Expert Veterinary Testimony: Dr. René Gandolfi, DVM
Is it time for California to legalize ferrets? Dr. René Gandolfi, a California veterinarian with 40+ years of experience, submitted this powerful expert testimony to the Department of Fish and Wildlife in support of Petition 2025-003 to reclassify domestic ferrets. Read below for his perspective on ferret health, bites, rabies, and the myth of feral colonies.
René Gandolfi, DVM, CVA, CVH Castro Valley, CA 94546 July 31, 2025 Director Charlton H. Bonham California Department of Fish and Wildlife P.O. Box 944209 Sacramento, CA 94244-2090 Dear Director Bonham, You have before you the question of whether to change the status of domestic ferrets as regards California’s long-standing and wholly unsupported prohibition of private ownership. I write to you as a 1981 graduate of the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and a California licensed veterinarian who has practiced veterinary medicine in this state for over 40 years. In that time, I have had extensive experience working with many animal species, including the domestic ferret. In addition to providing medical and surgical care for these creatures, I have lectured at local, state, national, and international veterinary and lay conferences on the care of this pet species, as well as authored many articles in lay and professional journals and magazines—including the lead article in one edition of the California Veterinary Medical Association Journal. Over the years, many arguments have been raised to “support” the position that domestic ferrets should not be “legalized” in California. Let me address several of them and the reasons why these arguments are, in fact, unsupported and in some cases, specious. “Ferrets Bite”: I can safely say that just about any animal species currently kept legally in this state as a pet can, and will, bite. Probably one of the only species I have ever worked with that is unlikely to bite is a goldfish. Dogs and cats bite, horses bite, rabbits bite. Frankly, I am more wary of being bitten by a hamster than by a ferret. To say ferrets pose a significant danger to the public because they bite is a strawman argument. “Ferrets have injured children”: In every example used to support this particular argument, the animal was placed with a child (an infant) in an unsupervised situation. No one would consider banning horse ownership because a baby was left unattended in a stall with a horse and the horse stepped on the child. The real issue here is parental neglect, not a dangerous animal. I do not claim that ferrets pose absolutely no risk of biting or of causing serious injury. Realistically, just about any pet animal can do that if not properly supervised or handled. Responsible pet ownership is essential no matter what species we’re dealing with. “Ferrets will establish feral colonies and decimate native wildlife populations”: The primary source of domestic ferrets, both for medical research and the pet trade, is Marshall Farms in New York. Ferrets sold by Marshall Farms are all spayed or neutered before 6 weeks of age and before distribution to pet shops or laboratories. The reason? Jills (unspayed female ferrets) are induced ovulators and remain in heat until bred. Prolonged elevated estrogen levels can result in fatal aplastic anemia. To avoid this and ensure research accuracy, Marshall Farms spays/neuters all ferrets before sale. This means that even if a pet ferret escapes outdoors, it is infertile and incapable of reproducing. Additionally, domestic ferrets are highly susceptible to canine distemper—a ubiquitous and deadly virus—unless vaccinated. In 40+ years of treating ferrets, every one that had been outdoors for over 48 hours presented in poor condition—shock, dehydration, trauma, hyperthermia, or semi-starvation. Ferrets do not adapt well to the wild. They neither hunt effectively nor recognize predators. None I've treated survived well outside. Veterinary colleagues across the country confirm: no state has ever reported an established feral domestic ferret population. Nor has any Fish and Wildlife department in any other state made such a claim. “Ferrets can transmit diseases such as Rabies”: Like all mammals, ferrets can contract rabies. However, two important facts reduce the public health risk: 1. A federally licensed rabies vaccine for ferrets is available and effective. 2. Ferrets are poor rabies vectors. The virus must travel to the brain and then to the salivary glands to become contagious—but ferrets die from brain infection before they reach that stage. Just as we require rabies vaccination for dogs, we could easily do the same for pet ferrets in California. Final Thoughts: As a veterinarian, I have a duty to protect public health and animal welfare. Ferrets have specific medical needs, including routine vaccinations and treatment for their curious habit of ingesting inedible objects (just like dogs). They are also prone to serious cancers that are treatable with access to proper veterinary care. Despite California’s ban, many families continue to keep ferrets as pets—illegally. These animals and their families deserve access to appropriate care, and current law prevents that. It is time to retire the notion that the domestic ferret is a serious threat. It has been California’s chief bogeyman for far too long. Sincerely, René Gandolfi, DVM