Quote Originally Posted by CathyBogart

We can't have gerbils, ferrets, hedgies, pygmy mice, any marsupial, blah!!! -_-
But we can keep native rattlesnakes without a permit. Yep, that's Cali for you. I recently got to meet an illegal gerby here, and he was awesome. Good luck, and post pictures for us poor deprived Californians!

But the reason is typically given as this: Unlike many other states, Hawaii, Florida, and California are unusually suited to provide a suitable climate for non-native species to gain a foothold and compete with native species. There are more than 50 species now that are not native that are considered at least established, acclimatized, self-sustaining breedings colonies, and these species are blamed (in part) for a more than 50% decline in native California species that are on the United States endangered list (although I think the figures there include plants), and cost billions of dollars in damages (one little non-native bug called the Glassy Winged Sharp-Shooter usually costs the state more than $35 billion annually all on its own). Non-native species can usually snag a native animals' tenous spot in nature, but usually can't fill the same role well enough to 'replace it', and they can naturally carry certain illnesses, bacteria, etc with no ill effect that native species might no have any immunity for. They're just afraid we can't handle ferrets, Wallabies, and gerbils, too...

I could go on, but I am ranting now, sorry. So back to what I inteded to say... Gerby pics when you get them, please!