The good old days

[ferretsxxx]

Hello.
Are there any ferrets left anywhere in NZ?
Is there any chance we are getting them back?
I am new too so Hello!
ferretsxxx

[Furrball]

Hi ferretsxxx
Welcome to the site. As you might know there was a bann put in place in 2002 which stopped people being able to keep ferrets as pets. Only existing pets were allowed to be kept so I would imagine most of them have passed away by now. Obviously there are wild ferrets roaming around the north and south island. As for getting them legalized again in this country is uncertain.

[ferretsxxx]

What a bummer. They are so cute and I think cats are becoming more of a problem. Thanks for the reply

[Furrball]

No worries. Yea it is a bummer. This site is a good way of talking to other people who feel the same way. The more people who get involved in the discussions the better.

[Tezza]

There's a guy in California called (Pat Wright) who's been fighting the Government for 25 years to make ferrets legal in his state and is no further forward now than when he started all those years ago!! now that's dedication for ya Lol.
I'm pretty sure we would have the same response here from our higher powers because doc's No1 concern are all the native wildlife sensitive areas dotted around the country that would be compromised by escaped pet ferrets.

[Furrball]

Yea that is dedication. I wonder if pet ferret owners were licenced and all ferrets were desexed etc maybe microchipped whether that would make a good argument?? I know I would even get a micro GPS installed on a ferret if it meant I could have one.

[Gilby]

The only way you can keep a ferret legally in NZ is having a pest control company and using ferret to control rabbit. Or you registered as breeder before 2002.

[Furrball]

Hi Gilby
Yea it seems that way. Do you think there is anything that can be done to change the legislation??

[Gilby]

Hi Furrball, The chance of that is close to zero. We had more chance to stop the legislation back 2002 than trying to changing it back now. With the current education to wild ferrets as a evil creature. The support simply not there.

[Furrball]

That's a shame. I often wonder if a petition could be signed to see if we could take it further. I think if they had all the facts and evidence etc they might put strict rules in place for the domesticated ferret???