ENCINITAS (NEWS 8) – The City of Encinitas on Wednesday took up a proposal to support the legalization of ferrets which are illegal in California, but some residents want to be able to have them as pets.
Ferrets have been banned as pets throughout the state since the early 1930s. A law that a growing number of ferret owners and supporters have been working to change, but not everyone is in love with the idea of supporting the legalization of ferrets as household pets.
In a case out of La Mesa, Pat Wright served time for having three ferret pets. Now he is fighting to make ferrets legal in California.
“There are no feral ferrets. They are just house pets,” he said.
Wright was put in jail for owning ferrets.
“I have been arrested. I have had my door broken – 17 days in max security,” he said.
Wednesday's resolution, which has already been approved in the City of La Mesa, was taken up by the Encinitas City Council, but opponents defended the ecological science on the books.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife said if ferrets escape from captivity, they could possibly form feral colonies, and prey on and threaten wildlife. Wright, however, disputes that claim.
In the United States, ferrets are only banned in California and Hawaii, and Wright wants to change that.
Local ecologist, Dennis Lee Writs, said ferrets “can escape or be released and then they return to acting like the veracious predators they are naturally in the wild.”
Don Rideout writes: “Once released, these animals can wreak havoc on local ecosystems.”
Christina Simokat writes: “Ferrets could easily become an invasive species in our temperature climate – killing native wildlife and competing with them for scare resources.
“For me, it is an issue of freedom and fairness,” he said.
The move to make Encinitas ferret friendly failed to gain traction Wednesday night and the the resolution failed to make it to a vote.
Ferret owners in El Cajon hope a resolution will be presented as a ballot measure next year to allow voters to have their say.