ferrets in DC. Why not?

I wouldn't. Laws are laws and you never know who you'll run into if you take them out in a city where its illegal. Usually they will confiscate your ferret and euthanize it. In some cases, they'll ship them out to a random rescue, but there's no way to verify the quality of that rescue or if you'd be able to get the ferret back after you leave.

At the smallest penalty, you'll be paying a decent sized fine.

I'd just leave them in MD where they're legal. It's not worth risking.

Usually places where they're illegal are either worried about rabies or too many people releasing them into the wild and it messing with the wild animal populations. Sometimes cities just don't want to deal with people having exotic animals... even though I don't consider ferrets to be exotic. It makes the job of a rescue org. (PD, FD, EMT) harder not knowing what kind of animal is around the corner...

i don't know the reason why ferrets aren't allowed in dc but If u do take them keep them from the public eye, and the problem with getting caught with them is, if u get an policeman thats a pain in the *** or having a bad day now telling what will happen. I do now if u get caught in the state of CA they will kill ur ferret.U have also got to watch the towns and counties some of them have local laws about ferrets.

i have 4 ferrets, i live in maryland. I have traveled to NY with them (where it is illegal) i had them in the train station and outside (people screamed calling them rats) but anyway as long as youre only there short-term or lie and say youre just staying in term and that you didnt know they were illegal if caught, it should be fine