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Vol 3 • No 4, January 27, 2008 
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Hello everyone,

Ferrets magazine will soon be discontinuing its ‘Print’ edition format and will going to digital “internet” on their website only.

This message was posted at:  http://board.ferretsmagazine.com/Topic7085-4-1.aspx#bm7087

 …”The March/April 2008 issue of Ferrets will soon reach subscribers. It is the final print issue of Ferrets. We're transitioning the magazine to online beginning in April when we launch http://www.smallanimalchannel.com/. The new Ferrets magazine will be located at http://www.ferretsmagazine.com/, and it will be free. We're still going to be an information resource about ferrets, only in a different format….  “

My opinion:

“Ferrets Magazine” will be coming to end in print form – they will be putting out a digital form of the magazine on the internet. Availability online may be better for those of us with computers and high-speed internet access, and some may actually prefer it that way.  I hope they’re able to keep up the quality of their articles and writers, since the magazine will be available to everyone online for free.

However, it’s extremely disappointing to me that they won’t be available or sold in pet stores or bookstores anymore; I feel that it’s another form of available visual and written communication for positive ferret education disappearing. Many people don’t have subscriptions and rely upon picking up the magazine at the store, especially in California. This eliminates one route that positive ferret information was able to reach the general public.

As my friend Alicia so eloquently put it:  “We can only hope that in the next few years another publication will endeavor to assist with education about the companion ferret… Support those shelters and rescues we have now, for darker days are looming for them in the near future.”

 -- Debby
West Coast Ferrets, Sacramento CA
Just a note on the Da Vinci painting (that was used in CLIFFNotes last week).  I bought a reproduction of this painting on E-bay and the seller framed it too.  It was about $70 and hangs in my living room.  A search on EBay under Leonardo Da Vinci and lady with Ermine (yes it's an ermine) will produce the auctions.
Just in case anyone is interested.
 
Daniell P
After reading the recent CLIFFNotes, I thought you'd enjoy these photos sent to me by one of my biologist friends. The only time I've seen a longtail weasel myself, was unfortunately when I removed a squashed one from the road in Poway!
Joyce S
 
 
Are We Finally On The Right Path For Ferret Legalization?
 

Fish and Game Commission Hearing on Legalization of Ferrets

The California Fish and Game Commission, at its April 6, 2000, meeting in Sacramento, listened to a request by Californians for Ferret Legalization that the Commission consider removing ferrets from the restricted species list. As explained at the meeting, a regulatory action by the Commission is considered a project under the California Environmental Quality Act, which requires the preparation of an environmental document. Therefore, at the conclusion of public testimony, the Commission directed the Californians for Ferret Legalization, as project proponents, to fund the preparation of the environmental document to assess the potential impact to the environment of this proposed action. The Commission would not be in a position to again consider this matter until such an environmental document were prepared. (from the DFG website)

Since we were approached by a donor asking what we would do with $50k we've done a lot of thinking and discussing and the decision was pretty much made to do a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) study.  I had wanted to present our possible donor with a real action plan this week, but after speaking with environmental consultants it appears we must (and can) do one better, by doing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). This is the exact type of report requested by Governor Schwarzenegger when he refused to sign SB 89. Back then, Schwarzenegger said:

"I love ferrets. I co-starred with a ferret in 'Kindergarten Cop,' " Schwarzenegger insisted in his veto message. "However, this bill is too bureaucratic and it legalizes ferrets prior to conducting an environmental impact report."
 
All of this environmental and scientific discussion is a little difficult to grasp, and just for fun, check out this chart.
 
So far I've had discussions with two consultants, only one them I spoke to at length.  They both said anything controversial will go directly to an EIR.  The last ferret bill in the state assembly allocated $35k for a CEQA study - and if they don't get a negative declaration (meaning they can't rule any potential negative impact from ferret legalization) it allocated another $250k for the EIR.
 
From what I understand, EIRs can be expensive and time-consuming.  However, one consultant tells us that an EIR on ferrets wouldn't be that different from a CEQA and would & could fall within our budget.  I have asked him to modify his quote to reflect going right to an EIR study.
 
Naturally, we have many pitfalls to avoid.  What happens if the study doesn't go our way?  I can't see this happening but there is no guarantee.  How do we protect ourselves in case our consultant doesn't deliver the report?  How do we make sure the consultant is qualified? 
 
Thankfully there are some experienced people on our team covering these concerns.  These kind of details aren't my strengths and I'm glad I can rely on some more experienced and detail-oriented people.  Hopefully next week I can put the proposal forward to our donor.
Bob Church Posts Opinion on the Ferret Mailing List
 
Bob Church, much beloved ferret expert posted his opinion on our efforts on the Ferret Mailing List (FML) - and yes my feathers got a little ruffled.  I was a little upset because someone outside of California and not in the know is telling us to hold off and be patient.

Bob Church giving a lecture.  This photo is from the from The Ferret Store website.
Here is a brief part of his post:
 
Personally, I think you need a three-pronged approach if you want to Satisfy the CDF&G objections   (assuming you could, which I honestly doubt).
 
First, you need to have a good investigation of the feral ferret issue and find out exactly how many of the "instances"  are real. For example, it has been reported that feral ferrets might be in New Mexico -- based on possible  visual sightings and no physical evidence. Another problem is the citation of a source, which cites a source, which cites a source, which cites a source,  which said ferrets were feral, but offered no empirical evidence or documentation. As a part of my Ferret Project, I am doing such a review, even to the point of traveling to Queensland, Australia, to physically try and locate the supposed ferrets reported feral there by the CDF&G. Likewise, my work in New Zealand is in part to show that the ferrets did very poorly, and many died off. If you can demonstrate 20 citations are really only a couple, then it reduces the power of their argument AND shows their lack of scholarship.

  

The second aspect is to answer the question of what happened in New Zealand and why it will not occur in California. Based on documents produced by the CDF&G, the NZ feral ferrets are the bullet in the CDF&G gun; without it, their argument is essentially disarmed, especially if it can be shown that the remaining evidence is weak or unscientific. Again, my New Zealand work if geared towards answering that question. A good review of this problem, with empirical evidence to back oppositional arguments, can destroy the   CDF&G's ability to use New Zealand as an effective argument.

  

Finally, a study has to be done by an impartial and independent  3rd-party in which the scientific design is unquestioned and the researcher is monitored by an excepted expert. Perhaps the best way to to this is to give a grant to a graduate student at a major university.
 
So, I guess the bottom line is that I am suggesting Californians be a bit patient, wait for my return from the Ferret Project trip, and allow me to try and get all the remaining stuff in North America before they fund a project that could potentially cause harm to ferret owners throughout the USA and the world. Seriously, if the researcher had a faulty research design and their test showed ferrets could go feral, how would you would know? You need the  first two answers to evaluate the third!

I suggest the money be placed in a high interest account to build it a little. While I am finishing my research, you could be carefully asking around and planning  for the study, and lining up the paperwork. In a couple of years, as the publications start to make their way through the scientific community, a study would be appropriate AND timely. And you  would have more support from the zoological community when you can show the CDF&G are  scientifically incompetent and biased in their conclusions.
 
I would like to respond that we were tentatively offered the funds because our donor wants to move the effort forward and doesn't want their money in our high-interest checking account.  I promise that we are going to be very cautious and that there is more than just me on this project.  I know my weaknesses and I have sought out people who have strength in this area.
 
If we continue to wait - a lot of us won't be around when California ferrets are finally legalized.
Tobacco Funds Update
 
Our attorney has the final reply from the Department of Fish and Game about their use of anti-tobacco funds for a 1997 study "An annotated bibliography of the ferret."  Their response was that they couldn't find it and they are not required to keep data for more than four years.  The Department of Food and Agriculture told us they are required to keep records going back for ten years so I find this odd.  I have asked some experts in Public Records Request for help.
In Conclusion...
 
The Jan-Feb 2008 Issue of the Ferret Legalization Update is out.  It is for people who don't have email.  If you read CLIFFNotes there won't be much new in it - but here it is. 

I can't stress enough how exciting it is to get an EIR study done.  There are no guarantees but I feel that after all these years we are on the right track.  And I can't express my gratitude enough to our anonymous donor.  We have our goals for 2008 and they are significant.
 
I also hope that Lance choses to run for President of Ferrets Anonymous.  Perhaps we can work as a united team and share resources and information.
 
Nobody sent me photos of their ferrets this week.  We've got these three interesting photos of California weasels but they aren't family members.  Get out your digital camara and start clicking away.
 
We always appreciate donations especially from people who have not donated before.  This newsletter goes out to about 2700 people and about 600 open the email each week.  If you haven't donated in the past year - how about sending ten bucks to show your support.  By joining the 3000 Club the name you give us is posted and it is a real count for the world to see of how many people support us.
 
Pat Wright
CLIFFNotes@legalizeferrets.org
(619) 303-0645		 Lance M
Info@ocferrets.org
(949) 241-1189