forest
           service or national parks.
 
        5) Ferrets are unusual and therefore highly visible.  You can
           take ferrets out in CA, but don't do it on a regular,
           predictable schedule.  Trust no one, but use every encounter
           to educate people about ferrets.
 
Good luck!
 
Linda
 
[Posted in FML issue 0763]