Your morning show featured misguided information about ferrets.  I have
forwarded some of the points in error:
 
- Ferrets are now legal in California
 
not true, they have just passed a hearing with sessions upcoming in the
house and senate pending.  The process of legalization is still too far away
to make such a rash statement.
 
- Ferrets are rodents
 
False.  Ferrets are of the family mustiladae ( mustilids).  Family cousins
of otters, mink, weasels, etc.  Rodents have sharp straight teeth, ferrets
have tooth structure comparative to the feline ( cat).  There are many other
differences from the rodent family-- but these are the easiest to compare
species by exhibit.
 
- Ferrets smell (okay, they got that one)
 
Unaltered ferrets project a musky odor.
 
- Ferrets are wild
 
Wrong again!  The NEAR EXTINCT black footed ferret -- once thrived in the
south western US a wild species -- it is now an endangered species and has
been protected and faltering though a repopulation program has been
instituted for more than 10 years.
 
THE DOMESTIC FERRET - was never a wild animal.  It has always been a
domesticated / working animal .  Kept by man for man's existence.  The
domestic ferret was used in early days for: rodent control - in agricultural
areas, and for asssistance in rabbit hunting.  Those hunters in early
America who could not afford the expensive traps for rabbits used a muzzled
ferret to put down the hole while waiting at the other end for the rabbit to
come out.  It was captured in a bag etc.
 
The ferret has also been used in ship building industries to run wiring
through long narrow pipes.  Where do any of these animals who require food
supplied and maintenance qualify as a wild animal.
 
Today the ferret is a working animal ion medical testing labs-- they are not
wild there either!
 
The most coveted domestic companion in todays world of apartment dwelling is
a domestic ferret.  Friendly and playful like a kitten, and a devoted
companion like the canine -- and compact in size.  They are wonderful pets
which require care and maintenance and will certainly die if left out of
doors to fend for themselves.
 
- Cats will kill ferrets on sight
 
Wrong again.  My cat loves to play with the ferrets.  In fact a ferret may
if provoked to protect a companion ferret actually severely injure the cat
or kill it.
 
It seems the misinformed writers or show hosts at your Wisconsin station
have some catching up and cleaning to do on these facts.  You do not want CA
folks running to pick up ferrets prior to legalization.  You also should not
be feeding the ferret "frenzy" politicians with erroneous facts.  Perhaps if
you educated more folks instead of mis educating them there would be fewer
ferrets executed out of ignorance such as the ferret "KODO the Kute" in
Michigan!
 
PLease Your station OWES the Ferret, and the ferret community an apology and
the facts!
 
Sincerely,
 
Alicia Drakiotes,
Outreach Education coordinator
Ferret Wise Shelter, Marlborough, NH
[Posted in FML issue 1961]