LegalizeFerrets.org

28/10/2026

For more than 25 years, the California Fish and Game Commission has told ferret advocates the same thing: before it will even consider taking ferrets off the restricted species list, we have to pay for an environmental impact report.

That rule was never adopted through the public process state law requires. The Commission’s own 2016 legal memo says it applies to “any new petitioner,” and admits the Commission would need to adopt regulations to create a process for it. It never did.

So on October 28, we filed a petition asking California’s Office of Administrative Law to review it as an “underground regulation.”

Here’s what that means, how we found it, and what happens next 👇
https://legalizeferrets.org/why-the-ferret-ban-may-be-an-underground-regulation/

25/10/2026

🚀 Guardians of the Ferretverse! The AG's Next Move - https://mailchi.mp/legalizeferrets/guardians-of-the-ferretverse-the-ags-next-move

25/10/2026

I asked Claud to organize my PRA files and I'm immediately impressed by it's conclusions, these are based on files provided to me under the Public Records Request act regarding my dealings with the California Fish and Game Commission on our ferret legalization effots.
Summary
Across 2013–2026, the records show five recurring patterns:
A standing pre-condition that blocks consideration. On April 6, 2000 the Commission voted to take no action and to consider ferrets only "after the environmental document is completed" at proponents' expense. In 2011 and 2012 it said it was "not interested in considering the ferret issue" and that the matter was "not as important" as other issues. Its own 2016 memo acknowledges the Commission has no mechanism to accept a petitioner-funded EIR. The process regulations it requested in 2000 don't appear anywhere in the records.
Outcomes decided before the public hearing. Staff drafted a rejection letter for 2019-018 before review was finished. Two days before the October 2019 vote, staff were told to call you with "talking points" and to avoid putting anything in writing. A 2023 commissioner statement says the Commission "really can't do anything" unless proponents pay for the CEQA study.
Petitions kept from, or reshaped before, commissioners. A rejected ferret petition was pulled from the meeting binder. Supporting CEQA materials for 2016-007 were not given to the Commission. Staff rewrote how 2019-018 was described.
Recycled rationale. 2019-018 was denied by reference to the 2016 memo on a different request. Staff then noted internally that the reason in the denial letter was not the reason the Commission adopted.
Process used to avoid reaching the merits (2024–2026). 2024-15 was held on a form requirement, and your APA questions went about three months without an answer. A 2026 PRA response confirms no CEQA analysis of 2025-003 exists.

23/10/2026

21/10/2026

and I miss the 1980's as a whole, back when people weren't so divided and Republicans were to Trump! - https://mailchi.mp/97725d172136/i-miss-the-1980s-libertarian-party

18/10/2026

🦦 The Little Ferret Who Did Everything Right - https://mailchi.mp/legalizeferrets/the-little-ferret-who-did-everything-right

16/10/2026

https://mailchi.mp/legalizeferrets/happy-five-dollar-ferret-friday-1zjf6nxxwv

11/10/2026

California's Longest Game of Hot Potato - https://mailchi.mp/legalizeferrets/californias-longest-game-of-hot-potato

06/10/2026

🦦 Quick update on the ferret petition lawsuit:

Following the judge's October 5 ruling, I've finished my First Amended Petition, and it's going to the court this week, ahead of the October 12 deadline.

What changed:
✅ It now focuses on one claim, against the Fish and Game Commission: 15+ months after "referring" our petition, it still hasn't denied it in writing or scheduled a public hearing, as the law requires.
❌ Fish and Wildlife is out of that claim. The judge ruled the duty belongs to the Commission, which is the agency that has to decide anyway.
⏸️ I set aside the Public Records Act claim for now. The strongest records disputes came from requests made after the lawsuit was filed, and those can't just be added in. Rather than hand the State an easy target, I kept the petition tight. Those issues can be raised separately later.

Next step: the Commission has 30 days to respond once it's served.

We're in a good spot. Thanks for sticking with this!

Call now to connect with business.

04/10/2026

Big Court Win for Ferret Legalization - https://mailchi.mp/legalizeferrets/big-court-win-for-ferret-legalization