Can you own a ferret in your state?

Pet ownership laws for “exotic animals” like ferrets can be confusing. Even governments within the same country vary on whether they consider ferrets illegal or not. The U.S. states of New York, California, and Hawaii are great examples of this.

It’s tough to keep track of all the different regulations. But you can wind up in lots of trouble moving to the wrong place with your fur-baby. 

This guide will help ensure that you avoid areas where ferrets are illegal to sell or keep as pets, and provide a bit of context for those seemingly arbitrary laws.  

Why are ferrets illegal in some places? 

Ferrets are illegal in many places worldwide, though some of the most well-known locations include the state of California in the United States and the country of New Zealand. Since laws against this pet exist in many cultures and political landscapes, the reasons for such statutes vary widely. 

In California, most people believe that the key reason why ferrets are outlawed is the fear of irresponsible owners releasing their pets into the wild. When they’re not released deliberately, ferrets can escape and wreak ecological havoc on their own. 

Additionally, ferrets are a known carrier of the lethal neurological disease, rabies. Understandably, this worries policymakers and the public. So, some may perceive a legal framework that forbids the animal’s presence entirely as a logical course of action. 

The reasons for outlawing ferrets vary from place to place. Yet, these are some of the most common justifications underlying anti-ferret legislation. 

Preventing the release of exotic pets in wild habitats 

People “freeing’ unwanted pets into wild lands is a huge global problem. The Golden State, in particular, has implemented many public education campaigns against the practice, warning owners against the potential harm it could cause. 

In their webpage, titled, “Don’t Let it Loose, California!” the California Department of Fish and Wildlife states: “Releasing unwanted pets into the wild is inhumane and can be harmful to the environment, as some species can establish populations, take over habitats, and harm native species.” 

One of the biggest contributing factors to such issues is the exotic wildlife trade. Many people resort to this trade if they live in an area that prohibits the animal. In fact, the illegal pet trade is one of the main reasons why native wildlife worldwide suffers from species invasions, right next to “hitchhiking” on ships, airplanes, and other transport vessels. 

Ferrets are commonly named as some of the most frequently trafficked animals on the black market, along with: 

• Reptiles and amphibians 
• Small mammals, such as sugar gliders, hedgehogs, etc. 
• Large mammals, including kangaroos and tigers 

These animals, when released, can inflict devastating levels of damage on the surrounding environment. Studies show that a stunning number of species invasions in numerous countries were the direct result of the exotic pet trade. 

For example, researchers previously determined that the vast majority (70 percent) of species invasion events in Brazil over three decades were because of mammals brought in from the pet trade. 

Since ferrets are descended from the European polecat, they’re a direct threat to related Mustelids in natural landscapes. For instance, in the U.S., domestic ferrets would damage the quality of life and resource availability of native black-footed ferrets, which are already endangered. 

On the other hand, ferret owners in the United Kingdom should hold on to their pets as well. Those released into the wild would outcompete weasel-type animals that naturally occur in the area, such as the stoat and pine marten. 

This is not to say that areas with ferret-friendly laws don’t care about their environment or lack species that would be endangered by these pets. Rather, these are examples of the scientific basis on which some territories choose to regulate this species. 

Reports of ferret bites may contribute to restrictions

The fear of ferret bites is another popular reason why these animals are outlawed in certain places. In fact, many pets have garnered strict regulation based on possible bite risk, pitbulls being among the most well-known examples. 

Since ferrets are quickly becoming one of the most common “specialty” or “exotic” pets in the U.S., the risk is ever higher that more reports of accidental bites may rise. 

Cases like that of a baby bitten by a ferret in 2008, reported by a team of forensic experts from France’s Caen University Hospital, struck fear in many people’s hearts. This likely played a significant role in forming many of the restrictions that still stand today. 

Content Warning: Description of a Baby’s Injury from Ferret Bite

In the case report, the forensic team detailed gruesome facial injuries inflicted on a six-week-old baby by a ferret. The investigators recalled the parents’ account as follows: 

“The parents explained they had left their child unattended for a few minutes in his baby seat in the living room. Next to the child was their pet ferret in its cage. On their return, they claimed that the ferret had escaped from its cage, with no clear explanation for this.” 

When they arrived at the hospital, the baby was conscious but had several lacerations and punctures, and even lost part of his ear. 

End Content Warning

To make matters worse, the couple had not gotten the ferret vaccinated, and the investigators couldn’t analyze the animal for rabies since the father “had thrown the ferret and its cage out of the car window in anger.” So, the scientists only tested the child for rabies. 

In the end, the baby recovered from his wounds without infection and received an anti-rabies vaccine. 

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) doesn’t consider the ferret dangerous, cases like these are enough for some governments to rule them out as pets completely. 

Plus, the Caen University forensics team noted that “[f]errets are dangerous to man for two reasons:” 

• Injuries from biting and scratching 
• Transmission of zoological (spreading from non-human to human) diseases, such as rabies, flu, tuberculosis, cat flea typhus, and much more 

Additional reports of ferret injuries 

Although there hasn’t been an overwhelming number of reports on ferret bites, the handful of published stories have been jarring enough to scare governments into banning or strictly regulating the animal by restricting ownership to those with a special permit.

For instance, other reports of ferret injuries and attacks include: 

• 1998: For many Westerners, ferrets had only become a popular pet in the 70s. By the late 90s, these were still new to the U.S., where reports of incidents were on the rise. Concerns rose when “three incidents of ferret attacks [occurred] in a 3-month period of time.” This case report covered several incidences, including a 4-month-old with “multiple lacerations” around the eyes from an escaped ferret, a 5-year-old boy with lacerations on the hand from a ferret that “got loose,” and a 1-month-old baby with bites across the body from an unsupervised ferret. 
• 1988: This publication covered past incidents involving more ferrets and children. Though all instances were unprovoked, two of the victims “had their ears bitten off and required reconstructive surgery” and two were asleep when the attack happened. These cases led many to believe that ferrets were unsuitable pets for families, especially those with infants and young children. 
• 1989: Scientists and laypeople alike were increasingly sounding the alarm of the “pop pet” of the 1980s because of their habit of unleashing “frenzied, rapid-fire bite and slash attacks on infants, usually on their heads and throats.” Some even claimed that people witnessed the animals “drink the victim’s blood and eat the shredded tissues.” This, along with ferrets’ habit of breaking out of their cages and “boldly” approaching wildlife, led to the outlawing of these animals in states like California. 

Places where ferrets are outlawed 

Numerous cities, states, and countries around the world have outlawed ferrets. Terrible stories of mutilated babies and kids scared many governments into prohibiting all people under their jurisdiction from welcoming these animals into their homes. Some of the most anti-ferret places to live are discussed in depth below.  

Portugal 

Portugal is infamous as the only European country where ferrets are illegal. 

In fact, a local resident and member of the Portuguese Club of Ferrets, Rita Ribeiro, publicly shared their efforts to fight the country’s regulations against the animal, claiming that Portugal “is not respecting the European Passport for Pets.” 

Angloinfo emphasizes the same point, stating, “However this ruling essentially contradicts EU rules.” The website describes the law as follows: 

“Ferrets may not be kept as domestic pets in Portugal except for use when hunting and then a license is required. Portugal banned the importation of domestic ferrets to avoid cross breeding with Indigenous ferrets in the wild… A person wishing to take a ferret to Portugal should consult the Portuguese Director General of Veterinary Services for the latest information.” 

Allegations of Portugal defying the European Union’s rules allowing ferrets are based on the stipulations presented in the European pet passport. The standards allow people to travel with up to five pets, including dogs, cats, or ferrets. 

Ribeiro claims that Portugal’s refusal to allow ferrets within its borders inconveniences ferret owners traveling on vacation or those looking to relocate with their companion animals. 

Yet, government authorities have established these rules in defense of native species local to the region. And the rules don’t just apply to ferrets. 

As of late 2019, Portugal began requiring pet owners to register their animals’ information in the national pet information system. Those who do not are subject to fines ranging from 50 to 3,740 euros for a natural person. 

Ferrets are subject to stricter regulation, though. Locals often talk about how you can be arrested if seen with a ferret, which is one of the key reasons why individuals like Ribeiro are fighting the regulations. 

Despite the need to protect local wildlife, Portugal is under growing pressure to allow ferrets within its borders. Only time will tell if the nation adopts new measures to mitigate potential damage from these animals. 

California 

This state has some of the longest-standing laws against ferrets in the United States. Since 1933, California has prohibited the ownership and sale of these animals within its borders, “officially labeling it a wild animal that menaces public safety and the state’s native wildlife.” 

By the year 2000, California and Hawai’i were the only two U.S. states that had not legalized ferret ownership. And yet, experts estimated that between 100,000-500,000 ferrets were illegally possessed in the region. 

At the heart of the disagreement surrounding California’s laws against ferrets is the debate of whether these animals are wild or domestic. 

This designation is critical to insurance coverage in potential attacks: People who own wild animals are liable for any injuries they may cause. On the other hand, domestic animal owners are only responsible for animals that are known to be vicious or that have trespassed onto someone else’s land. 

Apart from Hawai’i, other places in the United States that have outlawed ferret ownership include New York City, NY and Washington, D.C. 

New Zealand 

Like California and Hawai’i, this region has long held its stance against ferrets as pets. The animals were first introduced to New Zealand in the late 19th century along with stoats and weasels in response to an out-of-control rabbit population. 

Less than twenty years after their arrival, ferrets had established themselves as an invasive species and contributed to the decline of multiple species, especially birds like the kiwi, weka, and blue duck. Another bird, the kakapo, now only exists on “mustelid-free islands.” 

In addition to birds, ferrets destabilize several other species populations, including: 

• Hares 
• Rodents 
• Possums 
• Lizards 
• Eels 
• Frogs 
• Hedgehogs 

Outlawing these animals within New Zealand’s borders is not only a matter of protecting human’s health and safety, but preventing ecological collapse, and even protecting New Zealand’s agricultural industry, as ferrets are known carriers of bovine tuberculosis. 

New Zealand is a dynamic example of how extensively ferrets can affect local ecosystems when owners irresponsibly release them or fail to keep their pets secure. Though many feel that anti-ferret laws are unfair or arbitrary, this nation demonstrates that such measures are highly effective and necessary for the protection of human and wildlife health. 

Check your local laws before adopting a ferret 

Adopting a ferret for the first time is exciting, and it’s tempting to bring a new one home hastily. Yet, it’s crucial to take your time and do your research, as many areas differ in whether they allow ferrets as pets or not. 

Even if these animals are generally allowed in your country, unlike places such as New Zealand and Portugal, don’t be too quick to assume. Ferrets are illegal to keep in many places you might not expect, such as New York City. 

Double-check with local authorities about pet ownership laws (specifically for “exotic animals”) in their jurisdiction before you wind up in a place where pet ferrets are illegal.