Here are some more tips - probably all common sense - for traveling INTO California with ferrets. Remember that if you are driving a moving truck, or a car without California plates, you must have the ferrets very well hidden if you are trying to avoid a checkpoint by going around it. Cops are wise to this. You will probably stick out. If you *are* going to try this, have a good explanation of why you are off the highway - where you are going (a local restaurant, perhaps, or a resort or some other destination). And maybe instead of just going straight shot, do pull in to a local establishment to buy something if you think you are being tailed or it's late at night and you're the only one on the main drag. As a person who had been pulled over in California with animals in the car, it is not fun. Have them well hidden, and play music so when you are pulled over it is on, but not so loud that the officer will ask you to turn it off. Of course, sometimes they ask to have you turn it off anyway. The same with the checkpoints - leave a noisy cd on but not too loud - in case the ferrets are scratching. Also, just for the checkpoint, if you can put them temporarily in a cloth bag with zippers (marshalls makes such a carrier) and put that inside a backpack or duffel bag, it will prevent the scratching or pulling of carrier grates in the few minutes you are at the checkpoint answering questions through your window. Of course, if you are in a rental truck, you may very well be asked to empty it and the cargo so they can check for patio furniture, fruit, and animals. If you are just using a rental car, I highly suggest you rent one with California plates. If this means stopping and renting another car at a local fleet right outside California who does two way rentals, so be it - but you will be less conspicuous....and also, Febreze....get a car Febreze unit. People who do not own ferrets can often pick up on the smell even if you can't, especially in an enclosed space such as a car...and especially if the ferrets just took a number 1 and 2 right before the checkpoint. I was once pulled over with just ferret cage parts in my car in another state, and the cop asked me what that "strange smell" was. As you approach the checkpoint, even if it's a bit cold out, try to air out the car by rolling your windows down a bit for a mile or two. Bonus trick for when you do move into California: the laundry basket trick - if you have a small carrier, line a large laundry basket with dirty (or clean, unfolded) laundry. Sheets and towels work well. Put the carrier in and put more laundry around the basket, leaving spaces where the ferrets can still get air of course, but no one can see in even if you have to remove the basket or move it a bit. For shorter trips this works well, and you can bring the ferret into someone elses house (or in and out of your own house) with it looking like laundry. I have had many a person laugh when they were like "wth" and I produced a ferret out of the basket... [YY] [Posted in FML 7491]