Why though? I don't understand what's so bad about having a ferret :dunno I mean, I'd personally never own one, but I don't understand why they are illegal in Hawaii and Cali. :shrug Anyone else know?

Nope, but that is verrrry interesting!!!

they "damage" the eco sustem we have going on in California and Hawaii definATELY basically they eat things we need and if we introduced them into these areas things would change too much...at least thats the theory behind it i miss my ferrets when we lived in NC we had a bunch:)

hmm that's strange :dunno they are a little on the smelly side, though

They are illegal in a lot of places. Most base housing wont allow them. I did a lot of reasearch on them about 2 years ago.

What do they eat that they are actually ilegal? I would never own one but I have a friend who does here in FL.

I had a friend in CA that breed and raised ferrets...not for profit, just for herself... and the city found out and her house got raided and they took all of them and gave her a fat fine.

I didnt know that :dunno

Despite a ban on ownership in California, ferret owners have been able to stock up on food and toys readily and legally available at neighborhood pet stores.

The great ferret rebellion mushroomed in San Diego County over the years and was kept alive by a never-say-die underground network of fans who secretly hustled pets to media appearances to advocate the cause.

California and Hawaii are the only states that ban private ownership of ferrets. California Department of Fish and Game officials opposed Alpert's measure, arguing that escaped ferrets could establish colonies and threaten nesting birds and overrun other wildlife habitat.

Fish and Game also has sought an environmental review, but it doesn't have the funding. In his veto message, the governor argued forcefully for such a study but offered no funding.

Under Alpert's bill, ferret owners would have paid $75 to register their pets. Of that, $50 would have gone toward funding an environmental impact report to determine whether ferrets are dangerous or should be treated like any other pet. The measure also would have required vaccinations, and spaying or neutering. The amnesty period would have closed July 31.

"They are domesticated. They may be able to fend for themselves, they may not," said Klingborg, the veterinarian. "I'm not convinced we're going to have colonies of ferrets running amok."

Ferrets' uncanny ability to slither through pipes and burrows gave rise to the phrase "ferret out." Hunters used the weasel-like critters to flush out game. During Y2K preparations, a ferret was outfitted with bug-proof computer cables and sent scampering through a maze of conduits at the U.S. Space Command in Colorado.

Ferrets are also ingrained in state Capitol lore. Former Assemblyman Jan Goldsmith, R-Poway, drew a rousing rejoinder from former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown as he pitched a ferret amnesty measure in 1994.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20040930-9999-1n30ferret.html

Why though? I don't understand what's so bad about having a ferret :dunno I mean, I'd personally never own one, but I don't understand why they are illegal in Hawaii and Cali. :shrug Anyone else know?

I dont have a clue but now you've got ME wondering..............

The reason is not because they are bad pets but because bad pet owners have a habit of dumping/releasing them into the wild and THAT is causing major problems.