I live in California. I have become interested in ferrets recently as a result of rec.pets traffic over the past several months that suggests that they make excellent, even ideal, apartment-lifestyle pets; I had already been intrigued by the critters in `Beastmaster' (indeed, they probably had the best performances in that film, although they did tend to chew the scenery, as the saying goes :-) ). I have learned that domestic ferrets are illegal in California--to my frustration--and have seen some of the California Domestic Ferret Association materials on that subject. But these materials are `advocacy literature' and not to be taken as an objective treatment of the subject. It is difficult, therefore, to understand just *why* there seems to be such strong opposition to ferrets as pets in California. I gather that the anti-ferret position claims that they are dangerous to children and may carry rabies. If these claims are as insubstantial as the CDFA stuff indicates, it is hard to understand how the anti-ferret folks can be so fervent in their opposition. The `hidden agenda' that some have suggested, that the anti-pet-ferret folks want to use domestic ferrets as lab animals without raising the ire of anti-vivisectionists, makes little sense to me--after all, rabbits, rats, and the ever-popular guinea pig all are used as lab animals and are also commonly sold as pets. I very much hope that the California ban is lifted sometime soon; I would *very* much like to have one of these little nippers around the place, but -- given the problems that could arise regarding veterinary care or if the animal were lost -- would not be willing to smuggle one in from out of state, as some people do (I met a live ferret for the first time last spring at the local Renaissance Faire; it was peeking out from its owner's loose sleeve and being utterly charming and friendly. The owner carefully referred to it as `a not-a-ferret'). So, can someone help me understand exactly why someone thinks I should not have one? Mike [log in to unmask] I am not even going to ask why gerbils are illegal in California... [Posted in FML 0196]