Slinky, curious, and intelligent - ferrets have been
domesticated for centuries. But in D.C., New York City, Hawaii, and
California ferret owners face threats of jail time and
fines up to $10,000.
Ferret opponents fret that the 20-inch mammals are likely to
launch "vicious
unprovoked attacks on humans," despite a study from
California's own Research Bureau which found that ferrets don't
"pose an
unusual risk of bites." Others worry that escaped pet ferrets
could form feral bands in the wild, but the same study found it
"improbable that domestic ferrets could establish feral colonies in
California."
In 2004, the popular pet was nearly legalized in California, but
the bill was stopped dead by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's veto.
Ferret legalization groups remain undeterred. As David Gaines of
the American Ferret
Association explains, "it takes people and the grassroots
knocking on the door of the legislature saying 'stop laughing, this
issue is important to me and I'm your constituent.'"
3 minutes. Produced by Joshua Swain. Additional help by Amanda
Winkler. Narration by Todd Krainin. And special thanks to The Ferret Inn.
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