Ferret Legalization in California: A Missed Opportunity for Leo Zacky?
Leo Zacky, poultry executive and gubernatorial hopeful, recently mingled with delegates at the Libertarian Party of California Convention. He wasn’t giving speeches—he was sharing cigars, pouring drinks, and talking liberty with the crowd.
It was relaxed and personable—the kind of retail politics voters appreciate. But when the conversation turned to California’s 30-year ban on domestic ferrets, the tone changed.
Ferrets are legal in 48 other states. They’re domestic by every scientific and legal measure. Yet in California, they remain classified as wild animals—thanks to regulatory inertia and political avoidance, not science.
Zacky listened politely, then noted he had Bill Mattos of the California Poultry Federation on speed dial—and offered to call him on the spot.
"All we asked was a simple, neutral statement: 'Ferrets are not a concern for the California poultry industry.' Not support. Just clarity."
We mailed, emailed, and called Mr. Mattos. Eventually, we received a response: they’re not getting involved. The California Poultry Federation lobbies hard for the things it cares about—sales tax exemptions, feed rules, formaldehyde registration—but on this? Silence.
Even former Assemblyman Randy Voepel once told a reporter he opposed ferret legalization because ferrets “killed his chickens growing up in Missouri.” This is what passes for opposition in California.
Leo Zacky is uniquely positioned to change the narrative. A simple acknowledgment that ferrets don’t pose a threat to poultry could help break a decades-long logjam. It’s not a heavy lift—but it would require a little moral courage.
So far, he hasn’t taken that step.
We’re not asking for endorsements—just honesty. If you’re running for office on a platform of liberty and less government, we expect you to stand for it. Not just when it’s popular or convenient, but when it’s right.
To learn more about his campaign, visit leozacky.com.
Want to get involved or learn more? Visit LegalizeFerrets.org