Hi Bob! I've learned one thing while living in California - once voters are educated about ferrets, they'll vote for them to be legal. The problem is - ferret owners can't go out on a limb to educate, because they risk having their ferrets taken away. Yes, it does happen. The Department of Fish and Game has one major flaw in its no ferret policy - they say "it's not known" whether ferrets can be feral or not, but they don't want to take the chance. Okay, but - if FnG is so careful, why are petshops selling non-native reptiles and birds? Wild flocks of parakeets can be seen in Silicon valley as well as parrots and other birds in the trees. Fish and Game simply doesn't want to go back on the 'no ferret' policy, - well, that is, the few people in charge of the policy don't want to change it. I am afraid that we are stuck, until either someone else who doesn't care about politics takes over, OR the voters become educated and vote for them. However, people here don't know what ferrets are. If they know what they are, they think because they are illegal, that there is good reason. They don't believe you when you tell them they're not wild animals. Some believe they kill babies and tip cows (a pet shop assistant manager told someone in my club that they tip cows....and she was serious). It should be enough evidence for Fish and Game that there are no ferret colonies in any US state, but they do not care; likewise in Australia where they have been banned in some areas. I do love what you are saying - and it will be great information and proof, BUT, because Fish and Game can simply do what they wish, (as they are doing now - with no proof) - I don't know if it will help. I hope it does. California is a strange place. Laryssa [Posted in FML 5856]