Sorry for the delay in posting this list. Life with an infant has been amazingly hectic, and keeps eating up my time! The following is the current list of FFZs, or Ferret-Free Zones, that I know of, as of 12/8/94. I urge all FML readers to add to it, in an effort to compile a better and more comprehensive list! (My information is only as accurate as the information I'm given.) In addition, legal action or disinformation campaigns are always popping up. Also, people frequently are asking where permits or licenses are required to keep ferrets. I've listed below what I know of, or have heard of. Let's put our heads together and update this list, which we can then have available for all who ask. Good news: ferrets are now legal in both the city AND county of Baltimore, Maryland, and the movement to ban ferrets in Cobb County, Georgia, has been defeated. Good/bad news: Take St. Paul, MN, off the FFZ list. However, I've had confirmation that though St. Paul allows ferret ownership with proper permits, said permits can be difficult to obtain -- due to the fact that if your neighbors don't like ferrets, they can prevent your getting a permit! Bad news: I've had confirmation that ferrets are illegal in Franklin County, OH, Columbus, OH, and Tulsa, OK :-( Also, I just learned that Newport, KY, recently banned ferrets, along with snakes and wolves. Sheesh. :-( :-( A note to explain the list of Texas cities where ferrets are legal: no, I don't intend to compile a comprehensive list of Ferret *Legal* Zones, but there seem to be so many FFZs within the state of Texas, I thought I'd include the names of some cities where they are explicitly legal. Should I continue to include this? Until we have something approaching a definitive list of FFZs, it might be best to continue to list them. Any thoughts? I'd also like to expand a bit more on licensing requirements for the various states, when there are additional strictures such as in Rhode Island -- also if a license is good for an unlimited number of ferrets, or whether it's per animal, etc. I recently learned that Evansville, IN, requires permits for ferrets, but have no other information than that. Keep those cards and letters coming! :-) --------------------- Ferret-Free Zones (FFZs) Definition: states or localities where ferrets are currently known to be banned or illegal, or which are known to be unfriendly to ferrets (i.e. while ferret ownership may not be banned by statute, administrative rulings against ferrets may be in effect; de facto rather than de jure illegality) California Massachusetts Michigan Hawaii New York City, NY (including Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens) Technically not an FFZ, as there is no law or ordinance that prohibits the keeping of ferrets in NYC. However, an administrative ruling by Public Health authorities prohibits ferrets on grounds of their being "dangerous to humans, especially small children". They are currently being sued about this. Ferret fanciers should be cautious, as ferrets have been known to be confiscated and euthanized. On the other hand, the Animal Medical Center, a haven for ferret health research and treatment is located in NYC. Go figure. Minneapolis, MN The same situation as NYC: no law against ferret ownership, only an administrative interpretation of an ordinance which prohibits the keeping of dangerous wild animals within the city limits. Tickets issed under this ordinance have been successfully challenged twice. Hopkins, MN Ferrets are not addressed in local ordinances, but apparently policy changes depending upon who you are talking to. If not an FFZ, at least inhospitable to ferrets -- approach with caution. Golden Valley, MN Does not ban ferrets, but has a very narrow listing of animals which by ordinance are allowed. Action is not taken against ferret owners unless there are multiple complaints or a bite incident. According to Randy Sellers, "This is the home of the Hennipen county Humane society which has a very anti-ferret attitude. It is the only HS in the Metro area which will not work with rescue and adoption attempts. Ferrets are considered unsuitable as pets and euthanized within two hours of being surrendered. The same is true for 7 breeds of dogs including great danes and dobermans." Bloomington, MN (ban expected to be lifted by year-end) Burnsville, MN (ditto) Washington, DC Salt Lake City, Utah *Newport, KY (new to this list) Ft. Bragg, NC North Richland Hills, TX Dallas, TX Ft. Worth, TX Plano, TX Coppell, TX Mesquite, TX San Antonio, TX Beaumont, TX Franklin County, OH Columbus, OH Tulsa, OK Farmers Branch, TX There are other cities in Texas where ferrets are illegal -- could you Texas folk apprise us of the names? Many military bases ban ferrets -- please chip in with more names here! Places where legal action or disinformation campaigns concerning ferrets is or has been taking place: New Hampshire Kansas Salt Lake City, Utah Places where legal action has taken place in the recent past: Pennsylvania Cobb County, Georgia Texas cities where ferrets are legal: Austin Bedford Irving Haltom City Watauga Places where permits or licenses are required in order to own ferrets: New York State ($10/year) -- Ferrets may be kept legally in Nassau County with proper license, but may not be sold or advertised -- Ferrets are legal in Suffolk County with proper license New Jersey ($10/year) Rhode Island ($10/year) -- with the following requirements: -Proof of rabies and distemper vaccinations, proof of spaying/neutering, and an affadavit stating there are no children under the age of 2 years in the household. Breeding is illegal. Illinois (free) St. Paul, Minn. -- requires a permit to keep exotic animals which is a one-time $25 fee per household. Re-inspections are every other year. Requirements include: current health certificates, an on site inspection, and written consent from 70% of the neighbors within 150 feet of your property that they don't mind you're having the exotic animal. This last is constitutionally unsound and has been dropped as a requirement in St. Cloud and Duluth and is being challenged in the courts in St. Paul. Also being challenged is whether or not the city has the right to regulate a domestic species as an exotic animal. *Evansville, IN (new to this list) -- I have no further info on this at this time. --------------------- Please add to this list! Rather than post to the FML, please e-mail me, and I'll compile and post the summary. I can be reached at [log in to unmask] or on CompuServe at 71257,3153 My thanks to the following people who have contributed to this list: Deborah See, K. "Soup" Campbell, Bob Raymond, Howard and Ann Davis, Laura L'Heureux, Robert Rhode, Michelle & the MASKeteers, Debra Thomason, Jan Lovell, John Gaver, Gale Putt, Denise in Minnesota, Travis Daniels, Len Jaffe, Jim Murray, Jody in Oklahoma, Randy S. Sellers. Looking forward to hearing from you!! -- Katie Fritz -- Internet: [log in to unmask] CompuServe: 71257,3153--S2 Ferrets Section Co-Leader, Animal Forum--GO PETSTWO "From what I hear Earth is a podunk little place but they make great pastrami" -- Graetwist, "Roadways #1," available from Cult Press DDICB/TGIX [Posted in FML issue 1037]