Government to ban pet ferrets

Pet ferrets are to be banned due to the threat they pose to New Zealand native wildlife, Conservation Minister Sandra Lee announced today.

The sale, distribution and breeding of ferrets will be outlawed under the Biosecurity Amendment Bill, which was likely to become law in about two months.

Action followed Conservation Department chief technical officer Geoff Hicks declaring the animals unwanted organisms, under the Biosecurity Act.

The ban would exempt current pets and existing ferret farms that largely exported animals overseas, Ms Lee said.

No new ferret farms would be allowed.

Ferrets are a vicious predator of many native birds, particularly ground nesting species like brown teal penguins and kiwi.

Unlike their smaller relative the stoat, ferrets are capable of killing an adult kiwi.

Ferrets also engage in "spree killing", where they slaughter more prey than they can eat.

- NZPA