SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- They are furry and friendly but ferrets are very illegal in California.

One group of dedicated ferret lovers is working to change that, NBC11's Mike Luery reported Monday.

SLIDESHOW: Ferret Family Photos

California and Hawaii are the only two states in the nation that have banned ferrets as pets, Luery said.

The State Fish and Game Commission views the animals as "prohibited wild animals."

Members of the group Ferrets Anonymous are working to find political support for legally owning ferrets in California.

A previous effort was vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who starred with a ferret in "Kindergarten Cop," Luery said.

Over the last 15 years, California ferret proponents have gone in front of the Fish and Game Commission, in the courts, and in the legislature, according to group members.

Bans on ferrets have been repealed in all other states, according to the group.

According to the group's Web site legalizeferrets.org, there are 150,000 ferrets in California.

That is more than in any other state, even though the animals are not legal.