http://www.cypresskeep.com/Ferretfiles/Legal-PPN.htm
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Why Are Ferrets Illegal In Some Places?
Most laws that specifically prohibit ferrets are based on ignorance or misinformation. Lets explore these myths:
MYTH: Ferrets are Wild Animals! Not So! Mustela putorius furo has been domesticated for thousands of years, possibly longer than the housecat! Records of albino household ferrets date back to early Greeks, around 450 BC. Furthermore, ferrets are recognized as domestic by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA 1996 Title 9). The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) also officially recognize ferrets as domestic companion animals.
MYTH: Ferrets are a Rabies Risk! The USDA approved the IMRAB-3 vaccine for ferrets in 1991. Different states have different rabies vaccination rules for ferrets (usually between 3 and 6 months). If you are selling ferret kits, you should inform the new ferret owner when the shot is needed. Even without a rabies shot, scientific studies and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) show that ferrets are unlikely to either catch or transmit rabies. In 1998, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) concluded that ferrets, in the slight possibility that they contract rabies, die within a few days. Therefore, a rabies quarantine policy was set for 10 days, just like cats and dogs.
MYTH: Ferrets Are Dangerous, Vicious Animals! Ferrets have gained a bad reputation based on a few incidences widely reported in the media of ferret attacks on children. In every case, the ferret was severely abused. As with any animal, a ferret may bite when it is frightened or in pain. However, studies by the CDC and AVMA show that humans are many times more likely to be bitten by a dog, cat, rabbit, snake, or human than a ferret. However, the ASPCA and the HSUS warn that "NO pet should be left unsupervised with a child."
MYTH: Feral Ferrets! Another fallacious argument is that if ferrets became legal everywhere, they could escape and establish feral populations that would destroy native wildlife and threaten farm production. Shannon Taylor, manager of the Creature Castle in Valrico, Florida laughed at the recent New York City ruling against ferrets: “There are so many crops for ferrets to destroy in New York City! Like a ferret would destroy a crop anyway!” Ms. Taylor adds that “Most ferrets sold in petstores are spayed or neutered (or should be), because if they’re not fixed, ferrets are smelly and experience health problems.” There are NO feral ferret populations in North America. The endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is the wild American cousin of the domestic pet ferret, but they can’t interbreed. Finally, domestic ferrets, because they have lived with man for so long, have lost many survival instincts. They don’t see well, have lost hunting instincts, and have little fear. Most pet ferrets survive only a few days in the wild, particularly in hot conditions.
What’s Your Status?
The above information shows that most arguments for declaring ferrets illegal are invalid. Shannon Taylor of Creature Castle says, “I never knew any actual, legitimate reason for ferrets to be illegal.” However, local codes remain on the books that you must be aware of. Start with the Department of Fish and Game to see if ferrets fall under their jurisdiction (indicating that ferrets have been declared as "wild"). Then get the complete animal control codes from the county or city where your petstore is located.
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I think this is true ..
