^ Not anymore, certainly. Their current range is only in a few places in the Western Plains, where they’ve been reintroduced after 1986 (there were no black-foots left in the wild at all prior to that date). I haven’t found specific information about their historical range, though (I only searched briefly). It’s entirely possible that they were unknown west of the Rockies. So my reference to “native black-foots” is retracted, with apologies.
I’m not trying to JUSTIFY California’s ban on keeping ferrets as pets. Personally, I like ‘em. I also wish we could keep hedgehogs here. The reason they give for banning them (both) is the possibility of environmental impact should they escape and breed.
^ Not anymore, certainly. Their current range is only in a few places in the Western Plains, where they’ve been reintroduced after 1986 (there were no black-foots left in the wild at all prior to that date). I haven’t found specific information about their historical range, though (I only searched briefly). It’s entirely possible that they were unknown west of the Rockies. So my reference to “native black-foots” is retracted, with apologies.
I’m not trying to JUSTIFY California’s ban on keeping ferrets as pets. Personally, I like ‘em. I also wish we could keep hedgehogs here. The reason they give for banning them (both) is the possibility of environmental impact should they escape and breed.