On June 11, the California Fish and Game Commission unanimously voted to accept our petition to remove domestic ferrets from the state’s list of prohibited species. It was a historic step forward. But like clockwork, Mark Hennelly of the California Waterfowl Association (CWA) showed up to drag the conversation straight back to 1994.
🎭 Theatrics Over Substance
In typical fashion, Mr. Hennelly wasn’t present when first called to speak during the Zoom meeting. This has been his M.O. for years: at in-person hearings, he routinely disappears until his name is called—ensuring he’s the last speaker, conveniently immune from rebuttal. This time was no different. Called early, missing. Circled back. Boom—last to comment, no chance to reply.
Strategic absence or just dodging scrutiny? Either way, it’s not a good look for someone who claims to be defending California’s ecosystems.
🐍 Same Fear, Different Day
Here’s what Hennelly had to say:
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Ferrets are “serious predators” of waterfowl, pheasants, and rabbits.
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They’ve wreaked havoc in New Zealand.
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They carry tuberculosis.
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Feral cats are a problem, so legal ferrets would be too.
If that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the same tired script he’s been reading from for decades. A one-trick pony—and the trick isn’t even impressive anymore.
🇳🇿 Cue the New Zealand Panic
Yes, we know: ferrets are a problem in New Zealand. But here’s the part Hennelly conveniently leaves out:
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New Zealand’s ferrets are wild European polecats and ferret hybrids.
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They were intentionally introduced to control rabbits.
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New Zealand is an island ecosystem with no native mammalian predators.
California is not New Zealand. Domestic ferrets in the U.S. are neutered, vaccinated, and kept indoors. In over 40 years of legal ownership in 48 states, there hasn’t been a single instance of ferrets forming feral populations or wiping out native wildlife.
Using New Zealand as an argument against responsible pet ownership in California is like banning goldfish because of a carp invasion in Asia. It’s intellectually lazy—and intentionally misleading.
The ferrets causing ecological harm in New Zealand are not domestic pets like those kept in the U.S. They are wild European polecats (Mustela putorius) and polecat–ferret hybrids, introduced in the late 1800s to control rabbits and now considered invasive predators. These ferrets live and breed in the wild, unlike neutered, indoor U.S. pet ferrets.
Sources:
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New Zealand Department of Conservation: Ferrets
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IUCN Global Invasive Species Database: Mustela furo
🦠 Tuberculosis? Really?
Then there’s the tuberculosis claim. Let’s squash that one too.
Domestic ferrets are not natural carriers of TB. They’ve been used in laboratory studies because of their lung structure—not because they’re spreading it. There are no documented cases of ferrets transmitting TB to humans or animals in the U.S.
Sources:
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Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Quesenberry & Carpenter
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Merck Veterinary Manual
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CDC zoonotic disease reports
It’s a scare tactic, plain and simple—and it doesn’t hold up under even the faintest scrutiny.
🦆 Who Does He Represent?
Mr. Hennelly represents the California Waterfowl Association, whose stated mission includes protecting wetlands and restoring bird populations. Their website paints a noble picture:
“California Waterfowl has played a crucial role in the rebound of waterfowl populations… Our advocacy team ensures these ecosystems will continue to thrive for generations to come.”
That’s great. But how does that mission translate into lobbying against a house pet legal in nearly every other state?
Let’s be clear: Mark Hennelly is not protecting the environment—he’s defending an outdated political position. And he’s doing it while hiding behind a conservationist brand.
Feel free to ask CWA why they’re so afraid of ferrets:
👉 https://calwaterfowl.org/contact
🧠 Let’s Talk About Actual Risk
Real threats to California’s bird populations include:
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Habitat destruction
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Pesticide use
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Climate change
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Invasive plants and feral cats
Domestic ferrets? Not even on the radar.