Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in September quashed the hopes of California ferret owners when he failed to sign legislation that would have granted limited amnesty to the controversial creatures.

Senate Bill 89 would have legalized owned ferrets already in California, provided they were licensed, sterilized and vaccinated against rabies.

Although several ferret legalization bills have been introduced in California since the mid-1980s, this was the first amnesty bill to make it to a governor's desk.

Officials from the Department of Fish and Game have long opposed ferret legalization measures, fearing that escaped ferrets could establish colonies, endanger nesting birds and take over other wildlife habitat. Department of Food and Agriculture authorities regard ferrets as a potential threat to domestic chicken production.

Gov. Schwarzenegger's veto message echoed wildlife officials' call for environmental review before lifting the ban on ownership: "I am concerned that there has not been proper study to determine whether ferrets are detrimental to the health and safety of California citizens and the environment. The [environmental impact report] should be completed and evaluated as part of the decision-making process before changing the legal status of ferret possession."

Part of the $75 license fee mandated by the bill would have gone to a new Domestic Ferret Environmental Study Account to determine the effects of removing the domestic ferret from the list of prohibited species.

California and Hawaii are the only states that ban private ownership of ferrets. [November 2004 PET AGE]

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