Why does Queensland hate ferrets ?
Ferret captured in Queensland. Photo by Megan Masters.
A couple was trying to catch a critter in their laundry room using a makeshift trap constructed of a bird cage and peanut butter. They caught the intruder but could not identify it so they called The Chronicle. I can only guess at that logic… Anyway, the beast was identified as a ferret. The home owners, Len and Yvonne McKewin, claim that during the chaotic and frantic capturing, Yvonne was bitten and subsequently rushed off to the doctor’s office for a dose of antibiotics. The ferret is then later described as being quite tame. Weird, right ? Perhaps the ferret felt threatened and did nip. Perhaps the story is embellished. It all seems sort of strange.
The even stranger part of the story though is that ferrets are illegal to own in Queensland after they were declared a pest (and a threat) in 2002/2003. Owning, releasing or feeding a ferret can result in fines of up to $60,000. Furthermore, only zoos and wildlife parks have the recognized right of ferret ownership. Wow! considering that there is no documented case of a ferret surviving in the Australian wild ever, why the hell are they considered such a threat?
According to the ferret friendly Queensland Ferret Welfare Society, the law was introduced to “protect industries, natural resources and the environment” …… absolutely ludicrous. The Queensland Ferret Welfare Society also cites many cases of ferrets being discovered and then heartlessly killed instead of relocating them to welcoming homes. I hope that does not turn out to be the case for this furry.
If any of my Australian readers can shed more light on this subject, I look forward to your comments.
