If you do your research, you will find out the opposite is true. Unfortunately, ferrets are illegal to be kept as pets in the state of California. Also, local laws are stricter than state laws in some places, and regulations change periodically. This is because some people are concerned about their unpredictable behavior , which in some cases have led to unprovoked attacks against humans. The United States Department of Agriculture classifies ferrets as domestic animals. In California, domestic ferrets are legal to import, transport, or possess only by permit. A: Ferrets are illegal as pets in California but are legal to import, transport or possess if a permit has been granted, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The United States Department of Agriculture classifies ferrets as domestic animals. California is known among ferret enthusiasts for being one of two states that has an unshakable ban placed on owning these elongated carnivores. The Fish and Game Commission gets around that by mis-classifying ferrets as wild, or by saying they have not been determined to be domestic in the state of California. read more Are Ferrets Illegal in California? Chinchillas are, however ferrets are not. Importation and possession of ferrets as pets are not permitted in California. Ferrets and only ferrets are legal but other close relatives of ferrets aren’t welcome. Most of the time it's. So why are ferrets illegal in California? Call ferrets the “forbidden fruit” of pet ownership. Medical research is one scenario in which ferrets may legally be in California. nope. I can provide info as to why not and how to's if you are determined to have one in California. The Golden State and Hawaii are the only states to ban domesticated ferrets. Many of the states in the U.S. that allow ferrets as pets do so under permits … 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. WESTERN AUSTRALIA – ferrets aren’t legal there, but you have to prove that your pet is a ferret and not some close relative. It's not like Department of Fish and Game (DF&G) is hanging out at Pet. This heavy-handed gover… Permits are issued for specific purposes, such as for medical research or for transportation of confiscated ferrets or rescued stray ones out of state. Strangely enough, parrots are legal pets. Saturday, April 2, is National Ferret Day, but there will not be much celebration in California. Ferrets in California. Are Ferrets Illegal in California? If you're considering a pet ferret, first confirm that your state and municipality allow these animals to be kept in the home. we live in California. The reasoning behind this is illegitimate: they believe feral colonies will form and that ferrets are rabies carriers. But a few states (and countries) are slow to accept that ferrets are domestic animals. Ferrets are legal as pets almost everywhere.