If there is an animal shelter in your area, phone them to inquire whether it is legal to own a ferret or not. ferrets are legal to import, transport, or possess only by permit. Share . Ferrets have a history of biting infants, and hence they are considered to be a threat to public safety and health. I've been considering moving up to Toronto, but have 5 ferrets that HAVE to go with me (they're like my children and I will not give them up), so is it legal to own a ferret up there? According to Biosecurity Queensland, if ferrets were to escape into the wild and became feral, they would become a new predator of small to mid-sized native animals such as possums, bandicoots, birds, lizards, frogs, fish and invertebrates. Is It Legal to Own a Ferret in California? Master +1 y. This is an overview of some countries' laws, but please check your local laws before getting your fuzzy, little friend. It seems to be at the discretion of the base commander. But in general, local authorities meaning the city or the county government can decide to follow these guidelines, make stricter rules or not agree with it. California: No. So, I want to know if ferrets are legal? Other mustelids are not legal in many states. Be sure to check whether ferrets are legal where you live before getting one; illegally owned ferrets can be confiscated and killed. Marbled polecat. Skunks, Bats, and Raccoons. Delaware: Yes, but you must keep your ferret up to date on their rabies vaccinations like a dog or cat. Are ferrets legal in Canada? Awesome, thanks guys. Does anyone know for sure if they are or aren't legal? Ferrets are not wild animals, but they are treated as threat to other wildlife in California. In some places around the world, ferrets are illegal to own or require a permit. Most of the ferrets in the U.S. come from Marshall Farms. Pets like ferrets and hedgehogs have been banned in certain states in the U.S. for decades. Permits are issued for specific purposes, such as for medical research or for transportation of confiscated ferrets or rescued stray ones out of state. Pet ferrets are legal in Wisconsin, however legality varies by municipality. It’s illegal to possess ferrets in California and Hawaii as well as in a number of cities, townships, and counties where they’re considered a non-native or an “invasive” species. Blatant ignorance. A searchable list of the more than 1,000 species of exotic animals designated as Controlled Alien Species that are prohibited or restricted by the province is available. Ferrets can cost as much as $200 to buy (though some breeds sell for less than $100). In the past few years ferrets have become more pop ular as pets, but are still rare in Switzerland. Is It Legal to Own a Pet Ferret? : Make Ferrets LEGAL to own in Hawaii. Ferrets in Hawaii! Ferrets have naturalised in many places, including New Zealand, Morocco, and parts of the USA. Ferrets are not cheap to buy. Ferrets are completely legal in all counties of Arkansas. I have a ferret, and I would really like to bring him with me if at all possible. 2. Ferrets are legal in Long Island. Some communities require a permit or license for ferret owners and/or breeders. You'll likely be told that it is illegal to own a wild animal. Ferrets are widely kept as pets in California (to the point where many pet stores find it economical to stock supplies for the animal) despite the law and do not run the risk of becoming feral and invasive in that state. It can be hard to find a vet that specializes in ferrets. If you are planning on buying a ferret, you need to set aside up to $500 for vaccinations, preliminary medical examinations and neutering. However, ferrets are prohibited as pets in Queensland and the Northern Territory. Importation and possession of ferrets as pets are not permitted in California. They are all spayed or neutered and de-scented at a young age before leaving the farm. Similarly, although it's legal to own ferrets in South Carolina, it's not legal to sell them there, and the state is known to be pretty ferret-unfriendly. ) Ferrets from the United States can be imported into Canada without an import permit if they are presented at the port of entry with a vaccination certificate, which has been signed by a licensed veterinarian and which states that the animals have been vaccinated against rabies in the year preceding the date of import. Exotic animals such as tigers, lions, monkeys, marmosets, fennec foxes, caimans, cobras, poison arrow dart frogs and many others are illegal to own as pets in B.C. musicbrain5 | 1.4K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic. You, on the other hand, may not own the endangered black footed ferret which is native here because of it's endangered status. As far as I know, they are legal here. I've looked online, but found different answers. 11. In the past, a license was required to breed or sell ferrets or to keep more than 3 ferrets as pets (there were also some localized restrictions on ferret ownership). Updates: +1 y. Where Are Ferrets Legal? The ban only applies to New York City's five boroughs. Are ferrets legal in Switzerland? Pet ferrets can be found all over the world, but it is important to know whether you can legally keep them or not. Ferrets will remain illegal to own in Queensland. Why would such a wonderful pet be banned? In Hawaii, it is illegal to own the lovely animal, the Ferret, as a pet. ferrets are illegal in the entire state of California. The ferret is a prohibited invasive animal under the Biosecurity Act 2014. States where pet ferrets are illegal to own. But I got curious some time ago and read that because ferrets are so resilient and considered, by the state fish and game dept. Ferrets are domesticated animals. Follow. At the time this article was written, ferrets were illegal in California and Hawaii and in some cities, including Washington and New York.) anyway , to be able to not only survive in the wild, but would thrive in the wild. 2 months ago. 0 0. If you own or are responsible for a ferret, even on a temporary basis, you are required under the Animal Welfare Act to care for him/her properly. New Zealand: Ferrets were once used to control the wild rabbit population in New Zealand resulting in the development of feral ferret colonies. For this reason, ferrets were made illegal to own, breed, and sell. Under new regulations, owners will be able to keep their current ferrets. This petition had 162 supporters. Understanding ferrets' needs. Local laws (such as city or county) can choose to follow state guidelines, or can provide a stricter law. Ferrets are LEGAL in the rest of New York State. Up to 150,000 ferrets are kept as pets in Australia. Ferrets are legal in 48 of the United States and illegal statewide in California and Hawaii. 6. You don't need a license for them if you have purchased them from a pet store or breeder because they are considered tame domestic animals. They are associated with declines in native wildlife populations in New Zealand. However, it will be illegal for ferrets to be "bought, sold or bred." A housing code lists the only animals legal to keep in the home: dogs, cats, rabbits, domesticated rodents, fish, turtles, non-poisonous snakes, caged birds and racing pigeons. Jennifer Ross started this petition to ANIMAL INDUSTRY DIVISION The State of Hawaii. Facebook. Ferrets are not wild animals, they are thoroughly domesticated. Illinois and Georgia do not require a permit to merely possess a ferret, but a permit is required to breed ferrets. Ferret vets and vet bills. Ferrets can thrive in nature and overwhelm native species – Domesticated ferrets have lost most of their survival abilities that would allow them to live outdoors. Twitter. Call ferrets the “forbidden fruit” of pet ownership. One site reads they are legal, but another reads they aren't legal in certain parts of Toronto. They were banned in the city in 1999 by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Not allowed to have a cuddly wuzzle in your state and have the nerve to ask for an explanation? In other states like South Carolina, though it is legal to own ferrets, it is illegal to sell them. Before you purchase a ferret, make sure it's legal to own one where you live. Many military bases ban ferrets. Where they would pose a threat to the indigenous wildlife of the state, thereby upsetting the natural ecology. You can also phone the City Clerk in most areas to get this information, and to inquire about where and how you get a permit, if one is required, how much it will cost, and how often the permit must be renewed. Florida: Yes. It is legal to own ferrets all over the United States. Add Opinion. Ferrets, like other exotic … [41][42] It was once illegal to own ferrets in Dallas, Texas,[43] but the current Dallas City Code for Animals includes regulations for the vaccination of ferrets. This is because some people are concerned about their unpredictable behavior, which in some cases have led to unprovoked attacks against humans. United States. Why are ferrets illegal in NYC? The five boroughs of New York City: According to the New York City Department of Health “ferrets are known for their unpredictable behavior, and they are prone to vicious, unprovoked attacks on humans”. Most released ferrets wouldn’t live more than a few days. Funny thing is, there’s an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 ferrets in California, though illegal to own there, the state has the highest population of domesticated ferrets. In the United States, each state is allowed to govern their own laws about owning a ferret. It was once illegal to own ferrets in Dallas, Texas, but the current Dallas City Code for Animals includes regulations for the vaccination of ferrets. Ferrets are technically illegal to keep as pets in the District of Columbia.   In many places, ferrets are still not legally recognized as a domesticated animal for the purposes of keeping one as a pet. Their most likely wild ancestors are the European polecat and the Steppe polecat. As of 1999, ferrets are legal to keep as pets in New York City. Ferrets are legal to own in most of the U.S. (However, it’s best to check with your local government before purchasing or adopting a ferret. 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