For decades, the California Department of Fish and Game has claimed that domesticated ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) pose a risk to wildlife, agriculture, and public safety—justifying their continued ban. Yet, their own peer-reviewed study contradicts this position, demonstrating that ferrets do not pose a significant threat.
This study, which Fish and Game commissioned back in 2010 but ignored for a decade, was finally put through peer review and published. The results? It validates what ferret advocates have been saying all along.
What the Study Found
The report, Impacts of Domesticated Ferrets Upon Wildlife, Agriculture, and Human Health in the USA, examined the most common objections to ferret legalization and found no scientific basis for the ban.
1. No Feral Ferret Populations in the U.S.
One of the strongest arguments against ferret legalization is the fear that escaped ferrets could establish wild breeding populations and threaten native species.
However, after decades of review, the study found no evidence of a self-sustaining feral ferret population anywhere in the U.S..
Cases from New Zealand and Europe involved wild polecat hybrids, which are not the same as the domesticated ferrets in the U.S. The study concludes that American pet ferrets lack the genetic traits and survival instincts needed to become an invasive species.
2. Minimal Risk to Wildlife
Ferrets are small carnivores, but their impact is negligible compared to other predators like feral cats, which kill billions of birds and small mammals each year.
The study found no confirmed cases of escaped ferrets causing ecological harm in the U.S. and determined that concerns about their impact on ground-nesting birds are highly speculative.
3. No Threat to Agriculture
Opponents have claimed that ferrets could harm poultry and livestock. However, the study found:
- No documented instances of ferrets causing damage to U.S. farms.
- Modern commercial farming practices make it highly unlikely that a stray ferret could pose a risk.
4. Public Health Concerns Are Overstated
Ferrets have been labeled as dangerous due to biting incidents, yet:
- Serious injuries from ferret bites are rare—significantly lower than dog or cat attacks.
- Ferrets can be vaccinated against rabies, just like any other pet.
- The study found ferret-related injuries occur at a rate of only one per million residents per year in California—hardly a public safety crisis.
The Conclusion: No Justification for the Ban
The most astonishing aspect of this study is that Fish and Game ignored it for ten years before finally submitting it for peer review. Now, the science is clear:
The study does not justify California’s continued prohibition of ferret ownership.
This research was not conducted by ferret advocates—it was commissioned by Fish and Game themselves. Yet, they continue to ignore their own findings.
So why does California still refuse to legalize ferrets? That remains the real question.