Dear Bob,
Obviously you found my contribution to the digest quite emotive.  I'll try
to address every issue you raised in yesterdays FML and also correct a few
errors you have made in your 4 November entry (which was forwarded to me
yesterday).
 
I agree that I know little about the north american issue, and this has been
pointed out to me by others (thanks Erin and Heather).  I did realise
however that there were mustelids in California and that ferrets may be less
competitive than existing species.  The point of "Legalise it ?" was that
you should be aware of all negative implications before allowing a species
to be introduced into the urban or rural environment.  I agree that the
situation with ferrets would be completely different in the states than to
New Zealand
 
Thank you for making me more aware of the California argument.  I knew
little of the mink or the ferret population in California, interesting
stuff.  I can't cite any references to any feral ferret populations.  I am
not aware of any.  I was interested to read that you had found a dead one 3
km from a town though.
 
Your FML entry of 12 November asked me what impacts the domestic ferret has
made on native populations.  I thought I had stated clearly that I was
writing about New Zealand and mustelids, contributuing to the extinction of
species.  Re read "Legalize it", you may have thought I was talking solely
about ferrets.
 
Ferrets do depredate native New Zealand species, even threatened ones.  If
anyone is interested thay can email me .
 
Bob, your FML entries on 12 November stated " Don't get upset if your
opinions clash with scientific facts".  I agree, here are a few points you
would do well to learn:
 
- There never have been any foxes in New Zealand.
- Ferrets are established in a large proportion of New Zealand.  not just
  the "Marshes to the south" (somewhere I haven't visited, where is it ?).
-Mustelids are playing a large role in native species mortality.
- Ferrets will not become extinct in New Zealand because of competion with
  other mustelids.  (My own personal observation on the farms that I work,
  is that stoats appear after ferrets are removed).
 
I hope this has cleared up any confusion my contribution has caused.  Please
feel free to write to me at my email address if anyone would like to discuss
any points further.  Good luck with the legalisation campaign, I believe an
objective view can only help your argument.
 
                           Jim
[Posted in FML issue 1753]