[Moderator's note: This letter was sent to the FML by a California "outlaw" as a suggested starting place for people who would like to write letters to CA F&G. While you can pretty much use it as-is, it would likely work better if you use it as a guide for developing your own text. The poster commented to me: "We don't want the commissioners getting "form" letters as these are discounted." BIG] Hope everyone out there lurking on the FML will take a few minutes to write a letter that definitely will help the situation here. The Commission has no email at this point (how convienient for them!) but after FLMers snail mail they can email a copy to Governor Grey Davis and make a point of telling him that they will not vacation in, go to school in, or work within California until this rediculous law is changed. Remember to BE POLITE tho! Gov Gray Davis can be reached at [log in to unmask] Should folks want to contact the F&G Commission by phone to request the fx number please contact them at 916.653.7664 or 4899 (one may be the fx but the irritating tone will tell!) Your address here (of course you can go anon if you live in CA but tell them why!) March 2, 2000 State of California Resources Agency Fish and Game Commission Hon. Richard T. Thieriot, President Hon. Michael Chrisman, Vice President Hon. Mr. Schuchat 1416 9th St. Sacramento CA 94244-4899 Dear Honorable Commissioners, I am writing to you as a concerned citizen. I wish this communication to stand as my official comment and to have it included/read into the record at or immediately after the April 6th Commission meeting in Sacramento. I wish to comment on the proposal to begin the process to de-list the DOMESTIC ferret (Mustela putorius furo) from the State of California's restricted wildlife list. During the Commission proceedings in Sacramento you will hear impassioned, sincere and truthful testimony from the many supporters of the de-listing process. These include the Californians for Ferret Legalization, the Golden State Ferret Assoc., Ferrets Anon as well as individual zoologists and pet owners. You may also hear from the California Dept of Fish and Game, National Audubon Society, Sierra Club, California Farm Bureau and other environmental organizations that do not wish this to occur. Having reviewed a majority of available information on the subject as it would apply to California, its citizens and its environment. I have concluded that there is no RATIONAL or SCIENTIFIC reason to preclude the DOMESTIC ferrets de-listing from California's restricted wildlife list. It is apparent that the information disseminated by the F&G to the national/state environmental organizations has mislead those organizations into believing (and hence strongly lobbying for that position) that de-listing the DOMESTIC ferret will harm California's wildlife, human health, agriculture and economy. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have followed the various attempts to legitimize this friendly, mild mannered companion animal for over __ years and have come to the conclusion that the State Dept. of Fish and Game has reacted to the reasonable request by citizens to own the companion animal of their choice; a companion animal that is far safer, mind you, to the environment than either the dog or cat, with what appears to be hysterical malice aforethought. This last statement about the DOMESTIC ferret and the environment is further reinforced by a nationwide survey conducted by F&G (at taxpayer expense?) which concluded that there is absolutely no threat to endangered or native wildlife, agriculture or human health. Currently DOMESTIC ferrets are illegal to possess only in California and Hawaii. They are legal in every other continental U.S. state as well as Canada and Mexico (the F&G survey would try and make the reader believe that as many as 5-6 states make possession illegal, which is absolutely FALSE). As far as California, let me sum up the status of the DOMESTIC ferret as I understand it: ***** It is considered DOMESTICATED by definition as documented by great institutions such as the Smithsonian National Museum and the American Museum of Natural History, as well as over 150 other great institutions/scientists. There are also many publications/literature cites by noted mammalogists both here and abroad that support that taxonomic opinion. I would refer you to Robert Church, Univ. of Missouri and Dr. Carolyn King, who has written what is perhaps the most definitive literature on the genus Mustelaliterature which according to Ms. King has been misquoted or taken out of context by California F&G biologists in their own web-site in order to discredit the legalization effort for the DOMESTIC ferret here. This is a tactic that surely does not build trust and/or credibility for the agency and its web-site on DOMESTIC ferrets. ***** The DOMESTIC ferret is not a threat to human health, and is far less likely to bite than dogs, cats, guinea pigs and hamsters. National humane organizations such as the HSUS now support the legalization of the DOMESTIC ferret so that it can be humanely treated for diseases, spayed/neutered and vaccinated for rabies/distemper. It is my understanding that the new national Rabies compendium lists DOMESTIC ferret standards and that that document has been accepted by the State of California's Dept. of Human Health. ***** The DOMESTIC ferret is not a threat to California agriculture. Poultry are for the most part pen/cage raised inside buildings. "free-range" ranchers have also gone on record as it being a non-issue. California egg producers have indicated the same. This ploy is just what it appears to be! A Smoke and mirrors attempt to create a problem where none exists. Refer again to the F&G's own nationwide survey concerning the DOMESTIC ferret. I am sure it has been included in your briefing package. You will find that not one state has responded in a negative manner concerning predation on livestock by the DOMESTIC FERRET. So one must ask why the state office of the California Farm Bureau continues to lobby against the de-listing. Could it be political? It must be, because it is not grounded in truth or peer reviewed science. I must ask you not to succumb to the political whims of lobbyists representing multi million dollar organizations such as the National Audubon Society, Sierra Club or the California Farm Bureau. ***** The DOMESTIC Ferret is not a threat to native California wildlife, as some of the waterfowl associations would lead you to believe. Again, you must refer to the F&G survey of the other continental U.S. states. Again you will find that there is no real problem. Could this be because there are NO DOCUMENTED FERAL ferret populations anywhere in the U.S.? Certainly, in the hundred plus years that Domestic ferrets have been documented in this country (including California) there have been no reported losses of native wildlife anywhere in the continental states, and this includes Alaska. Waterfowl in California are far more at risk from loss of habitat, urbanization, pollution, feral CATS and poaching than from the F&G/U.C. Davis manufactured risk that has been sold to the waterfowl associations. A reasonable, educated person who reviews F&G's own aforementioned survey would have to conclude the same. ***** The DOMESTIC ferret has not and cannot establish feral populations in California. The DOMESTIC ferret is here in great numbers and has been for over a hundred years. The U.S. Dept of Agriculture even promoted ferret husbandry during the early part of the 1900s. Are there any references to feral populations then? My search has yielded none. References to their existence here go back to the sailing days, as they were used as "ratters" on sailing vessels. Did they escape captivity? Most certainly! Did they establish feral populations? Not any that have been documented, and again this is re-enforced by F&G's own survey of the other states. In short, where's the beef? The only population of DOMESTIC ferrets in the U.S. (notice I do NOT say feral) referenced as living in a wild state was a result of INTENTIONAL INTRODUCTION done by the Washington State Dept of Game and Fish. This to try to control a population explosion of European Hares on San Juan Island (Puget Sound). The program, despite intentional and repeated introduction of thousands of ferrets into a island ecology, FAILED. Even in a specialized island environment with a relatively mild climate (much like coastal northern California), the DOMESTICATED ferret could not survive to reproduce and form a feral population. By the way, the European Hare IS still present on the island and continues to contribute to environmental damage. Do some DOMESTIC ferrets escape their owners? Of course they do. Some pets escapethat is not the issue. Given the amount of time that the DOMESTIC ferret has been here in California, it appears to me that the animal HAS NOT, DOES NOT AND WILL NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO ESTABLISH A FERAL POPULATION. This is again borne out by the F&G survey of the other states, where it surely would have occurred and been noticed. Suffice to say, it appears that this DOMESTICATED companion animal cannot live long enough in the wild to create a feral population, let alone displace a native one. In my __ plus years in this great state, I have visited many of the major life zones from sea level marshes and riparian areas to deserts as well as the highest alpine zones. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY SIGN OF DOMESTIC FERRETS ANYWHERE, feral or otherwise. ***** The DOMESTIC ferret will NOT damage California's economy. On the contrary the ferret supply trade brings a substantial amount of revenue/tax dollars into the state. There is an active, open trade for DOMESTIC ferret supplies/toys/publications/etc. and they are available in virtually every K-Mart, Wal Mart, PetSmart and Petco in the state. Whole aisles are devoted specifically to DOMESTIC ferret products. In addition, these same supplies are also available in most local feed stores and in most local pet stores, with more becoming available as the popularity of the DOMESTIC ferret increases. Also note that the number of licensed vets who agree to see and treat the DOMESTIC ferret increases with each passing year. Summary The DOMESTIC ferret is not a threat to California's native wildlife, human health, agriculture or economy. I would say that there has been an intentional campaign to keep the DOMESTIC ferret on the states' restricted WILDLIFE list. This is a ludicrous policy. DOMESTIC animals fall under private property clauses guaranteed by the constitution and as such are best managed/administered by local animal control agencies. Fish and Game needs to concentrate on managing the WILDLIFE and not on wasting taxpayers dollars chasing a manufactured problem! The application of the current regulation makes common criminals out of thousands of honest, taxpaying California citizens and has resulted in the confiscation and DESTRUCTION of beloved pets. I would ask you how it would feel to you if F&G/law enforcement came to your front door with a warrant and confiscated your prized, loved Golden Retriever and then had it destroyed. Heavy fines and even jail sentences have been levied to those who have resisted. And this for no reason other than an archaic regulation that has, beyond all imagination, somehow managed to remain on the books. The questionable science generated in F&G's quest to deny private ownership of this friendly, mild mannered DOMESTICATED pet damages the agencies ability to present fair and impartial assessments related to wildlife issues. There is NO JUSTIFICATION for their position on the matter of DOMESTIC ferrets. I understand that you have been delegated the authority to determine whether the Domestic ferret is commonly domesticated. Given the above, I would say that this is indeed the case. You must act immediately to change the arbitrary and capricious manner in which the F&G agency has acted. Please do the right thing and begin the process to de-list the DOMESTIC ferret. F&G may then return to their chartered duties to protect and enhance wildlife in this great state. Thank you for providing this opportunity for comment. Your name here cc: Mr. Robert Treanor (same address as Commission) [Posted in FML issue 2978]